THE ACADEMY
2022, PRESENT DAY
That very day, something changed.
I found myself slowly coming to consciousness, welcomed by the silence around me.
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
I called out, the uncertainty in my voice echoing throughout the unfamiliar room.
The steady hum of various machines was the only response I received, leaving me with an eerie sense of isolation. My limbs ached and protested as I tried to move, the weight of my body seemingly heavy.
I strained my ears, attempting to catch any hint of movement, but the thrum of equipment continued to dull my senses.
Then, without warning, the sound of footsteps approached, growing louder as they drew near. My heartbeat quickened, and a strange mixture of relief and apprehension coursed through me.
A young woman dressed in a school uniform appeared before me, her black jacket stark against the sterile white surroundings. Her headphones rested casually around her neck, contrasting with the careful precision of her attire.
She looked just as surprised to see me as I was to see her, her eyes wide with shock. "You're finally awake!" she exclaimed, the words both an accusation and a greeting.
"Take it easy," She advised, coming closer. "You've been asleep for a while. Four years to be exact"
"Ah, sorry for the mess," she said, picking the wet rag from my lap and placing it on the table beside a basin of water.
She murmured to herself. "He could have at least cleaned up after himself."
"It seems you had a fever last night. He must have just left this here when you got better." Her words were gentle, familiar.
"Who are you?" I asked, the words slipping from my lips before I could stop them. My mind raced, trying to connect the dots and make sense of the situation.
But instead of answering, she simply stared at me, her gaze unyielding and piercing.
"Call me Sophie," she said, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.
My mind raced, trying to reconcile the disconnect between what I knew and what I was experiencing.
It felt like someone had taken the pieces of my life, broken them into puzzle pieces, and thrown them into the air, leaving me to scramble and pick them up, unsure of how they fit together anymore.
Math, I'm good at but puzzles, not so much.
"Where am I?" I pressed, desperation seeping into my voice.
I needed answers – anything to ground myself in this confusing reality. The hum of the machines seemed to grow louder with each passing second. The room was pristine and sterile, smelling faintly of disinfectant. It looked like some kind of medical facility.
"You're in the school's infirmary," She explained, her brown eyes filled with concern. "After the earthquake, you were brought here."
"Earthquake?" I muttered, trying to recall any memories of such an event. "School? Is this place ST Academy?"
The entire room was too advanced and familiar to be the place I used to know.
Despite my confusion, I couldn't help but notice her genuine worry, which made me all the more curious about what had happened and who she was.
"Elise, we'll fill you in on everything later," She assured me, her voice soothing. "For now, just focus on getting better." She offered a small, reassuring smile.
"Okay," I agreed, feeling a mixture of relief and frustration. Though I wanted answers immediately, I knew She was right - my body needed time to recover.
Slowly, with the girl's help, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and attempted to stand. My knees wobbled, but She steadied me, her grip surprisingly firm for someone so slender.
"Thanks," I murmured, trying to regain my footing.
As I did, I couldn't help but be struck by the rush of sensations surrounding me.
The cool tiles beneath my feet contrasted with her warm touch; the faint scent of lavender wafted through the air, cutting through the sterile atmosphere.
"Everything will be fine, Elise," she reassured me, guiding me towards the door. "Now, let's get you cleaned up and dressed, then we'll introduce you to everyone again."
"Everything will become clear soon," she said cryptically, her tone measured and controlled. "For now, it's important that you regain your strength."
As she spoke, I couldn't help but notice the way her eyes flickered toward the door, as if expecting someone else to arrive.
"Is someone coming?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
The steady drone of the machines suddenly felt suffocating, their continuous presence a constant reminder of my vulnerability.
"Oh! Nothing at all." She offered a small, reassuring smile before continuing, "But you need to focus on yourself right now. There will be time for everything else later.
"An earthquake," I muttered.
My heart raced as I recalled the ground shaking beneath me, the room crumbling around me.
My hands searched my body for any form of scar or cuts. Asides from muscle weakness, I was… fine. But I could clearly recall the cabinet falling towards me, then nothing.
darkness
A void where four years should have been.
"Take your time," Sophie urged, her soft blue eyes filled with concern. "When you're ready, I'll draw you a bath and help you choose some clothes to wear."
"Thank you." My voice was barely a whisper, the disbelief and confusion still holding me tightly.
As Sophie left the room, I re-examined myself thoroughly. My fingers traced over my smooth skin, finding nothing but the steady rhythm of my pulse beneath the surface. It felt like a miracle.
Gathering what little strength I had, I inched my way to the bathroom.
My muscles felt stiff and heavy, but they were becoming more cooperative than I anticipated.
The thought of being well-cared for in my unconscious state brought a flicker of warmth to my chest. At least the nurses took care of me.
The scent of lavender wafted through the air as I stepped into the warm water of the bathtub.
As the soothing liquid enveloped my body, I allowed myself to sink deeper into it, feeling the tension in my muscles begin to release.
I closed my eyes, focusing on the sensation of the water against my skin and forcing my mind to silence.
"Are you alright?" Sophie's voice broke through my thought as my eyes snapped open to see her standing at the bathroom door with a concerned expression. "I didn't mean to startle you."
"No, it's okay," I replied, managing a weak smile despite the fear easing. "I'm just... trying to process everything."
"Of course," Sophie nodded, understanding shining in her eyes. "Take all the time you need."
"Thank you," I whispered, feeling a spark of gratitude.
Toweling off, I caught sight of my reflection in the misted mirror. It was surreal – like staring at a stranger's face merged into mine.
With a trembling hand, I wiped away the steam to reveal hazel eyes replaced by a piercing shade of blue, and brown hair now long and grey.
An unexpected scream came out of my mouth.
"Who are you?" I shouted at the reflection in the mirror.
It was… me?
My entire appearance had changed, my body somehow transformed into a more refined version of itself.
"What on earth happened to me?"
I whispered, my voice barely audible amidst the steady drip of water from the faucet.
Staring at the unfamiliar reflection, I hesitated for a moment before gingerly reaching for the black cashmere cardigan and fitted track pants on the counter.
The soft fabric seemed to be calling out to me, whispering memories of a past self that felt distant, yet strangely comforting.
As I slipped into the clothes, I noticed an intricate logo embroidered on the cardigan's breast pocket – a fiery phoenix entwined with a frigid snowflake, its symbolism as mysterious as my transformed appearance.
"This can't be real." I murmured, tracing the delicate stitches with my fingertips, feeling the threads of the unknown intertwining with my new reality.
The door creaked open, and in walked the lady from earlier, clad in a similar outfit. She offered a warm smile, her eyes brimming with empathy.
"I know you have a lot of questions, but everything will be explained. Your friends are all okay, and you'll meet them shortly."
Her words, though reassuring, did little to quell the storm of emotions brewing within me. Anxiety gnawed at the edges of my thoughts, intermingling with curiosity and a desperate desire for answers.
How much has the world changed in the past four years? What happened to my friends during that time?
And most importantly, what…who was I now – the person reflected in the mirror or the one I remembered?
"Thank you," I whispered, swallowing the lump in my throat as I tried to steady my racing heart.
The scent of lavender from her perfume mingled with the lingering aroma of the bathwater.
As we exited the bathroom, I couldn't help but steal one last glance at the mirror – at the stranger staring back at me with those striking blue eyes.
Despite the fear and confusion, I had to admit, I looked good.
"Alright," I said, my voice growing stronger. "Let's go meet my friends."
And with that, we stepped out into the unknown, the sound of our footsteps echoing through the hallways like whispers from the past, guiding us toward a new beginning.
Echoing footsteps reverberated through the air, magnifying my growing apprehension and curiosity.
Sophie remained silent, her eyes focused ahead while I couldn't help but read her features, trying to discern why she seemed so recognizable.
"Is everything alright?"
Her voice gently pulled me from my thoughts, and I realized I had been staring at her for an uncomfortable amount of time.
"Uh, yeah, I'm fine," I replied, attempting to brush off the awkwardness while internally reeling with questions. "I just thought you looked... Have we met before?"
My words hung in the air between us, unanswered, as the distant murmur of voices reached my ears.
Straining to listen, I caught fragments of their conversation. "Guys, how are we going to explain to her? It will be too complicated."
"Who's that?" I asked, my heart pounding against my chest.
"Our… Your friends," Sophie replied, her soft blue eyes regarding me with what seemed like concern. "Don't worry, they've been waiting for you."
As I walked to the end of the corridor, my pulse racing with anticipation, I could feel the weight of the unknown pressing down on me.
My fingers twitched nervously at my sides. The door to the room where my friends were gathered loomed before me, an obstacle that stood between me and the answers I so desperately craved.
"Yeah, it will be," I heard a familiar voice through the door, her tone laced with a rare uncertainty, "but you understood, right?"
A false cough followed, disrupting the sober atmosphere. "Well, that was after he fainted." his words dripping with charm.
Even though I couldn't see him, I could imagine the smirk on his face as he teased whoever he was talking to.
The voices sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place them. There was a teasing quality to their banter, and it was comforting to hear their laughter. Still, the sense of déjà vu weighed on my mind.
Gathering my courage, I reached for the doorknob, pausing only for a moment to steady myself.
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