I fist-bump my tail behind my back. Now, he gets my name right. Nothing like a little rage to help you focus.
“Hope, Gale…Escort Mysteria to her cabin.” Prescott stomps down the main aisle to stand before me. “In light of your real father’s donation to this school, I’m going to assume this outburst was the product of a tired mind. You’ll go to your personal cabin to rest now, and when I see you for group breakfast in the morning, I expect you to be well behaved.”
I put on my best mopey look. It’s not as effective for Prescott since he can’t see my tail go all droopy, but it will have to do. That was a big slipup back there. “Yes, Headmaster Prescott.”
“That’s a good Missy.”
My mopey look disappears. Did he just use the words “a good” before my name, like I’m a pet? Unbelievable. And I thought the ghouls were bad teachers.
Prescott gestures to two students near him. “Gail, Hope. Get her going. This lecture is over.” The headmaster stomps from the room, and the other students follow along. The ginger-haired girl gives me a quick thumbs-up. I make a mental note to find some time to chat with her later. Harper.
For now, I’m stuck with Gail and Hope, both of whom look wide-eyed and frightened. As we walk outside, I make sure to give them my most winning smiles. “So, how do you two like summer camp?” They keep staring at the grass, and I’m no ace at small talk. “This school has a lot of…Trees. And stuff.”
There’s a saying that you speak and get crickets. At this point, I’ve got actual crickets chirping away at me. These chicks aren’t making eye contact, let alone using their verbal skills.
Without saying a word, Gail and Hope trudge off into the woods. I shoulder my backpack and follow close behind. Guess the perky approach isn’t the way to go.
I’ll simply have to improvise. It’s what I do best anyway.
We meander through the trees, and one thing becomes instantly clear. This place is loaded with guards. So far, all of them are adult humans. In other words, pretty weak as opponents go. I don’t spy any demons, but that doesn’t mean anything. If there are ones around, they’re most likely to come out at night. Only Class A jobs can run around in the daytime.
Eventually, the path ends at a log cabin. The place is triangle-shaped and modern-looking. One wall is all logs; the other is reinforced glass. We go inside, and things get even nicer. There’s a small kitchenette with a dining table along with a couch and reading nook. Finally, the back wall has a door that opens onto a bedroom-bathroom combo. Only one thing to say about this.
There’s no television. Boo.
Gail and Hope stand by the doorway, their gazes still locked on the floor. They keep not saying anything, and it’s making the awkward factor get way worse. “So, guys…”
Silence.
“You all want to read a book or something?”
More silence.
I’m going for broke. “I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we play a game? I call it let’s tell each other the worst rumor I’ve ever heard about Hemlock Island. What do you say?”
They all file out of the cabin like I started playing “Jingle Bells” by making fart noises with my armpit. (Yes, that’s a skill I have. No, I haven’t used it since I was four.)
Well, that was the wrong thing to say, obviously.
I’m alone again, and I decide to use my free time to scope things out. I open the front door, ready to explore the forest even if it is loaded with squirrels and goo. Three human guards step out from the trees and glare at me.
I wave at them. “Hey, there!”
They don’t answer. Verbal communication is a real issue on this island.
“I think I dropped something by the trees. I’ll have a quick look around.”
I step forward.
They step closer.
I step forward again.
They close in again.
Huh.
“Let me guess,” I say. “Is this your way of telling me to stay in the cabin?”
Acting in unison, the trio lift their machine guns at once. Still no talking. Even so, I guess words are overrated. It’s an extreme way to handle a student. I can’t say I’m totally shocked, though. This island is crazy pants.
“I’ll just go back inside.” With as much dignity as I can muster, I retreat into my luxury prison. My tail flips them the bird as I walk away though. Even though the humans can’t see the gesture, I do appreciate the support.
I plunk down into the butter-soft leather couch and take stock of things.
First, I could knock out those guards. However, that’s messy and noisy, and I’d need to put on my dragonscale fighting suit. Plus, they’ve got guns. And although the bullets wouldn’t go through dragonscales, they’ll still hurt like a sonuvabitch.
Second, I could find another way to sneak out of here.
I decide to go with door number two.
Time to check out the bathroom and bedroom windows. I hightail it back to my bedroom suite. It’s more rustic-chic with lots of polished wood and glass. The bathroom has no window. There is one above the bed, though.
Bingo.
I leap onto the bed and peep out the window. The moment I look out, I notice something. Red dots of light on my chest.