I couldn't stop wondering what went through her mind the moment her eyes met mine. What emotion flickered beneath that smirk—was it joy? Grief? Sadness… or anger? Was she still the Josephine I once knew?
"Hey there… shall we begin the tour?" Cicilia's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked around—the classroom was empty now. Just the two of us.
"Hmm," I muttered, locking eyes with her.
Before I could say more, she gently grabbed my hand and led me toward the door. She was warm, cheerful—even a little too eager—but I appreciated the kindness.
Just before we reached the door, she stopped and turned to face me.
"I get it. You're nervous. Totally normal. I felt the same way when I first got here," she said, offering a reassuring smile. "But don't worry, you'll adjust. You might even love it here."
She turned back toward the door but hesitated again, her expression suddenly shifting—like she had something important, something uncomfortable, to say.
"Sneak peek," she whispered. "Stay away from Jennie. She thinks she runs this place. Total drama queen. And her little squad—Jorge, Clara, Georgia? Just as bad."
I blinked, caught off guard.
"Oh, and one more thing," she added, lowering her voice even more. "Whatever you do, don't mess with Josephine. She's… well, let's just say she's a devil in disguise."
The words hit me hard. Josephine? That wasn't the girl I remembered.
"You saw that grin she gave you earlier?" Cicilia continued. "Yeah, that means you're already on her radar. Be careful."
Then she looked at me curiously. "It actually felt like you two knew each other. Do you?"
My stomach twisted. I froze for a second, then quickly shook my head. "No," I lied.
"Okay," she said with a laugh. "Sorry—I talk too much. You'll get used to that too. Mia, right?"
"Yes," I replied quietly.
She grinned and tugged me gently out of the classroom. My mind, however, stayed behind—still replaying everything. Was Cicilia talking about a different Josephine… or had the Josephine I once cared about become someone I barely recognized?
"Well, it's a bit isolated—I get that," Cecilia said with a shrug, "but trust me, there are a lot of cool places in here."
I glanced around. All I could see were two doors—the one we came through and another ahead. Besides that, it was just a plain, straight hallway. Honestly, I hadn't even noticed it properly when I walked in with Miss Paulina. So yeah, I was curious to see these "cool places" she mentioned.
She gently pulled me toward the left side of the hallway until we reached the end. Then she turned to me with a mischievous smile and whispered, "Wait for it…"
She tapped the wall twice. To my surprise, the wall shifted backward, revealing a hidden entrance. I stepped in with her, and my jaw nearly dropped.
It was beautiful.
The hallway opened into a massive space lined with doors, each clearly labeled. At the center stood a large, glowing blue orb that shimmered and spun slowly, casting a calming, cool hue around the room. Behind it, a staircase curved upwards. People—kids like me—moved in and out of the doors, laughing, talking, alive.
"Our class is separated from the rest," Cecilia explained. "Miss Paulina says we're 'special.' I honestly don't know what she means by that, but... it is what it is. There are other students here, other classrooms—way more than you saw earlier."
For a moment, I was in awe. This place wasn't as isolated as it seemed—it felt like a safe world created for kids who had nowhere else to go, no one left to run to. A quiet part of me whispered… maybe this is where I'll finally find peace. Maybe… just maybe, this place was meant for me.
"Come on, Mia," Cecilia said cheerfully. "Let me show you around."
We stepped through the first door, labeled "Classrooms." Inside, I saw rooms similar to ours but larger, more organized. Some students were still seated, taking lessons. It reminded me of Amilia—how she enrolled me in school, how she always made sure I stayed ahead.
The memory hit hard. Bittersweet. I forced myself to push it away before it dragged me into darker thoughts. Not now. I couldn't afford to lose my composure so soon.
We continued on, visiting other doors—the bathrooms (one for girls, one for boys), the cafeteria, dining hall, sports center, library, tech room, lounge, movie room… and finally, the girls' sleeping quarters.
It was a lot to take in, but for the first time in a long time, I felt something close to hope.
"Well… Mia, that's pretty much it. I'm sure Miss Paulina will fill you in on a few more things, but I've done my part," Cecilia said, tossing me a proud smile. "Hope you enjoyed the tour?"
"Yes, thank you," I replied quickly, flashing a polite smile.
"Oh wow, that smile..." she grinned. "Careful—if the boys see that, they'll be lining up. But fair warning—don't flash it in front of Liam. Unless you want Jennie breathing down your neck."
I gave a soft chuckle and nodded, though my mind drifted back to the classroom, trying to put a face to the name Liam. For some reason, it rang oddly familiar.
"Alright then," she said, pointing ahead. "Just head in here, take a right once you're inside—you'll definitely find an empty bed to settle in. I'll be back soon. Gonna see if I can get you some clean clothes to change into."
With that, she turned and walked away.
I pushed open the door, took the right as instructed, and stepped into the room. It was quiet—too quiet. A few beds had clothes thrown across them, probably belonging to girls off enjoying one of the "cool rooms" Cecilia had shown me earlier.
As I moved further inside, I noticed someone. A girl… sitting at the far end of the room, her back straight, eyes fixed on the wall.
I hesitated, debating whether to ignore her. But something nudged me forward.Step by step, I walked closer. Then gently called out, "Hey…"
She turned slowly, and for a moment, time stood still.
"Oh hey, Mia… long time no see," she said with a faint smirk, locking eyes with me.
My heart skipped.
"Jo… Jo… Josephine…" I whispered.