Chapter 1
“Are we there yet, Mom?” I was annoying her for the tenth time while my dad is driving us back home from Aunt Beverly’s house. I place my tiny hand on the car window, watching the heavy rain pour from the dark cloud.
My favourite aunt’s house is in the middle of the forest. It’s dangerous to visit without precaution, but at least the pathway has a road instead of trees and bears.
“Can you open the window, dad? Pretty please…” I begged him with a pouty face.
“It’s a no from us, Poppy darling. It will ruin our car.” Mom told strictly.
“Maybe it will be a little fun to let the rain in with a half window open, Addie,” Dad told her, turning back and smiling at me.
“Michael!!!” Mom exclaimed while I got distracted by some flashlight. I got on my knees in the seat with my tiny legs and turned back.
“Is the flashy light car following us?” I asked my parents, looking keenly at the shadow of the driver.
“They are probably going somewhere like us.” Mom assured me, but the car kept speeding until it bumped into our car’s back. The force made me fall on my back as I hit my mom’s car seat.
“Poppy!! Are you alright?” Mom freaked out. “Shit!! This is not how it ends.” Dad cursed, speeding up the car.
“What’s happening, Dad?” I struggled to get hold of my mom’s seat without falling.
“What the hell are you saying, Michael?” Mom scolded him as she lent me her hand to support me. At that moment, my eyes caught someone’s silhouette in front of our car.
“Dad, watch out!!” I shouted, holding onto my mom’s hand. That person has some object in his hand that I can’t identify. Suddenly, Dad took a turn towards the wild side of the forest. One second, the car was moving smoothly and fast. The next, I felt it fall as I went over to the closed window and hit my head.
“Poppy Blue, wake up right now…” Someone’s shaking my shoulder vigorously.
“Mom!!” I woke up with a start, touching my left side of the head for any sign of blood.
“Poppy, are you having nightmares again?” Betty stood on her knees on my bed in her Fortune Elite uniform.
“My parents… I can never stop dreaming of this, Betty,” I confessed, wiping the tears off my face.
“Oh, Poppy. I thought it has stopped. You could have told me, but it’s okay. I’m with you now.” Betty hugged me tightly, making me feel like someone who has a shoulder to cry on. I’m not an orphan. My Aunt Beverly and my best friend are with me.
I was eight when the accident happened. I only remember the parts of the night when the accident occurred. I wish my parents are here with me. They would have been proud to know their only daughter is entering the world’s greatest elite school for the best students.
“Hugging time over. We have exactly forty-five minutes to reach the Academy. If we don’t, we will be in trouble for sure.” Betty shrieks in her loud voice. She’s been my only close friend for nine years. Since she can’t afford to study here, she got a scholarship to this Elite Academy after we finished high school. When I applied, both my studies skills and money got me here.
Instantly, Betty throws my towel on my face. “Take a bath now. Every minute counts, bestie.” She orders me. She’s always punctual. It’s not in my blood. Once again, my thoughts took over as I rushed into the bathroom. I was living with my aunt since my parents died or it was an attempted murder. No one ever knew and I don’t have a good memory to figure it out. The case was closed so easily.
Now that I’m eighteen. My Aunt bought me an individual house for me to live alone. She’s a tour guide who travels a lot, and she left her temporary house near the forest to only live with me in Zreewood city on the edge of the Europe country. This house and every single thing I buy are from my parent’s assets, which legally belong to me. But what happiness does it give me when they are only living in my memory?
“You look amazing, Pop?” Betty spoke when I opened my room door after changing into my Black uniform.
“Not as much as you look,” I commented, looking at my fair best friend’s long, straight brown hair and the perfect uniform which fit her.
“Wait, how did you get into my house?” I asked her in wonder.
“Well, it’s a short story. Before your aunt left for a long trip, I asked her for the spare key you gave her. I got in here to find that you are sleeping.”
“Uh-huh, but it will hurt no one if we arrive five minutes late, does it?” I asked, checking myself in the mirror. I took my red bag to check if it suits the black uniform. I kept glancing at myself by curling my black hair, which reached my shoulder.
“Are you kidding me? Don’t tell me you didn’t read the instruction paper.”
“What’s that?” I innocently asked her. I really suck. I learned nothing about this elite school. All I did was concentrate on my therapy session, which was over now and wanting to find out the truth about the accident like Nancy drew.
“I don’t have time for this. I will explain this on our way.” Betty grabs my hand and makes me run with her to the car, which is waiting outside. That’s my driver. Even I forgot, but he’s right on time for my first day.
“Oh my, I don’t know how to thank you, Mr Johnson.”
“It’s my pleasure to help you, Ms Poppy. I will get you both there in time.” He replied as we seated ourselves comfortably.
“Shit, 15 missed calls from my Aunt Beverly. I shouldn’t have turned silent mode off.” All because of my fucking boyfriend.
