THE SUDDEN ANNOUNCEMENT

LAUREN'S POINT OF VIEW

I lay down my weary body on my bed. I didn't do anything strenuous today, but I feel like this day knackered me for real.

Every time I emember my classmate's demise, my stomach churns in fear relentlessly. I pulled myself up and stare at the dark sky strewn with glimmering stars from my open window.

Base from Loralei's reaction when I asked her once about our class' past, I know that something odd really happened. She was my supposed hope to connect all the pieces of puzzle that will uncover the significant fragments of the catastrophe that we're jailed in, but it seems like I will not get anything from her.

"Is she protecting someone? But who?" I asked underneath my breath.

•••••

We're currently inside the classroom when someone enters the room. But instead of Ms. Montreal, it was Dean of the University. All of us seem wondering with his sudden appearance. Ms. Eloise did not even inform us about this.

"What is Mr. Silvenia doing here?"

"I don't know. I'm as clueless as you."

my classmates muttered with each other.

The man in front of us cleared his throat before smiling. "Class, I have an important announcement for all of you."

That caught our attention.

He continued. "I'm sad to announce that your professor just recently resigned. Ms. Clara Eloise Montereal is not your teacher anymore."

Silence enveloped the room. We were all dumbfounded hearing the dean's announcement.

"I know that this is so sudden, but I hope you'll understand."

"I-it's not like I'm concern or what, but, why did she l-leave?" Amber asked, trying to sound nonchalant but she failed to hide the concern in her voice. Her stammering can prove that.

The man smiles sadly. "I'm sorry but she did not tell us her reasons for leaving either."

My forehead creased. Is it even possible to grant someone's resignation request without hearing the reason for resigning? Weird.

"Your section will not have any professor for the mean time because all the other teachers' load are currently full, we can't avail to compromise them either," he said.

"Don't worry because as soon as we find a substitute teacher, I'll inform you. For now, you guys can have a self-study while we wait. Nonetheless, I'm expecting all of you to behave and spend the time wisely and efficiently. Understand?" he continued.

Despite the shock, we nod our head.

"Good. By the way, who's the class president?"

Pierce raises her hand.

"Oh, Mr. Ycrio, you'll be leading your class for a while now. I want you to send me a weekly update about your class' situation."

"Noted, sir."

"Alright, I'll be going now. Take care, class."

Once again, silence lingers around us. We still haven't recovered from the incessant death of our classmates, and now we're greeted with the sudden fleeing of our teacher.

For the short time that we spent with her, I can say that Ms. Montereal is a good person. She was able to bear with our terrible demeanor.

"Do you guys have any idea why Ms. Eloise suddenly left?" Lorelei asked the class.

None of us answered, apparently because we did not expect this as well.

"Such a waste, she's actually the best professor that we ever had," Lei continued.

Summer suddenly stands up and looks at us with a furrowed eyebrows. "What are you guys saying?"

She let out a mirthless laugh. "Don't you think this is better? No one will forbid us to do everything we want, we are free to be reckless and defiant and no half-witted teacher will stop us. Stop being a sad bitch, this is freedom, Ms. Montereal's disappearance means freedom," she said.

I frowned. Is she seriously happy with our current situation?

"Is this bitch insane?!" Lorelei exclaimed.

"Summer's right."

I look at Sloane who spoke out of the sudden.

He laugh humorlessly. "What? Don't tell me we've gone soft for that bitch? Come on, we're better than this. I'm really tired hearing her continuous scolding, it's irritating," he said with a smug grin.

I was stunned. I tried to raised my arms to stop him from insulting the person who was once played a big part in our lives, but all I could do is uttered his name. "S-Sloane."

Just like an upheaval, the silent room was suddenly veiled in cacophony of loud voices. The boys have gone wild and are currently throwing crumpled papers with each other while the others exited the room though it's still a class hour.

Lorelei, Lucas, I and surprisingly Amber are the only remaining sane person here I guess.

"You will slowly unearth the monsters hiding behind the mist of their ludic beams," someone whispered behind me.

I don't even need to look at the person because I can easily recognize Lucas' flat and emotionless voice.

Like a string being pulled, my gaze abruptly landed on Sloane, and our eyes unexpectedly meet. But as I stare deep inside it, I couldn't see the glimpse of gentleness and benevolence anymore that I once saw before.

Now, all I can see in those hazelnut orbs are bleak and coldness. He averted his gaze, and for some unknown reasons, it makes my heart aches.

Damn, what the hell is wrong with me and this stupid heat of mine?