Annabeth

To say this elite school for the privileged is strange, is right on the mark if I do say so myself. I sit in the big classrooms, that seem more for a college with the way they are set up. The chairs are all up above, in a circular form. The rows going down towards the floor, where at the center is the long table, the teacher uses for a desk.

There are strange books, with weird markings on a few of the tables that I can see. Once the teacher sees me eyeing them however, they move them into a drawer or on the bookshelf. When they speak about certain things, they use words such as 'gift', or 'things you were blessed with at birth.' Looking around the room, no one else looks confused. I stand alone with that as usual.

It says on the schedule that the lessons are supposed to last about an hour and a half, but about forty-five minutes in the teacher dismisses me. Louisa gives me one of her bright smiles when I look at her with confusion.

Nodding her head to the door, she whispers to me "We will catch up a little later on and maybe watch a movie." As though it's not strange in the least.

There is something more going on here, and I know Arthur said that he is part of an elite religion, but I have yet to hear anyone discuss anything on the subject. If anything, with the way some of my peers are dressed makes me believe he's full of shit! Looking around I see many dressed in all black, with holes in their pants, and some have piercings on their face. Every weekend they dress this way. Of course, on the school days we all have the same uniforms to wear, and apparently, they must take out their piercings while in class.

Whenever I ask Louisa about the strange occurrences that have happened, she looks away from me and quickly changes the subject. Letting me know my gut instinct is correct. I haven't seen Ezekiel all week, it's been a total of five days since my eyes have seen him or had his body close to mine. His hands touching my skin, and his lips driving me crazy.

I asked Tiberius about him yesterday in class. His jaw got tight with tension, a solemn look appearing on his face, and he leaned in his chair, cracking his knuckles. He refused to look at me the rest of class, telling me he went home for some family business. Apparently, it happens often with him. I would think his family would be more concerned with his schooling. I was always taught how important it was, but it seems to mean diddly squat to most of these people.

When Louisa walks through our bedroom door, with a book clung to her body, I feel relief. I need to talk to her desperately about what's been going through my mind. When her eyes make their way up and she sees me, they widen in shock, as she pauses mid-step.

"Oh, hey. I thought we were meeting down at the cafeteria." She looks around the room, as though someone else is here hiding and going to jump out of the closet and spook her.

"Okay," I stand from my bed, arms crossed over my chest.

"Explain to me why you're acting weird." I lift a brow at her and await to see what she says. She switches from one leg to the other, placing her hair behind her ear, she looks behind her. Out the open door, as though she's hoping someone can help her.

"Enough!" I stomp over to her, grabbing hold of her arm.

"What is everyone in this place hiding?" She looks up at me with fear in her eyes. Until a moment later it changes to the same look Ezekiel gave me five days ago.

"Your eyes..." She whispers just below her breath.

"What about them?" I ask.

She moves a few steps closer to me. Causing me to feel a bit claustrophobic in the small room. I find myself taking a step back to keep a safe distance away.

"Why does everyone keep looking at me like they've seen a ghost or something?" I whisper more to myself than her.

"First Ezekiel, now you...." Before I can finish my sentence, she cuts me off.

"Ezekiel looked at you strangely the last time you two had a confrontation?" She asks with a hint of fear coding her words.

"Yes, but he didn't say anything about my eyes. Just studied me closely like you keep trying to do." I swat her away when she moves closer to me once more.

"Sorry," she takes a step back, shaking her head, she moves to her bed. Sitting upon it, she looks like she's in a daze.

"I just can't believe this." She says more to herself than me once more.

Walking to my bed, that is a few feet away from her, I sit down, placing my elbows on top of my knees. Steepling my fingers I wait for her to acknowledge me.

"I can't tell you anything. The entire teacher staff and students have been sworn to not say a word to you." Her words make my heart speed up a beat.

"What are you talking about? You're not making any sense." I wave both hands in the air in frustration.

"If I'm being completely honest, you're sounding a little too ominous for my liking." She gives me a sad smile before she looks down at the book that is placed on her lap.

When I look down, I see the intricate design on the cover. "What is that?" This time she doesn't hide it from me, like she normally would.

Instead, she runs her fingers over the design with a smile on her face. "One of the many secrets of this place." She says as she looks up at me.

This is the first time she hasn't brushed my thoughts aside or tried to change the subject. She actually admitted this place has secrets. Many of them according to her.

"What secrets?" I watch her closely. She doesn't stop her finger tracing, but she will no longer look at me.

"I can't tell you." Her voice comes out in a whisper.

I want to open my mouth to beg her, possibly even guilt her about how friends don't keep secrets from one another, but when her eyes come to me, they stop me in my tracks. The tears let me know she already feels guilty about it.

"Ask Ezekiel. He is the only one that can tell you anything."

"Why?" I ask confused. She shrugs her shoulders and wipes away her tears.

"Because of whom he is." I stand from the bed and pace the floor in front of her.

"I would if I could. I haven't seen him here all week, and I really do not want to go back to where Arthur and my mom are." I nibble my lip, trying to figure out what I can do.

"Umm, Annabeth..." I stop my pacing and look at her.

"He's back. You can find him in the cafeteria."