We eventually are funneled into the auditorium, where we all stand.
It's not surprising how many people are here. When you say something is free, people will always come crawling; it doesn't matter what it is, especially when you compare it to my old world, where college would cost you your soul and a firstborn child just to attend a year.
We're lined up, I'm next to Fletcher, and of course, Fuego is behind me. I didn't want to look back. But I'm pretty sure he is staring daggers; he may have one ready.
Standing there, I watch as a well-dressed boy walks up on stage; his assistant hands him a paper as he checks the microphone, and begins his speech.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Teachers and Staff, and all of those filthy furries... Good morning! I'm honored and humbled to stand before you today as your newly elected student president! It's truly heartwarming to see that so many of you believe in my ability to take on this role –or perhaps, were just too indifferent to vote otherwise. We stand at the beginning of another academic year, filled with the same potential and promise we hear about every single year.
Yet I have faith that this year will be different, for this semester has an outstandingly low amount of mutts. I believe that together, we clean people can disinfect our school and our gene pools. School is a place where every human student should feel valued and safe.
I promise to bolster security to make sure that no pure blood is spilled! Some of you don't deserve to stand amongst the greats here, and why some of you infidels were allowed at this school is beyond me. Nevertheless, I promise that I will make this school clean and perfect for those of our human race! I expect the other greedy, dirty, selfish, disgusting, grimy, slimy" He takes a deep breath "Useless furries! ...to struggle to at least try and kneel properly for us. I know how talented you all are, and together, we shall create a safer world and become true Luminaries!"
The opening ceremonies ends with that oddly racist speech.
After the speech, I walk through the courtyard in an attempt to learn the layout of the school.
I notice a pale boy with a white mullet. He seems to be hiding as he peeks around the corner, talking to himself. "Hehe! A new group of freshmen! It's like an out-of-tune piano. Fear not! I will put you all in tune."
I'm a little confused but curious nonetheless, so I stalk the stalker from a distance.
He lurks around a group of girls who are talking.
"I'm going to go get something from the vending machine!" One girl waves.
"Okay!"
The girl walks over to the alleyway vending machine, only for the pale boy to go up behind her and knock her out with some rag. He looks thrilled as if he were a mantis that just caught its prey. "Oh, goody! An A major!"
Standing there, I watch as he drags the body into a basement. For a moment, I don't react, pondering if I should have interfered. I realize it might be one of those social experiments testing the bystander effect.
So, fearing the Hawthorne effect, I decide not to obstruct a study with my previous knowledge. Perhaps I am justifying my own laziness. Regardless, I ignore it and continue on.
We were given ID cards/phones. It would have been handy if they had some fancy parasite powers infused in them, but they're really just a phone with heavy restrictions; felt like I was a kid with helicopter parents.
I click the side of the device, and the screen pops up, blinding me as it flashes a picture of me.
That was uncalled for...
The screen reflects my tired blue eyes. I see my scruffy blond hair with red highlights. "I really need to lay off the late-night coffees."
The screen then reveals my ID, showing every aspect of private information about me. At the bottom, it reveals my Dorm number and classroom number. Pressing down on the base button, it drags me to the home screen, three apps with different icons appear.
(expand - save for later too shallow)
Just then, I see a group of people talking as they walk towards the classrooms; fearing I would become a social outcast, I hustle towards the number that was indicated on my ID, classroom Z 364.