The Villain Academy- Chapter Nine: Watch Out for Ninjas
Hi, everyone!
Back again. :D And I come with Chapter Nine of "The Villain Academy" all shiny and new! Yadda yadda blah, read Chapter Eight first or else you'll be terribly confused, usual babbling, I say something witty right about here, I ramble for a couple lines, and yay, we're up to the synopsis! This one's got a frightening future fortnight, subtle Twilight bashing (no really, it's quite subtle akshully), a ton of Rune, off-limits pies, heroic sacrifices, ninjas (thus the title), foreshadowing, and a ninja sister school! When all else fails, ninjas, amirite?
9. Watch Out for Ninjas
The library was stocked mostly with villain books, like the ones Tori had found in the old classroom. It seemed no one took the time to dust or clean at the Academy. Tori was continually sneezing from dust clouds every time she turned a page.
The afternoon passed more quickly than the morning. Tori took book after book from the shelves, reading and pretending to be interested. Rune sat at his corner in the back, writing in his notebook. The sound in the library was not much. Tori turned pages, sneezed, and sometimes coughed, and the sound of Rune’s pen scribbling on the notebook paper made for all the noise in the room. Occasionally Tori would glance back at him, wondering how he wasn’t bored out of his mind. Whatever he was writing, it had to be interesting. But evidently he wasn’t sharing.
Several times Tori wanted to say something, to ask him something. About his notebook, about his family, about the Academy, even about the weather. But she didn’t want to break the silence, especially with a question he’d only answer with a glare.
Tori watched the clouds roll by every so often, giving her eyes a rest from text. The constant overcast sky was bothering her. No wonder all villains were so pale. None of them lived in sunny places.
“Is it always rainy here?” she finally asked several hours later.
Rune looked up, and then out the window. “Pretty much, yes,” he answered.
“Isn’t it depressing?” Tori asked.
“Exactly.”
Tori nodded. “Right. I just feel like I’m in a bad supernatural romance novel,” she muttered. She returned to the book, which was about great villains of the past.
The hours until dinner passed by. Tori began to feel hungry, and then noticed that she’d never seen Rune in the dining hall.
“Don’t you eat?” she asked.
“Well, if I didn’t eat, I would die, and in that case I would not be here talking to you, explaining basic biology.” Rune said dryly. “Of course I eat. I just don’t go to the dining hall when everyone else is there. Too risky.”
“Oh. Don’t you get hungry?” Tori asked as her stomach grumbled again.
He shrugged. “At first, yes. But my body became used to my eating patterns, so I get hungry at different times than you.”
He glanced at his watch, which Tori hadn’t noticed before. “See, in a couple hours, around ten o’clock or so, I’ll have dinner. And then around the crack of dawn I’ll have breakfast. No lunch, really, but I’m used to it.” he explained, pointing to various numbers on the clock face.
“You must really hate your power to jump through all these hoops,” she said.
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t hate it, exactly, but it can be burdensome. But vampires and dhampyrs tend to get psychic powers in a higher frequency than others. I’d much rather have kinetics like Gemelle and Tamsyn. But it can’t be helped.”
It took Tori a moment to remember who Gemelle and Tamsyn were. “You don’t call them Snowflakes?”
“Evidently not.” he said. “They’re very pretty names, it’s a shame the two of them don’t use them more often.”
He gave her one of those odd looks of his. “I don’t recall this becoming an interrogation.”
“I’m a very curious person,” Tori said.
“Yes, you are quite odd,” he said, with the smallest hint of a smile.
It was a bit odd seeing Rune crack a joke like that, but it was sort of funny, so she smiled.
Tori went back to the table she’d been sitting at, swung her bag over one shoulder, and left for the dining room. The afternoon had passed by much easier than the morning, and no near-death experiences this time. That was always a plus.
Dinner was just as delicious as breakfast and lunch, but the Snowflakes were noticeably absent. Tori stared at their empty seats with something almost like disappointment as she ate. She’d grown used to them sitting across from her at meal times. But then again, she’d never seen them eat, and perhaps they weren’t that fond of her company. She did ask far too many questions than most others.
As she ate, she thought about what Rune had said. The Snowflakes did have pretty names. Gemelle and Tamsyn; very elegant. Their sister had a lovely name, too. The name Aimee was so melodic. Didn’t they say it meant “loved?” It sounded like the name of one who was loved, someone pretty and sweet who got along with everybody.
Tori’s mind drifted again to Aimee. She found herself thinking of the Snowflakes’ sister often. The little girl lost in an asylum was oddly relatable to Tori. She wondered what Aimee was like now. Bitter? Hateful? Spiteful? Messed up in the head forever now?
She stared out the window and thought of Altair. She’d seen everyone today except him. Actually, she hadn’t seen Angie either since this morning in the room.
Tori stifled a laugh as an odd thought crossed her mind. Maybe Angie and Altair were off somewhere together.
It was ridiculous and hilarious, and she nearly choked from muffling her giggles.
Dinner passed by more quickly due to the absence of the Snowflakes, and Tori decided to call Uncle Charlie again and give another status update.
She cleaned up her dinner stuff, left the dining hall, and traveled down the familiar hallway that ended in the door way to the empty closet.
The splintered mop, which Tori broke earlier, was still lying in the exact same place as it had been this morning. Her rage at the mop had not been sated, and she kicked it before swinging open the closet door. The fragments clattered and rolled, but the sound wasn’t too loud. Tori stepped into the closet, stepping on shards of glass from the morning’s exploded light bulb as she entered.
She shut the door and waited a moment, in case anyone was happening by. When she was sure she was alone, she pulled out her phone and dialed her uncle.
Back home, Charlie was still eating dinner himself. The phone rang from his pocket, this time with a generic, electronic ring. He couldn’t find any other song that didn’t get him worrying about something or other.
He swallowed a mouthful of mashed potatoes, pulled out his phone, and flipped it open.
“Hello?” he asked, his voice a bit muffled as he swallowed.
“Hi, Uncle Charlie, it’s me,” Tori replied. “What are you eating?”
“Dinner,” he said. “Never you mind.”
“You’d better keep your eyes off that pie Mom made, Dad will flip out.” Tori said.
Charlie slid his eyes off his sister’s pie, which was sitting on a pedestal on the counter, and said, “How did you know I was going to eat the pie?”
“Because you’re you.” Tori said simply.
“I realized this, thank you very much, Torianne. So, any news from the war front?” Charlie asked.
“Okay, you’re not going to believe this, but I think I found exactly what we’re looking for?” Tori said with a grin.
“Really?! A weakness or something? Tell me!” Charlie said immediately, standing up and sticking his hand in his remaining mashed potatoes by mistake. “Dammit,” he muttered, staring at his hand, irritated. After a moment he started to lick the mashed potatoes off his hand.
“Well, I was exploring the place and I found an underground basement lab. I hid and overheard the headmaster saying that the lab held all the secrets of the Villain Academy!” Tori said excitedly.
Charlie’s mouth fell open and half-chewed potatoes slid out onto his sister’s clean floor. “Are you serious?” he asked in a hushed voice.
“Yes. Why would I lie about something like this?”
“Alright then, Torianne. I’m going to get a team assembled and we’ll be over there by this time tomorrow if not sooner,” Charlie said, beginning to mentally list the heroes he’d call.
“No, you can’t do that!” Tori cried anxiously.
“Why not?” Charlie asked.
“Because the headmaster saw me. Well, I was a bit of pole, but a multicolored one, and I think he’d know it was me. He might send someone out to get me. I got away, but he might not forget so quickly,” Tori said, looking around nervously. If the Villain Academy was attacked two days after a new student arrived, the new student would definitely be a person of interest.
Charlie sighed and bit his lip. On one hand, he really really wanted to bring down the Villain Academy. Also, every passing minute Torianne spent in that horrible place increased his stress levels dramatically. But she had a point. If the Academy was invaded and brought down so soon after Torianne had arrived, coupled with the headmaster almost discovering her, she would most definitely be in danger, even more danger than she was already in.
He closed his eyes, knowing he’d regret this. “Alright. We’ll wait a week or two. Not too long. Just stay safe until then, okay? Please.” he said, almost begging.
Tori’s face scrunched up in worry and fear. Another two weeks at the Villain Academy? Another two weeks of constant danger? Another two weeks rubbing elbows with violent vengeful villains?
But otherwise, she’d be in real danger. Guaranteed danger. While at the Academy, she was always in danger, as long as she wasn’t discovered, the danger would not manifest into violence.
And it would be easy now. Tori’s job was done. She’d found what she needed, what the heroes needed, and the Villain Academy would fall. Just two more weeks and the world would be safe forever.
The silence was long, broken by a crack of static every now and again. Finally Tori said, “Okay. I’ll stay safe. I’ll…um…I’ll see you in two weeks. Get the team ready, and good luck.”
Charlie sat down in his seat, anxious and sorrowful. Being stuck in that place must be awful for her. “Good girl. You’re very brave, you know, Torianne.”
Tori smiled. “Thanks.”
“I’ll see you in two weeks. Watch your step, okay?” Charlie asked, trying to sound reassuring.
“I will. I love you, Uncle Charlie,” Tori said, ending the call and sticking the phone back in her bag.
“Good-bye,” Charlie said softly on the other line. He stuck his phone back in his pocket and turned back to his dinner, which was growing cold.
He scraped the remnants of the meal in the garbage. He wasn’t hungry anymore. Rather, he felt like someone had just punched him in the stomach.
He was so guilty.
Tori put her back to the wall of the closet and slid down, feeling overwhelmed and, quite frankly, terrified. She drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, resting her head on her knees. She sniffled, fighting the urge to cry from the utter hopelessness of the situation. She couldn’t go around the flipping Villain Academy with puffy red eyes and tear streaks running down her face.
Her shoulders slumped as she sat there, putting all her energy into subduing a wave of tears.
Two more weeks in this place? Two more weeks before she was rescued? Two more weeks of opportunities to be discovered was what lay ahead of her. A constant state of fear, a constant paranoia was to be her only companion. She was in far over her head. Who did she think she was taking on this task? How could anyone possibly think she was prepared for this?
She missed her parents. She missed her uncle. She missed her real school, her house, her own bed. She missed being safe and sound, she missed being easygoing.
She bit her lip tight; the pressure was so great she feared she’d break the skin. She had to be strong. She wasn’t going to make it out of this alive being a weak, scared little girl who missed her old life.
She uncurled herself from her pathetic position on the floor and got up, a new vigor coming over her. She was going to make it out of this. She was going to survive. Two weeks? Two weeks was nothing!
“Nothing at all,” she murmured to herself. The library was safe, after all. She’d done her part; all she had to do was sit in a library all day. No, now her biggest goal was not staying safe, but rather finding something to do to pass the time, she assured herself. No big deal. If anything, she’d be bored more than scared.
Tori brushed herself off, forgetting to freak out when she spotted a cobweb. She swung open the closet door and stepped out into the hall. She slammed the door tight behind her and stomped on the mop, splintering it further.
She felt much better now.
Outside through the windows Tori saw the sky darkening outside. She decided to head back to the dormitory and maybe turn in early tonight. All of a sudden she realized how tired she was.
She wandered the halls back to the dormitory. She found it after some difficulty; this morning seemed like ten forevers ago.
She swung the door open to find Angie and the Snowflakes already there in their pajamas, sitting on their beds and talking.
“Oh, hey, Lyn,” Angie said off-handedly.
“Good evening, Lyn,” the Snowflakes chorused.
“Hi, guys.” Tori said. She turned to Angie. “I haven’t seen you, like, all day. Where have you been?”
Angie shrugged. “Oh, just around. The Academy’s big, it’s not all too surprising we didn’t run into each other.” she said, sounding like the matter had utterly no importance to her. The Snowflakes nodded simultaneously.
“We had breakfast and lunch with Lyn,” they informed Angie.
“Her manners exceed yours…” one Snowflake said, “but, after all, wolves have better table manners than you,” the other finished dryly.
“Oh, haha, you’re so funny,” Angie said mockingly, rolling her eyes.
Tori took her bag and changed into her pajamas in the bathroom. She brushed her teeth, sighed upon looking at the awful hair in the mirror, and sat back on her bed.
“How was your first day, Lyn?” Angie asked, glancing over at her.
“Kind of dull, to be quite honest,” Tori said with a shrug. “I just explored a bit. I found an old classroom, all dusty with the blackboard messed up and stuff. I found some old books in there, too. But other than that, nothing really.”
“Yeah, this place isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” Angie agreed, crossing her arms and looking around the room.
Tori pulled out one of the notebooks in her bag and began to doodle absently. A few minutes trickled by in silence, broken occasionally by the Snowflakes whispering to each other, back and forth.
Suddenly there was a massive crash and dust settled around the room.
Tori cried out and fell off her bed, her notebook flying through the air and crashing to the floor. Blinking dust out of her eyes, she tried to see what had happened.
Three figures, dressed in black, had burst through the wall somehow. Tori squinted her eyes and looked closer.
“What the…ninjas?!” she cried, confused and bewildered.
The small entourage of ninjas moved fluidly and menacingly, as though they were looking for a fight. Their masks only allowed for their eyes to be seen. These eyes were narrowed into slits, and dark fire pulsed in them.
Tori looked around at the others, but they didn’t seem bothered at all. Angie huffed and put her hands on her hips.
“Would you guys cut that out? Find someone else’s walls to smash, you weirdos!” she yelled at them.
The leader of them said something in Japanese, his tone cutting.
“Oh, oh yeah, I’ve disgraced your people and we shall engage in combat or some shit,” Angie shot back, her tone terribly mocking.
“Angie, stop! They could hurt you!” Tori hissed, still on the floor. She tugged on Angie’s pajama pant leg pleadingly.
“Who, these jokers? Please. They burst in here whenever they please looking for combat.” Angie explained. “They’re from the sanctuary up in the mountains. They’re our sister school of sorts, I guess. And they’re really damn annoying!” she said, the last sentence yelled in their general direction. While they might not have understood the words, the ninjas knew Angie’s tone and figured out she must have said something offensive.
The leader spoke again and fell into a defensive stance, beckoning for her to bring it on.
“What? You want to fight me?” Angie asked incredulously, pointing to herself. She grinned. “Alright then, ninja boy. Let’s dance.”
Angie conjured a ball of fire in one hand. There was a glint in her eye. Tori’s own eyes widened and she slid under her bed, hoping to avoid serious injury.
Under the bed, Tori heard various fighting sounds. Crackling flames, Angie laughing, ninjas screaming, a window breaking, and finally another massive crash from the wall opposite the one that was broken in by the ninjas first appearing. Rubble skittered under Tori’s bed and once again a wave of dust set her off coughing and sneezing.
She waited a minute and then peered out from under the bed. The entire room was covered with a layer of plaster dust, hunks of stone from the walls, and various rubble and debris. Two massive holes had been blasted in a pair of opposite walls. The cool night air, with an inky black sky with stars and moon obscured by clouds of an impending storm, was rushing into the room. Tori shivered as she pulled herself upright.
There were various scorches and burn marks on the remaining walls and the floor, and the rug in the middle of the room had been half burnt off.
Already the Snowflakes had gotten to putting chunks of stone back together into the wall. Somehow every piece fit without glue or plaster. Tori watched them, fascinated. The Snowflakes were levitating, arms linked, in the middle of the room. Around them was a swirl of rock and dust, surrounded by a silver, glowing force field. The dust and plaster hovered in the air, and Tori thought of the contents of an hourglass. She could imagine the splintered and shattered glass of the time keeping device hovering around the dust. The Snowflakes manipulated it to fly out the gaping holes in the wall and, as they released it, it settled over the landscape, and some flew off with the wind.
Stones reformed into wall and after a few minutes of the Snowflakes working, the walls were whole again. The cold air no longer wafted through the room, and the temperature began to slowly increase. Tori smiled at them as they gently drifted back down to earth, arms still entwined as if they were doing a square dance.
“That was really cool,” Tori told them. They smiled identical smiles of appreciation.
Angie knocked a balled-up fist on the reconstructed wall, apparently impressed.
“Does that happen a lot?” Tori asked, still hardly believing what had just happened.
Angie rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Truculent is buddies with Master Lau over at the ninja sanctuary, and he lets them practice on our dorms late at night,” she explained. “He says it helps us stay on our toes. Yeah, sure, that’s great, headmaster. Good job, great foresight, no, really,” Angie scoffed. “The Snowflakes have got clean up covered, so it’s pretty much just an annoyance now. Of course, I can take them any day, so I suppose it’s decent practice. It’s sure as hell irritating. Stupid ninjas.”
With that, the other girls all went to their beds, throwing off the incident without a second thought. Tori clambered into her own bed and pulled the sheets up tight.
“I swear, this is the weirdest school in the entire world,” Tori muttered to herself. She soon fell asleep easily after a very, very long day. Tonight, she didn’t even have the energy to think about the current worrying, dangerous state of her affairs. Rather ironic, seeing as she had far more to worry about now than she did last night.
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Yeah. That marks the chapter's over, mmkay? I don't want anyone to be confuzzled.
Rune is awesome. Goes without saying. New law: The Rune Is Awesome Law. xD
Quote of the Day: "Oh my God, you're doing a scene from Shakespeare?! You're my new best friend!!"
~June