Clementine:
Troy started to shake his head while Yorick clenched his jaw. Ian had been glaring at me, and as for Haiden, he had much stronger emotions than the rest of the three. I was awkwardly taking small steps, refusing to join my squad at the table. They all had dishes full of amazing food before them.
I got to see the Red Squad and the others, but I couldn't focus on any faces for the moment. I guess they were all surprised to see me come out of the basement as well. It was definitely something. I then looked to my left and saw the ringleaders standing in a line with masks on.
"Please come here," Rue called out thankfully, and I let out the breath I had been holding back all this time. I wanted it to flow naturally, but this would do as well.
I reached her and stood beside her. This wasn't the first time I was anxious about all the eyes on me. The girls from the other squads had their noses wrinkled in disgust. The boys were whispering and pointing too, almost like they were laughing at me.
Miss Rue took off her mask, and everyone went silent. I noticed others taking off their masks too. I so badly wanted to watch everyone's faces, but I had to stand straight for the announcement of the change in my dorm room.
"I am really sad to say, one of my squad members will be replaced with another crusader. We are making a little shift in the squads, so if anyone wants to be a member of the Black Squad—" Miss Rue was announcing when she was interrupted. I had been so happy until her words were shut down.
"Actually, I don't think it's a good idea. If we do it for her today, tomorrow others will start complaining too. This place is not for children, so one must be able to bear the consequences of their actions or face hardships to survive. Isn't that the whole meaning of this place? To train them to survive, instead of complaining?"
As expected, it was Lenora speaking. She had to come in between and ruin it for me.
My heart started to pound, my eyes on my dorm mates, who were just watching me like they were waiting for me to be back in the dorm room with them.
"But she is getting bullied—" Miss Rue shut up, remembering my request. But not Lenora.
"She is getting bullied," Miss Lenora announced, and everyone started to speak in whispers. "It is true. Her dorm mates tried to toss her over the border last night. It is quite a shameful act, and they will be taking extra chores to compensate for their actions. Yes, that will be their punishment. But she will not be placed in another dorm room. Maybe she should also reflect on herself, and ask herself why she is getting bullied. We are not here to protect you like you are some children, you are crusaders. You are here to protect others, to protect our kind from the monsters of the North. So, no! There will be no changing of the dorm room. And her dorm mates will be punished. For now, go ahead, take your seat with your crusaders."
She was so stern and blunt.
She said all that in one breath, making me lower my eyes in embarrassment. I never thought I'd say this, but I badly wanted to change her facial structure.
I started to do my walk of shame among the students, reaching my table. There were a total of five squads with five ringleaders.
Once I reached my dorm mates, I sat down without lifting my head.
"Hmm, what are you? A child?" Troy grunted at the fact that I had gone as far as to complain about them to the ringleaders. That had probably never happened before.
"She got us in trouble," said Yorick.
"Everyone, please enjoy your breakfast. At lunch, we will tell you exactly what our schedule will be from now on," Lenora continued, while Miss Rue started to reach our table.
I felt so embarrassed. Almost everyone had watched me complain about my dorm mates. It was called snitching—that's what the crusaders called it. I heard they didn't like snitches.
"I hope you guys enjoy your meal. And be kind to her, Okay." She placed her hands on the table and hunched down, making me look at Yorick staring at her face a little too deeply. He was a fucking teenager with horny genes and nothing else in him.
"Treat her right. The injuries you guys gave her last night will stay with her until she transitions, which will take a few days to a week. So, I'm expecting good treatment from you all toward her."
She was so kind in the way she spoke to us. In fact, the other crusaders had been staring at her with wishful eyes as well. I guess everyone adored her.
"We will, miss—?" Yorick straightened his back, adjusting his shirt.
"Rue Dawson," she uttered, giving him a smile like a motherly figure gives to a child.
Once she walked away, I dug my head down and restarted finishing my food. I could be desperate, stressed out, or badly wounded—one thing I cannot stop myself from doing is eating good food.
Thankfully, we weren't allowed to speak to each other or the other crusaders, so breakfast was done in silence.
We were then asked to return to our dorm rooms for now. I was hesitant to be alone with them again because I knew such gentle advice wasn't going to work on them.
The minute I entered the dorm room, I found the alphas turn to question me.
"You fucking bitch, you would complain about us?" Haiden took the lead, rushing at me and slamming the door shut behind me, making my back hit the door.
"You fucking gave her injuries,"
However, a little crack in their newly formed alliance against me showed when Troy yelled.
"What?" Haiden turned to face him, even confusing me.
"They said she has injuries on her body. We did nothing. What the fuck did you do to her?" Troy continued, coming at Haiden, who I could tell was surprised by the confrontation.
"Did you put your hands on her?" Yorick questioned, squaring up as well.
I was not expecting that.
"Someone has to clean her wounds though."
Through all the tension, there was one alpha who was creepily waiting for his turn to speak up. And once he did, he rightfully filled my skin with goosebumps.