Chapter 5

Paula called the runner back to where the rest of us stood. It took a minute to convince them, but they eventually did. I started at the maids on the other side of the gate, wondering what was about to happen. The lights on the other side of the gate where the maid stood started turning off one by one, with a loud click, click, click, until all the lights in the rest of the castle were off. The human hall was the only thing lit, and the maid looked creepy with the bit of light. I could feel myself shaking, as if something dangerous lurked in the darkness.

“The gate will lift at 7 am and fall at 8 pm. Whatever you do, make sure you are on that side of the gate.” One of the maids explained, and as of on que a blood-curdling scream came from the castle behind them, bouncing off the walls and knocking into us. Elain and Matthew each grabbed my hand in fear, and I grabbed back equally as scared.

A woman in an orange jumpsuit, who looked as if she had just been released from prison, ran past the maids and toward the iron gate. She slammed into it, reached through the square gaps, begging us for help. Elain whispered to me that she had blood on her clothes, and upon looking closer, there were red spots all over her jumpsuit, but I wasn't sure if it was blood.

“Help, please! There are demons out here! Please.” She begged, waving her arm through the gate like anyone might grab it any second, but no one moved. It felt like we were all frozen.

Matthew pulled us behind him, shaking but still strong. He was breathing slowly while his eyes tracked something in the darkness just past the maids.

“What is it?” I whispered, trying to figure out what was in the dark, but I couldn’t see anything. The woman was still screaming at us, switching between demanding and pleading for help.

The darkness moved, and a pale person with black hair had his mouth on that woman's throat while she let out a raw, anguished scream. I covered my ears as if that would stop it, but I could not take my eyes off her, and the blood started to drip from her throat, forming a large dark puddle. A horrible gargling sound replaced her scream, and her eyes felt like they were locked on mine, starting to become less focused and more glassy. I have never seen the life leave someone’s eyes like that.

The guy was still latched onto her throat, drinking. I took a step forward around Matthew, not thinking, and the guy’s attention switched to me. His ruby red eyes bore into my brown ones. Matthew grabbed onto my wrist like a leash, not letting me go forward.

“You are brave.” The guy smiled with blood dripping from his mouth, dropping the woman like a candy wrapper, staring at me. I couldn't help but notice that his deep voice drew me in.

“What's wrong, dear cat, got your tongue?” He smiled a sexy little grin with a wink, looking at me, then Matthew, who tightened his hand around my wrist, trying to pull me back behind him, but I wouldn't move.

“If you want to act tough, maybe you need to learn to eat your food without getting it all over you first like a child,” I replied, gesturing to the blood dripping from his mouth. Everyone froze, wondering what was about to happen. Was he about to kill me like he killed her? Why on earth did I say that? Was I suicidal? I was probably suicidal after everything that happened.

He burst out laughing while the maid stood still, not moving, just observing. Another scream erupted through the dark castle, and he turned to look.

“I got to go, sweetheart. It sounds like dinner.” He grinned again, then took off into the darkness. It was thankfully quiet and still for a moment until the sounds of dogs running, barking, and yipping filled the air.

A large grey wolf or dog grabbed her body and flung her from the gate, and the others pounced, ripping it to shreds.

I screamed, backing away, bumping into Matthew, who went stiff. The dogs were as big as cars and came in different shades of black, brown, and grey. The grey one met my eyes with his golden ones, and I didn't feel like they wanted to hurt us. Was I losing it?

When they took off, there was nothing left of the woman other than bloody orange shreds and the pool of blood from the original attack.

“Convicts who have a life sentence are released into the school at 8:02 pm for our supernatural students to enjoy. If they survive until 7 am, then they will be set free, but unfortunately for them, no one ever has. Tomorrow you will be taken to the local town to shop for necessities. Good night, we will see you in the morning.” The maids said, and they all walked off into the darkness. I looked back at the spot and a shiver ran down my spine. None of this felt real.

“Come and get some hot chocolate,” Paula said in a calm voice, gently guiding us to the table where fifty or so mugs full of hot chocolate with marshmallows were.

Each of us took a mug and then sat at a table. Elain and Matthew sat with me. The mugs fit perfectly in my hands, and the hot chocolate, which warmed our hands and insides.

We all sat in silence, other than the sounds of drinking, sniffles, and crying, and the occasional screams filling the distance. Elain looked paler than usual, staring at her mug like it contained answers with white knuckles, and Matthew lay his head on the table after finishing his mug, and I slowly drank mine.

I glanced around at the others, and the majority of them seemed in shock, while others were crying. I looked for Bethany, who was holding another girl, both of them crying.

It's been close to twenty-four hours since my mom threw me away, and I have already seen a woman’s life be taken from her in the most brutal way possible by one of the sexiest men I have ever seen. I enjoyed his laugh even though he was covered in blood. I think there is something wrong with me. I also saw a large grey wolf with beautiful golden eyes.

“My dears, it’s getting late. I suggest you all go to bed. Don't worry, you are all safe as long as the gate is down.” Paula assured her voice carried across the hall. No one moved at first, but some guy moved, causing a chain reaction. Out of our group, Matthew moved first.

“Night, ladies.” He said in a flat voice, and we both replied, “Good night.” We sat for a little longer, not wanting to move, just wanting company.

“We should probably get to sleep,” Elain whispered in a small voice, to which I agreed. I set my empty cup down while Elain set her full cup. She must not like hot chocolate. I wonder if she likes coffee.

Elain followed me to my room, only for me to realize she had gotten the room to the left of mine. I was kind of relieved cause I knew if she had heard me bawling earlier, she wouldn’t tell anyone or mock me. I mean, I hope she wouldn’t

I opened my door when I noticed my name beautifully carved into the wood. I wondered who did it, but I sudden wave of exhaustion pushed that thought aside. I rushed forward to my bed, passing out before I even hit the bed.