WHEN DEATH SKIPPED A SOUL: LIFELESS

CHAPTER 01 - GREY

Spring came through the cool but busy breeze in the Holshire Woods. The wind scattered like the leaves danced in the familiar crisps. The atmosphere has always been lifeless and eerie but that's what makes the place more, acceptable.

Holshire Woods existed since time untraceable, it was an inhabitant for people and species in different times and fields. It was once a hunting ground but soon got itself civilized and built an all girl's school in the center part of the dim woods however, due to low population, later it became a coeducational institution for males and females.

This School was almost known for 'bleaching-school-for-rebellious-peeps'

"Nice pink."

The boy, Troy, who was irritably gardening the bed of flowers was surprised in an ashamed way and concealed his anger by rebuking "Nice weather today Zomb."

Troy got himself this punishment as he accidentally--no, but yesterday, he shouted back to their Home Economics teacher. Now he's wearing a pink garden apron and pinkish gloves.

"It's his third time right?" Mila caught up as they continued to walk on the open hallway enabling them to view the several garden beds, making fun of their poor classmate.

"QUITE A PINK AUNT TROY!" she called grinning

Troy got more irritated and shouted back, "PINKIER THAN YOUR BLUSH-ON MILATRIX!"

Mila, named Milatrix twitched and made an unethical finger gesture to her classmate.

"I think pink is quite aggressive and lovely," Roes added.

"It's sore eyes." Mila who was the stylish chick once again checked her blush-on with a mirror.

They were already in their third year in Senior High School and some things never change, the students became fewer year upon year due to incidents occurring in the neighboring woods. The last time they remembered there were always bustling first years in their empty football field during these times of spring but now, it's only dried yellowish grass. Even the buildings are turning grays due to a lack of life forms.

"Morning Mr. Joe."

They greeted the school janitor who was working for about 4 decades here. Always the optimist and hardworking one.

"Good morning~" he replied carrying the cleaning tools.

They were about to turn left going to the Westside towards their room but Roes walked straight which made Mila stop and shut her mirror.

"Going to the clinic again?" Mila asked

Roes nodded without stopping.

"Don't you think it's about time to stop interning? Like hello, it's our third year." Mila said

Roes waved her hand without turning back

"30 minutes."

When she reached the clinic, Dr. Ferrel was already there clad in her usual white coat and braided hair. Different from the usual because she looked more haggard and sleepless.

"Good morning Roes!" she greeted in glee

Roes smiled and greeted back, "Good Morning Ma'am."

"Such nice weather today isn't it?" Ferrel said as she carefully arranges her things on the table. A woman in her mid-30s, beautiful and elegant, a noble she may seem because she was quite preserved.

"A normal one I guess, how may I help you today?" she asked

"Sorry for the early request today Ro, but I got something important and I need you to help me a bit." Ferrell's braided hair got some loose and wild strand rebelling on the flow.

"No problem ma'am."

"Thank you." she smiled

Roes was instructed to place some files chronologically in a single folder, and the doctor is busy taking some phone calls while monitoring the seemingly abstract screen on her monitor. From time to time Roes can hear her raising her voice on the line, she thought that this must be a big project because she never saw the doctor this tense.

It was a simple task and she immediately finished but her eyes roamed on the familiar place and saw something secured on the side table. A box made in some strong metal that is fully covered what its inside, not letting an air enter or exhort even a bit.

"Is this something important ma'am?" she asked

The doctor was talking to someone on the phone when she heard Roes ask, she turned to the girl and just smiled then back to her phone again.

Roes took a glimpse at the black box before shrugging.

It was a 30 minutes morning duty and Roes got back to her room. Fortunately, their first-period teacher was also late.

"Did I miss something?" Roes asked as she seated beside Mila who was busy spreading some lip tint on her lips using her pinky.

"Yeah," Mila tilted her head on the mirror as she gaze herself "...you miss my self-enlightenment where I realized my make-up style is already out of colors," she said in a serious tone

Then turned to Roes, "I made a new style just now and reapplied."

Roes rolled her eyes and seated.

"Hey there you two, your assignment please." Connan, their class representative approached.

Mila froze. Roes smiled.

"Thank you, Ms. Baskerville," Connan said to Roes

"Then Ms. Milatrix Merald?"

Mila seated straight in her back and smiled in a silly way, "You know Class Rep., I got myself confused this morning, I woke up in---"

"Nice intro Ms. Merald." Connan smiled patiently.

She smiled widely and said, "I forgot."

Connan smiled.

They both smiled.

"But I saw it on your desk last night, empty pages." Roes blankly stated.

The curved smile of Connan and Mila suddenly became stiff.

"I'll disown you one day Baskerville," Mila remarked right after dealing with the class representative.

Besides the academy is their dormitory separated by two divisions for girls and boys.

And luckily enough, Mila and Roes clicked even though they're quite the opposite poles.

The morning was almost done except for Mr. Bessemor, the teacher on their first period who never appeared.

The other classes continued and now they have just finished their gym class and went back to their room to rest and to change.

"Don't tell me Mr. Bessemor will occupy our vacant class again this afternoon?" one of their classmates grunted. When Mr. Bessemor can't attend his class on his time, he always attends the student's vacant time to recompense.

But the students never acknowledged it as recompensation.

"Oh dear me, my mother will visit this afternoon. She'll come to the dorm and I'm planning to go to her on our vacant." Mila blabbered.

"I thought the Academy has closed its gate?"

Mila nodded and answered, "Well yeah no one can enter and go out but well, you know, my mother was the cousin of the school director."

"Oh." Roes nodded

"She called 3 days ago and didn't respond since, it's strange, but oh well."

"You know some of our classmates had the same problem too." Roes yawned as she leaned her head on her desk

Mila took her pocket mirror again, "Yeah, June and Lily consulted me yesterday about the issue that they can't contact their family."

"So why you?" Roes bluntly asked

Mila turned to her and leaned closer, "They asked me to let them go out."

"For how much?" Roes responded as if it was the normal reply that she can give.

Mila chuckled and patted Roes head, "If the matter is going out of the gate, the money I would ask will be ten times your allowance but! Because of all seriousness of the Academy securing our safety during these times. I didn't let them go out."

"So the Vice-principal who is your father's brother-in-law didn't let you." Roes bluntly replied again

Mila froze a smile, "Why do you know me that much!" she complained

"You're talking about it every day. Just tell me more about the cousin of the child of your cousins and I can already make a big family tree on the walls." Roes mumbled

"We already got one on our house," Mila replied

"Good for your lovely soul." Roes yawned in sleep as she lazily lie her head on her desk.

Mila turned to her and gladly, would like to start the daily nagging about her lifeless life that made her more lifeless when someone knocked on their door.

"Who is Ms. Roes Baskerville?" someone called in the door.

Roes straightened up and raised her hand.

"Dr. Ferrel needs you in the clinic ASAP."

"I know she saved your life before but isn't she a bit demanding?" Mila stated

"I'll be back a bit, I'll just change later." Roes got up leaving her uniform on her desk, still wearing their gym uniform.

"Oh, then bring me some juice when you come back!" Mila called

It was just last year when Roes got into an accident right in the middle of the woods, she can't remember what happened but all they knew was Dr. Ferrel found and saved her that night, coated with blood and all. They thought it must be some wild animals lurking which was not very unusual that's why they are strict about warning the students to not ever wander outside the borders. Later on, the doctor kindly asked her for assistance in the clinic, Mila considered it in some way as an internship.

Roes walked throughout the grey hallways, as usual, the sounding steps echoes around and it was louder because no other external sounds is being heard.

She got off from the second floor and reached the ground floor, she continue to walk on but stopped and surveyed her surroundings, well it was quieter than usual.

The Academy may be a bit too big for its population but still, you can hear the faint sounds of the students inside their rooms and from the different floors.

The wind gushed down from the windowpane and the spring breeze brought a chilly one.

Step, step

Roes turned around when she finally heard steps from behind.

"Oh, it's you Sir Bessemore."