Page 28 of Savage Hope

It’s just me.

Florentine’s made sure of that.

The notion is sobering, and darkness threatens to seep through me, tainting my thoughts, but instead of allowing it to grasp me like it always does, I quickly turn the case over and move on to where the pages begin. I can circle back to the new addition later.

“General rules” is written in large block letters along the top of the next page, followed by bullet points that get straight to the point, outlining the rules that have been set by Trinity Falls Academy.

Number one: no killing.

Number two: no harmful acts toward others.

Number three: no using your abilities negatively.

Number four: no using other students as practice targets.

Number five: do not skip classes.

Number six: treat those how you would like to be treated.

Number seven: any illnesses must be reported to the student nurse to authorize absence.

Number eight: enjoy finding who you are.

Number nine: follow the guidelines on staying safe, especially around a full moon.

Number ten: Do not seek information about your blood kin. This will result in instant expulsion and imprisonment until your twenty-first birthday, when you will meet your ultimate end.

I scoff at the complete mash-up of rules listed. An unnerving fact lingers in my thoughts as I consider how many of these rules stem from people attacking or hurting one another. Hopefully, everyone will listen to these rules. The one about my blood kin leaves me worried, making my stomach twist, but it fills me with reassurance that they take it seriously.

I've faced disadvantages my entire life, especially since arriving at Florentine’s. All I can do now is hope they adhere to this rule. There’s that word again:hope. I despise how deeply entrenched in me it has become since coming here. I must keep that in check. I can’t go putting all of my trust in a fickle word that could break me so easily.

Moving on, I have a layout of the witches’ dorm with a key detailing the important rooms. It explains that bathrooms for both boys and girls are on the first floor, and each student has their own storage fully provided by the academy, named and ready. I should be able to find mine when I make my trip down there.

No wonder they put the newcomers on the fourth floor. I might have beautiful views out the window, but I have a treacherous walk to and from the bathroom. At least I can go when I want, which is another huge difference from Florentine’s.

Everything else about the building is pretty self-explanatory. I’ve seen the communal areas already, and there’s not much more I need to know. The map of the entire academy is much more daunting, and I know I’m going to need to use it to get around this place come morning.

No amount of staring at it now is going to help me absorb the information, so I move on to the details of my classes.Excitement churns in my gut like it’s a familiar feeling. Yet, I've never felt it before today—just like hope.

Attempting to calm the butterflies in my stomach, I read the words aloud. “As a witch, your focus will be on potions, enchantments, and charms. Additionally, with all factions within the academy, you will also partake in curses, hunting, and both offensive and defensive skills. It is paramount that all information provided is of the highest quality. We take great care in ensuring an even playing field, offering you information that will not only help you to graduate the academy, but also prepare you for what may come after.”

It sounds surreal and insane, but the prospect of a future beyond these brand-new walls doesn't seem fathomable right now. All I can do is appreciate that I'm no longer at Florentine’s and the countdown I've been obsessing over in my head has the opportunity to be extended. Living until I’m twenty-two? Twenty-three? Thirty?

The prospect is enough to steal my breath. But what’s worse is the knowledge of what I would have to do to survive the curse that hums in my blood.

Shaking my head, I push the thought away and move on to the next page. It’s filled with my schedule and the starting times for classes, the dining hall, and each professor’s office hours. The idea of being able to speak to anyone outside of classes and the thirty-minute break feels bizarre and overwhelms my brain, so I focus on the details surrounding the dining hall. It opens two hours before the first class of the day and closes at midnight during the week, remaining open twenty-four hours over the weekend.

I could possibly go now, but after declining to go with the witches earlier, a trip on my own doesn't seem the best idea.

Scanning my eyes over the schedule again, I can see that my first class tomorrow will be for offensive and defensive skillsclass. I have no idea what I'm going to be walking into, and even though the thought leaves me a bit worried, it beats the mundane lessons I’m used to.

I turn the page again, eager to read every line, and find information detailing that school days will take place Monday through Friday, with all students enjoying the weekends to relax, practice at their own pace, and take in all that Trinity Falls Academy has to offer. If anyone wishes to leave campus, a pass may be authorized and issued by the office upon request. The possibility leaves me gaping, with tingles dancing up my arms. Not that I have anywhere to go, but the idea of it…wow.

As I continue down the page, it states that no uniform is required, and acceptable attire has been provided. Finally, I turn to the last page, and in dark letters, the headline reads, “Sigils.”

I rub my lips together nervously, confusion layering over every other emotion I’m feeling right now as I read the passage that explains so much yet nothing all at once.

“There is a sigil hiding your magic. It has been placed on you with an item already attached to you. It will likely be an item from before your time at Florentine’s. Though you may not recall, it will be impossible to remove by touch. Each item unlocks the sigil in a very different way, and we will work through this on an individual basis in the sigil class. What may work for one is unlikely to work for another, but we have learned from experience that magic unlocks the sigil when you discover something about yourself or who you are as a person. We look forward to spending each sigil class learning about your purpose in life.”

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