Acts of Desperation: Evidence #1

Derimuin 16, 1250

I know I’m not the most talented, but it couldn’t possibly hurt Aelua to give some type of help. Aelua’s always been the worst mentor but today she really outdid herself. There’s only four days until my team presents, and not once has she let me on the trapeze. Norien says it’s probably because she is one of those traditionalists that don’t like the “lower-class” Sogunë kids—not like she would know, she was born here with perfect sage hair and represents the Ceasi brand well. But, isn’t this a bit too much? I could seriously get hurt during this show and it would be so embarrassing in front of the scouts…

Derimuin 17, 1250

Okay, so I talked to the other teachers about it…and they say it’s normal. The other girls make me seem like I’m going crazy, but they aren’t the ones wasting time greening their skin instead of practicing. I’m one of the only Sogunë trainees in the B show, I’ll get teased so bad if I don’t pull it off. But I can worry less I guess since Norien says she’ll sneak me into the practice room with her and give me some training. The only real friend I have here, seriously. With her help, I’ll be more coordinated and I’ll get extra points for supporting her routine before mine begins. It’s crazy that after less than a year she’s the most dependable person in my life. And now I have the big chance to return the favor.

Derimuin 20, 1250

I guess I was horribly wrong. Norien is exactly the kind of snake I was warned about before coming here! Should I even support her performance anymore? Why does she get to perform and I don’t? It was her idea! And she’s not even on probation?! I put my all into this academy, and don’t even have family anywhere near to pick me up! The signs are hard to read and it’s dangerous around here at night! So I have to attend the show with the rest of the academy… Am I supposed to wait in the crowd? Am I just supposed to watch? Well, I’m not going to! What a backstabber!

Derimuin 20, 1250

Maybe writing will cool me down. First, I don’t know how I got here…I just blacked out. I also don’t know why my face is circulating throughout Ceasi’s newspapers, and even through the national Saeros ones. Seriously? “The downfall of one of Ceasi’s biggest Isu Idumui academies?!” No. That clumsy Norien was just standing there, shocked as if I didn’t belong there, while I was the one actually moving and readying the props. When I show up for her, she wants to make me seem like the one in the wrong?! Regardless of what the dishonest academy and naive public think, I can fix the misunderstandings myself too, once I’m out of here…This room with a jinxed aura. The infamous “punishment room” whose cracked yellow walls hurt my eyes and whose windows show only enough to see that it’s pitch black outside. Isn’t it past dinner time now?

Derimuin 28, 1250

It’s dawn and I still haven’t eaten a thing. Finally have my notebook back and I’m in the car of some skyrail right now. The last days were even worse than rain days in Sogunë—even the toughest Ceasi people wouldn’t survive those moist and mildewy community gatherings. I was in that room for I don’t know how long and it just kept piling up with other trainees—who had an obvious, raging hate towards me and showers apparently. Also, I knew Aelua had something against kids like me, but I didn’t expect the whole academy to! I just wanted to perform with my so-called-friend…Is that so bad?! Sending all of the Sogunë trainees home is way too harsh! All of our hard work goes down the drain and these skyrails don't even run far enough through the villages! I’ll have to walk miles to get to Isyldorei, and I’ve already been walking forever!

Derimuin 28, 1250

All this travel and the doors are locked. They must be asleep in there. Didn’t the company notify them that we were getting sent back? I have the outer doors closed and am sleeping behind them and the front garden, so I can see the nearby houses pretty well… I didn’t know Anluin lived so close to me. His parents sure did let him in with a quickness. It seemed like he ran home judging from the sweat and heavy breathing. Maybe he was anticipating being sent home…

Derimuin 29, 1250

So that was a choice—not a mistake—on my mom’s part. And for what? What I did wasn’t even on purpose! I did what I had to do to be seen by casting agents—I didn’t know she would fall! Mom thinks it’s a reasonable thing to kick me out over?! I thought she loved me! She was just standing there with her Astar rocks and praying that the evil wouldn’t penetrate her home and looking frightened. And I could hear my aunt hushing my sister and my uncle on a call. What, do his friends also need to know that I am at my home and am wearing a navy blue shirt with grey jeans at 5:33am? I feel so ashamed. Do they really think so low of me?

Sarimuin 2, 1250

On the way to the station now. I heard the only reason I was allowed home was to talk with my parents before the investigation and to get proper adult accompaniment. (Makes sense. I see this all the time in dramas.) Well, that was a waste anyway because my family seems to think I deserve no help, judging from the way they all huddled away and were too busy on the phone whenever I visited. How conceited do they have to be to not consider my side of the story? Ever since the beginning, so quick to choose a stranger over their daughter, sister, and niece. I’ll arrive soon to get this figured out, hopefully they’ll

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EVIDENCE #1 — diary found with the murder weapon; details the suspect’s thoughts while on the run