Mela

“Look, Mela has it!”

“You monster!”

This echoed painfully in my ears.

“MONSTER!”

I held the artifact close to my chest.

It seemed as though the door kept getting farther from my path. I kept creeping backwards. Every step I took felt painfully slow. It felt as if there were tendrils seeping from the floor, and grabbing ahold of me in place. Tears formed from my eyes as I inched backwards into the dark, corner of the entrance. Through the tears crystallizing in the corners of my eyes, I saw everyone’s fear.. And some disgusted looks.

My lips were trembling. Words came out as soft, choked whispers, reaching no one.

“No..please…you all have to believe me..!” It felt as though there was a rock in my throat.

"Please believe me..please!" Everyone had seemed to not want to be within inches of me, but I was still surrounded by their piercing gazes. And within the crowd, who I was most petrified to see, my crush was standing there.

The room was silent, and everyone kept their gaze on me. Finally, I felt my feet reach the wooden frame of the door. I pushed the door ajar, and ran from the scene. I ran past some students who were unaware of what had just happened: my true identity had been discovered. As I ran down the hallway that seemed to stretch on forever, my tears stained my face.

Classical melodies echoed throughout the air. There was a big announcement planned for the afternoon. There were notices posted all along the halls throughout the campus. I'd hear the girls talk about this at their lockers, and who had already asked them out to the dance.

From the tall balcony of my dorm, my elbows rested on the railings as I peered below at the beautiful courtyard. The top of my hoodie was visible, and rested above my bangs. I watched in awe as my peers gathered there. All with the most luxurious-looking gowns and tuxedos, everyone looked just as royalty themselves, just like the comic books and novellas that I’ve read. Their jewelry and accessories glimmered underneath the moon’s shine. The grass gleamed with short droplets of fountain water. As I observed the couples and groups below me swinging in a choreographed fashion, I couldn't help but imagine being down there. I've dreamt of having my own moment since I was a little bat. I’d dream of someone rescuing me from this tower. When I’d meet my own prince charming..

The chatter and instruments slowly ceased as our Principal entered onto the stage. As she moved, the spotlight quickly found its way to her. She was accompanied by two security guards. Both on each side of the stage, they appeared tall, and totally out of the spotlight's view. I leaned a little closely, with my chin resting on my hands atop of the railing.

“Evening, my prestigious students!” She had a strong voice, and a faint accent. She lifted both of her hands in a gesture, as she looked upon the courtyard. “Don’t you all look lovely tonight?”

The crowd whistled and gave chuckled responses towards the opening ice-breaker.

“Wonderful,” She giggled to herself faintly off of the microphone. She cleared her throat and appeared before it again.

Within a few seconds, she lifted a binder upon the podium, and shuffled around past some envelopes.

“As you all know, we are only three short days away from our Quarterly Ball.” As she continued, the students stood and were collectively in awe.

“For years, we have been protecting the legacy and ensuring the safety of our students.”

For the next hour, she had been explaining the strange phenomenon of human and monster events.

The security guard approached her with a beautifully wrapped box.

“We will be having a special guest, who will be happy to announce this year’s King And Queen’s,” she collected the box from the guard to her right.

“And now, students.. The crowned couple will be receiving this symbol of generational wealth. I present to you-”

A glass shattering can be heard. The crowd gasped, and looked in all directions. The cause of the sound could not be found. In the blink of an eye, there was a figure way atop of the courtyard’s statue fountain. Only the back of the figure could be seen. Their black and velvet cape fluttered in the wind. The crowd began to feel alarmed.

“Hey, you!” The principal directed at the sudden attacker.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

The figure did not respond, and their cape still fluttered within the wind.

“Reveal your…self!” The principal seemed to turn blue in her stance, and her sentence slowed as she seemed a bit horrified.

When the intruder had turned around, I had also frozen in place. It felt like my heart had dropped below into the concrete.

The intruder had my face. Instead, their eyes were a beaming orange. I sensed a dangerous aura behind them. They stared emotionless onto the courtyard, and directly at the Principal, who was taken back. Her light gasps were caught in the microphone.

“Mela?!”

The attacker surveyed the horrified crowd who whispered among themselves. Too frightened to move. Then, chillingly, the attacker stared up directly at MY dorm. It felt like they were looking directly at me. I moved backwards from the railing, sweat beginning to form from my forehead.

“Wh-what..what is happening?”

“Wh-why is that..me d-down there?”

To the crowd, it seemed as if the imposter was planning their next move. Instead, they bounced off of the statue, causing it to erupt and crumble into the fountain below. The crowd then released their captive shrieks. The guards seemed to take off after them, but they appeared to slow for the moving figure. I sank to my knees in fear, disbelief, and shock. What was supposed to be the most exciting night of my life, I fear I may have become a target by my whole school.

I didn’t notice my own door kicked in, and I jolted at the response.

“Mela, you have to come with me. Now”