Page 14 of A Dead Man's B-Side
“Wolf Kingsley has arrived at Castle Hill. You left a prince, and now I hear the long and sweltering summer made you king.” His friends laughed quietly, but the meaning was lost on me.
The boy, Wolf, didn’t say anything, but I watched his back. Watched it tense and lock as he pulled his right hand out of his pocket and curled it into a fist.
Callum seemed to notice it too, and maybe that was why he averted his attention to me. “And what about you? A poor soul given a chance at redemption?”
This time, he laughed at his own joke and this time, I was privy to the emphasis he’d placed on the wordpoor.
I watched him for a moment and contemplated thinking of a response or simply walking away. Cutting my losses or starting this new experience with an unintentional target on my back.
What would kill a man like Callum?
I blinked.
“Is your dorm around here?” My voice came out steady but scratchy. I wanted to scold myself for not clearing my throat before climbing those stairs.
My hand found the strap of my bag as I curled my fingers around it and clawed into the fabric for a modicum out of my quickly emptying well of strength.
Wolf turned to me over his shoulder with an unreadable look, but I barely glanced at him as Callum spoke up again, “No, why? You looking–”
“I suggest you find it then.”
I didn’t wait to see what might be made of me as I shuffled past the lot clogging the hall, shoving shoulders and being sure I’d feel myself being pushed up against the wall like August with a fist through my gut.
Thankfully, nothing came. I made it past and around the next corner without issue, but my erratic heartbeat wouldn’t calm, and my hand around my bag strap wouldn’t let up. I was on edge and out of my element, and I knew it.
This wasn’t like transferring into a different American highschool whenever I needed to skip town. With the freedom of doing as I pleased, whether there was a way out of the consequences of my actions or not.
I was stuck here, and though I hadn’t minded it on the drive up, I was beginning to notice the error of my thoughts.
I needed to find my dorm and lock myself in until I was ready to swim in the dark waters where these students seemed to excel.
It was just around the corner.
2-2.
Which meant those stairs were the only way out, if the window down the dead-end hall was anything to go by.
Running my hand down my sides, I pulled the copper key out of my pocket and shoved it into the keyhole with more force than needed, before granting myself access to my dorm
Chapter Four
Alexandr Miroslav
1982
I watched myself in the reflection of the only mirror that could be found in this dorm with an almost eerie tilt of my head. The bathroom sink was littered with the hair I’d cut off after barely a second of the thought crossing my mind at dawn. I didn’t bother cleaning it before turning my attention to my unfinished tie hanging over my shoulders. I wasn’t in the mood to bother with it either–not caring enough to learn or even attempt to tie it.
I left it hanging and trudged back into the spacious dorm, more space than I needed, with a tired sigh.
I didn’t know why I accepted the offer; I should have kept running. Running and never looking back. If yesterday was anything to go by, this place would only prove to be an inconvenience.
But upon further thought, fresh with the morning light, I didn’t regret my decision.
All good things come with time.
Besides, I felt I would fit right in. Not in wealth or status, but in fiendish manners.
Sure, it did feel like a dark hole waiting to swallow me up,but the constant clouds and periodic showers were the slight upside of this place. Nothing to force me into asunshine mood.
