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...CASSANDRA...

I imagined I would be more tired today than I actually am. I think that what is keeping me going is the answers I might get today. The morning classes go by quickly and I try rush to the dining hall. Maybe if i eat my lunch quickly maybe i would have time to talk to her now.

“Cass, are you okay?” Aria asks. I look at her realising I wasn’t listening to a word she was saying.

“Yes. Sorry, I wasn’t listening. What were you saying?” I ask a little embarrassed.

“I was just asking if you wanted to be my parter in that science project.” She says, starting to walk towards the canteen. I follow her.

“Yeah sure.” I say a little uninterested.

“Oh and, by the way, I don’t think we should do a sleepover tomorrow. We have a lot of tests next week and I really wanted to start studying. Your aunt will kill me if I get a bad grade again.” She says laughing. I didn’t even remember our sleepover. But I was glad it wasn’t going to happen since that reunion would happen again tomorrow. For a moment I wondered if Aria would also leave in the middle of the night like me to go to a weird reunion. I wanted to ask but I knew I couldn’t so I stayed quiet and just nodded.

The events of yesterday didn’t leave my head. I found myself thinking about it all day, not paying attention to anything else but my thoughts and theories. I ate quickly and left with some lame excuse just so I had time to talk to my aunt before the beginning of the next class. I knock on the door.

“Yes?” I hear from the other side of the door.

“Hi auntie, it’s me. Can i come in?” I ask after opening slightly the door. She nods and I close the door as I step into the room. She points to the chair and i sit down letting my bag fall once again to the floor.

“So, tell me. What brings you here in the middle of the lunch time?” She asks while sipping her coffee.

“Look aunt, I have a lot of question.” I say. She looks at me with her cold and scary eyes. She knows what i am going to talk about and clearly she does not want to have this conversation. She lets go of her little mug, putting it down on the desk next to her. “And I need answers.” I dare to continue.

“Talk. But be careful with the words you choose to use.” She advises. Her face shows no emotion and her eyes don’t shine anymore. She leans back on her chair and crosses her arms. The light coming from the window behind her makes it hard for me to see the expression on her face now. And, for a moment, I wonder if I really should ask her about it. I think about my list. I have nothing to lose.

“What is that mission about?” I ask. She doesn’t respond for a second. She doesn’t move. Nothing. I wonder if she will even respond or if she will just stay quiet and ignore my question.

“What mission?” She asks with a confused voice. I look at her sceptical. Was she playing with me? Or just trying to act dumb?

“You know, the mission.” I say. She shrugged and I get frustrated. “Why won’t you tell me about it?” I ask.

“Honey, I have no idea what you are talking about.” She says calmly and clearly lying while she picks up her mug to sip more of her coffee.

“Come on aunt. It is impossible for you to not know about it. You were the one who told me to go to that weird reunion!”

“Cassandra, do not expect me to talk about it with you. You can not trust anyone. And in this world, I am no different than others. Therefore, I cannot be trusted too.” She says unamused.

“But-” She interrupts me, raising her hand and waving it up in the air like there is nothing to be confused about.

“But nothing! If you do not follow the rules there will be consequences. You have to understand this is much bigger than both of us. No one can afford making a mistake. Do you understand?” She asks with a cold tone. She was always so sweet and calm. I have never seen her acting this way. I realise that there is no point on asking anything else and that I will definitely not get the answers I need.

“Yes aunt.” I say, giving up and erasing my question list off of my mind.

“Good. Now, unless there is anything else you want to discuss about, you should leave and forget we even had this conversation.” I nod, pick up my bag and head for the door. I say a quick goodbye before leaving the room.

I did not get any answer but instead more questions. Bigger than both of us? Who was in charge? Who were the people in the dark red gowns? Why is everyone forbidden to talk about those reunions? Or the mission? What it is the mission about? What will we do? Why will we do it? Who is going? Will it be just students? So many questions traveled my mind at the same time and I couldn’t answer any of them. Now all I thought about was the letter I would receive tonight. And I truly hopped the letter would give me at least some answers.

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