The week went by fast, and it was finally time to pack up and leave for her new school, Elaine made it an habit to always go to the beach, it was very comfortable since no one ever went there, maybe somewhere she went with the hope of seeing him again, but that was just tough luck, she didn't even get a glimpse of his shadow.
"Uhhh, she let out a loud sigh as she stood In front of her clothes that was scattered on the bed.
"I have so much packing to do, if I had known I would be going to a boarding school, i wouldn't have even bothered unpacking in the first place.
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" You know, I'll miss you, her mum said as they sat down for breakfast, it would be very lonely here without you, I want you to make lots of friends, I hope you would be very happy being with people of your age, I know you don't want to go, but I just thought I was being selfish taking you away and bringing you here to this place, I love it here, but it's not the right place for you, you would be lonely here with me, and I don't want that, you've got a long life ahead of you, but me I've done all I want to do, you'll make a lot of happy memories the-
"Mom stop, you make it seem as though you want me to leave and go very far away, it's just boarding school, and it's just one year, one year and I'll be through with highschool.
"My emotions just got in the way" her mom said wiping a stray tear from her cheeks.
"And I will surely miss you".
Elaine kept spacing out as they had their break fast, something didn't feel right to her,
"She was the one who chose for us to move to this lonely town, which was really far away from where we lived, she was the one who made preparations for me to attend a boarding school, she already know I would be leaving and she would be alone, if she wanted me to stay with her, we could have stayed together somewhere other than here, something felt off, or was she just overthinking thing.
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The tress passed by one by one, or were they the ones driving past the trees.
Her mom was driving while she just sat with an earpiece plugged in, it would be a very long drive to the school, as hours went by, the environment began changing, from developed to less developed, until it began looking rural, it seemed like a village, it was very crowded, Elaine turned to look at her mom who didn't seem to care about the unusual change in the environment, we kept on driving as I kept my fingers intertwined due to anxiety, soon, they had to park the car as the road ahead was a very narrow one and they could only pass by foot.
"Be careful" her mom scolded as she helped Elaine bring down her luggages from the booth, " No worry, it won't be a long walk"
" Ok, Elaine answered not the least convinced". If she had known the journey would be like this, she won't have carried much lesser things with her, as now it would be a hassle.
They walked for over an hour when Elaine realized there wasn't a single soul around, it was just the both of them walking this narrow path, there wasn't even any buildings in site.
"Mom are you sure we're walking the right path"
"Yes, we would soon be there" her mom said smiling assuringly.
After walking for over an extra thirty minutes, a very large building which looked like nothing she had seen began to come in site, it looked like the building had passed through the test of time.
"That should be it" she thought to herself, until they walked closer then she realized that this place was like an estate, and all was connected to the other like a fortress and having same color of pale white, the sky suddenly seemed darker around this environment which made one wonder if it was going to rain soon.
Elaine suddenly stopped walking and began looking around.
"What are you doing?" Her mom asked caringly
"Um..., this is the school right?"
"Yes, do you like it?"
Elaine had to wonder why that question didn't come out right, it sounded like her mom was talking about something else or was taunting her about the school.
"It's ok" she managed to voice out something.
"Then what's the problem?" Her mom asked as she was still standing behind not moving.
"It's just that, um... It's wired"
"I don't understand, how's it weird?" Her mom asked as if trying to understand her, but she didn't know how to tell her mom that this place didn't feel right nor safe, it was scary, it felt detached from the rest of the world, scary, creepy as if there was something waiting for her to step in, she felt as though this was her last chance to save herself from something she didn't know of.
"How is the school weird?" Her mom asked getting worried as Elaine had began to sweat, do you want to head back? Her mom asked taking her by surprise.
She really wanted to scream YES, but that would be selfish, all the long walk, preparation, it would all go to waste, and she couldn't bear the guilt knowing her mom is really trying to give her a good life, not that she didn't already have one.
"No it's ok" Elaine answered, it's ok, I was just feeling a little sick as I'm not used to the new environment".
"It's your choice " her mum suddenly said
"What is?" Elaine asked confused
"Nothing, let's go".
In a matter of minutes, Elaine was standing at the front of two large double wooden doors, her mum had long gone, right now it was just her and HERBERT WILBUR.