"Wake up, Jane!!!"
Jane was still buried in bed when her legs were pulled by a sudden force. A little tap would have been much easier for both of them.
"This is the fifth time this week," Katherine said while grabbing the car key from the dining table.
"You went to bed late again, didn't you?"
"I couldn't sleep, Mom."
"You go to bed late, and mess up your body biological clock. That's it."
Here came her mom's usual disbelief. Her mom had always been an easy sleeper, so she couldn't seem to grasp the idea that someone else might struggle to fall asleep.
"Momm! There's something on the window!!"
A massive insect, of a species Jane couldn't even name, was clinging right next to her seat.
"It's just a bug. No need to scream," Kathrine said, the line between her eyebrows was sharp enough to kill anything that dared to approach.
"Just grab it and throw it out." She shoved a handful of paper into Jane's hand.
Jane stared at the wriggling thing. In her head, she could already sense its tiny legs underneath the paper, and the crunchy sound of its body being crushed.
She bundled the tissue until she was sure it was thick enough to feel nothing, and forced her hand down. It wasn't the fear of being late that made Jane move; it was the weight of her mom's watchful eyes and the fear of asking for help twice.
She ran to class just in time, sliding into her usual spot: second from the back, next to the window. The perfect place to hear the teacher, but far enough to become invisible.
A cool breeze blew through the glass, carrying the scent of fresh morning air. Jane laid her cheek against one hand and let herself recover from the hectic rush this morning.
The thought of just "a little rest" turned into "a little sleep". Before she realized, her eyelids had given up entirely.
A tap on the shoulder brought her back. Her face was red, mostly from being pressed against the desk, partially from the wave of embarrassment and guilt pouring in at once.
"Come with me," said Ms. Ellen. Her expression was odd, too pleasant - and that, more than anything, woke Jane up.
As they walked down the hallway, Jane had a million thoughts running through her head, mostly about how her mom gonna kill her.
Katherine did care about Jane. She cared about Jane's grades, her future, and her well-being. But she also cared a little too much about other people's views, hiding it all in "it's for you."
Deep down, Jane was grateful. Her mother's obsession gave her a reason to study, because she certainly wouldn't have done it out of passion.
While Jane's head was in the clouds, Miss Ellen had stopped at the doors.
Behind them were no longer the gym but mazes of students lining up like clockwork, each queue ending with a doctor in a white coat.
It was just like any other medical check-up: open your mouth, step on the scale, read the letters on the chart … and one exception: stretch out your arm so the nurse could see your vein.
Watching the tube slowly fill with red, Jane thanked God she had eaten something this morning. Even so, the amount of blood taken was enough to make her tremble.
"Candy?"
A boy whose face she would have recognized if they had met appeared in her vision.
Normally, her first instinct was to say no, then again today was no ordinary day.
Golden curly hair, round eyes, and a voice so sweet it could break through walls. He reminded Jane of a dog, the kind with floppy ears and a wagging tail.
"Thanks. My blood is not sufficient right now."
The candy tasted like a garden of roses, a flavor that was surely unforgettable. She flipped the packaging only to see that it was empty.
"Good candy. May I know the brand?"
He smiled while watching her eating. A small crunch passed between them as the candy broke into pieces in her mouth, then he answered.
"I made it."
His gaze stayed on her, as if he wanted to capture every change in her expression, and Jane did not let him down.
She tried to keep a calm demeanor, but the faint line between her eyebrows told the truth.
Maybe that was the only kind of candy he brought. Jane tried to ease herself with the thought.
"If you want more," he leaned forward slightly, hands in his pockets, casting a shadow over her, "you can come find me."
It felt almost like a dare, had it not been for that teasing smile.
Jane didn't know how to respond. There was something odd about this boy.
Only then did she notice that his uniform was different, and more suspiciously, the spot where his school badge should have been was left with tiny holes.
Before Jane could say a word, he straightened up and walked away, just as quietly as he had come.
It was just a small friction in Jane's life. She still had no idea what the medical check was for since her mom seemed perfectly normal. Until a week later, when the call came.
"There've been some changes in Jane's behavior recently, Ms. Katherine," the principal said, switching to a more careful tone. "Changes you might've noticed".
"After further examination, we discovered a mutation, present since birth but only now awakened. Possibly triggered by puberty… or simply part of a natural process for individuals like Jane."
"What do you mean by individuals like my daughter?" Katherine leaned forward. She usually looked composed, but now, she looked like she was ready for war.
She pressed herself back to the chair: "And this… disease, should I be worried?"
"Two other students have shown similar traits," the principal said. "So far, there has been no sign of danger, other than a reversed biological clock."
He continued with a spark on his face: "We believe it would be better for Jane to transfer to North Wing Academy. All fees covered, of course."
He handed them a thin document with a blank cover bearing only an embossed title: North Wing Academy.
The academy was founded by descendants of Count Lucien North Wing - a noble with a fascination like no other: the night. He spent his life studying nocturnal creatures and surrounding himself with those who shared the same interests. Generations later, his estate had become a school, still honoring what he loved the most.
It ran on an inverted schedule: classes began after sunset, while daytime was reserved for rest or extracurriculars.
"… As bizarre as it sounded, it was highly prestigious, a dream of many. Jane has an excellent academic record, and the school has shown a deep interest in her... condition."
Noticing the fear and disturbance all over her mother's face, the principal faltered: "There will be no dangerous experiments. I guarantee. She will receive the best medical care available, far beyond what ordinary schools could provide."
****
That night, the dinner table served a different purpose - a council table, with Katherine, Jane, and her dad on speakerphone. None of them liked the idea of sending Jane off to some secluded place, but they all understood this was a good opportunity. In the end, they gave Jane the final decision.
"As long as that's what you want," her dad said.
The thing was, Jane didn't know what she wanted. Everything was... so-so. Her mom liked to control every small detail in her life, yet ran away the moment big decisions came along.
Sometimes, Jane wished it were the other way around. But she couldn't really blame anyone - after all, it was her life, and facing the bad possibilities was a part of it.
At times like this, Jane took a bath, went to bed early, and closed her eyes with the help of her mother's old sleeping pills. Katherine used them back in the day when she was afraid her husband would die in a plane crash every month.
Jane lay in bed and closed her eyes, waiting for the medicine to blur her thoughts.
"Hi Jane," The voice came from the darkest corner of an endless void. That pure, blank space signaled one thing: she was about to get the answer.
"Hi DĐa."
"I'm not your dad," the figure replied with a heavy sigh.
"I know." She said, her mouth formed a stiff line with only the corners slightly curled upward.
Jane didn't know how or when, but she had a voice, a guiding shadow - so she called, that appeared in her sleep. She wanted to ask what it was, but no matter how hard she reminded herself before bed, she always forgot the question once her eyes closed.
The first time, it took the form of her best friend from primary school. Then her dead cat. And now, her father. Ugh. Jane hated it whenever it showed up as her father. Still, the "thing" had never steered her wrong.
"Should I go or not?" she began.
"Go where? You'll have to give me some context, little kid."
Strange, Jane didn't have to explain anything the other times. Maybe it wasn't a product of her mind after all, or at least, not one that kept up with her daily schedule.
"Well," she took a deep breath, "There's this new school. Very fancy, very good studying conditions. But it's a boarding school. And on top of that, … there is a chance I'd be some kind of experimental animal."
The figure paused. He rubbed his smooth chin as his eyes flicked left and right, then he looked at her, steady and certain.
"It is a place you've got to go, Jane. It's all written. And deep down, you know you love a challenge like this. Something so intriguing, so exciting."
He spoke confidently, as if he had known Jane her whole life. Well, since she was a kid.
Then he squinted at her. The wrinkles gathered at the corners of his eyes made him look like a real father.
"Besides, your body no longer adapts to the usual clock anymore, does it?"
Unlike her father, there were no concerns behind those eyes, only a pure curiosity of a scientist studying his experiment.
"Yes… Is there anything bad about it?" Jane rushed. She could feel the dream slipping away as daylight danced on her eyelids.
"Nothing, my dear."
He turned halfway, eyes locking onto hers with a resolute look before vanishing into the dark.