Natalia's P. O. V

"The Haunted Fortress?" I asked as I scrunched my nose. The dreadful screeching of those bats were grating on my sensitive eardrums more than they should have.

"Yeah, there's a story behind the name but that's a one for the bonfire when school starts." Trevor explained as he shut his door. I flinched as the sound reached my ears. I knew he hadn't slammed it but it sounded like he'd all but forcefully hit it with a sledgehammer.

"Come on, pick up the pace!" Greg yelled from up ahead. I screwed my eyes shut to keep the sound from rattling my brain but it only served to heighten my sense of hearing as my sight was cut off.

I opened my eyes and started towards the looming castle, focusing only on getting inside where the screeching of the bats would be dulled. The distance seemed to stretch as I all but ran to the door. Beads of sweat dotted my temples and some casually strolled down my forehead. I grasped the handle and opened the door, stumbling inside and supporting myself with my knees.

"Whoa, what was that?" I suppressed the urge to jump as Greg's voice snuck up from behind me.

"What was what?" I half-heartedly feigned cluelessness.

He looked incredulous, "Your speed. You were almost a blur back in the courtyard."

"I used to be on the track team." I lied smoothly upon regaining my composure.

"Here, you forgot your bag." Trevor said as he handed said item to me.

"Thanks."

"What was the rush?" he inquired.

I shrugged, "Just excited. Plus, the bats creeped me out." Half truth.

Greg laughed, "Well, I hope they don't creep you out too much, cause they pretty much live here every second of the year."

We walked across the expansive, expensive looking reception to the front desk where a young man sat. He wore a bored expression that told hours of nothing to do.

"What can I do for you?" he asked curtly without looking up.

"I'm here for an admission application." I replied.

He pointed down the hall on the right and went back to visually scorning the world. Following his directionless directions, we went down the wide hallway and knocked on the door labelled admission.

"Come in." A voice that should have been muffled by the door instructed.

Turning the handle, we opened the door and stepped in, closing it behind us.

A stern looking woman with the beauty and commanding aura of a queen stared at us.

"Gregory and Trevor Geranomy, unless you are here to drop out, please excuse us."

The brothers quickly shuffled out of the room at her command.

She motioned to the chair in front of her desk, "Have a seat."

I sat.

"I presume you are here for an admission, Miss...?" she trailed off in question.

"Arielle."

"Miss Arielle, our requirements include previous transcripts, results of notable exams. We do not accept anything less than the best. In the event that you gain admission into our school, your starting date will be on the eleventh of January. " she stated.

"If you don't mind, I would like to start in September"

Her perfectly shaped right brow twitched in what I assumed was annoyance – it was hard to tell with her stoic expression.

"You do realise that you are four months late for that to be possible?" she asked evenly.

"I realise that but I sincerely hope you will reconsider." I said as I reached into my bag and pulled all my papers out, placing them on her desk.

Grimly, she flipped through each one, her eyes lightning fast on the words yet I knew she managed to catch every miniscule detail. Slowly, the stony expression in her eyes cracked to reveal awe and disbelief. When she was done, she closed the file softly and gently placed it on the desk, as if it were a piece of china.

Shaking her head she sighed and muttered, "It'd be a shame to let such a promising student go."

Raising her gaze to mine, she conceded as she passed a form to me, "Maybe we can reconsider."

**********

"I got in!" I declared like a victorious warrior as I emerged from the room.

"I had no doubt." "Cool." They chimed as they congratulated me.

"It's a bummer that you have to wait till January to start." Greg commented.

I withheld my smile, "Yeah, bummer."

"So, who's willing to give me a tour?" I asked.

Trevor chuckled, "Come on, let's go celebrate. You've got till next year for a tour."

"Okay," I said then added, "race you to the car." to cover up the mad dash I'd make towards the car to avoid the worst of the bats' screeches.

Grasping the door handle, I braced myself and pulled it open then raced outside. The instant incessant noise almost made me lose my tightly controlled grip on my speed. Gritting my teeth, I forged on, trying my best to block the sound out and maintain a reasonably human leveled speed. Maybe I could go a little faster than Usian Bolt?

'Please do!' Candy whimpered, in just as much pain as I.

I sped up.

Finally reaching the car, I tried and failed to open the door. Locked!

The screeching that had been manageable till now became unbearable. Covering my ears, I crouched down with my back against the car. I squeezed my eyes shut but, again, instantly regretted it and they flew open.

Candy's whimpers turned to howls but I refused to utter a sound, lest Trevor and Greg hear me, and opted to grit my teeth instead.

'What's taking them so long!? The courtyard isn't that big!'

A hand touched my shoulder and I followed it to the bearer's face.

Trevor snatched his hand off my shoulder as he met my eyes. "Whoa! Are you okay?"

Greg unlocked the car and I didn't bother to answer as I hurried into the back seat, panting like I'd run a million miles and more.

The screeching returned briefly as Greg and Trevor opened their doors then left as they closed them.

Trevor turned back to me, "What was that?"

"What was what?"

"Seriously? You practically bolted back to the car, you were cowering next to the car, and your eyes were glowing."

"It was a race, I didn't want to lose, and I hate bats – I told you that." I deflected.

"You were a blur." He countered, "And what about your eyes?"

"It was probably the light."

He gave me a sceptical look and shook his head, turning back to the front. I let out a silent breath of relief.

Greg drove us back to my house without uttering a sound. The awkward silence was suffocating. I hated lying to them, especially since they were great friends, but I couldn't tell them the truth because then they might not accept me.

Greg pulled up at my house and unlocked the doors.

"You sure you're okay?" he asked before I left the car.

I smiled and nodded, "Yeah. Nothing to worry about. I'll see you guys soon, bye."

"Bye." They chorused and drove off as I closed the door.

I sighed, unlocking my door and entering my home, locking it behind me.

'What was that all about?' Candy asked.

I tossed my keys onto its hook and started up the stairs, 'I have no idea. It's only happened once before. When I couldn't control my hearing.'

'Well, we're able to block sounds out again.'

'Yeah.' I replied, flopping onto my bed. 'I hate lying to them, Candy.'

'I know, I hate it too, but we can't let anyone know.' She reminded me.

'Yeah, yeah, I know. We have to keep the secret and not risk further exposure so that the pack doesn't find us.'

Candy strayed silent.

I laid there, staring at the ceiling as the house encompassed me, wrapping me in the scent of my mother.

'I wonder what she would have thought about all this.' Candy asked, reading my mind.

'She would have said, 'Do what you feel you have to do but remember to consider the feelings of others, nobody likes an inconsiderate person.' Then she would have kissed my head.'

'We're not being very considerate to your friends.' She commented quietly.

I didn't reply, contemplating the events of the day. I'd been careless, thinking I could outrun the screech of the bats and still not let anyone find out about how different I am from them. But it was strange though. I'd never lost control like that after mastering my hearing at nine. I wasn't sure I'd be able to attend Killdrain if this kept up.

Choosing to think about it another time, I rolled onto my stomach, 'Candy, I'm hungry.'

'So? What am I supposed to do about it? I can't take control of you and even if I could, I don't know how to cook. Go make your own food if you're really hungry, that's why you went grocery shopping today.'

'Fine. You're no help.' I huffed and got off my bed to make food for myself.