When Holly and I got to our room, our bags were already sitting on the beds and new pajamas were laid out. They looked more expensive than anything I owned at home. The material was black and silky to the touch. On the button-down shirt was the Chamber crest stitched in silver on the breast pocket. I quickly stripped off the uniform jacket and tight pants and threw them on the floor. Sliding into the pajamas felt like heaven.
Once I was comfortable, I took a moment to check out the room I would be living in for the next six months. It was larger than I had expected and much nicer. When they said we would be sharing a room, I thought it would be like a college dorm set up with cheap furniture and small closets. Instead, we each had our own Queen beds with plush down blankets and cool gel pillows.
Through an archway there was another room that could be considered the sitting room or study. There was a basic, but fancy-looking black shiny desk with a padded rolling chair, great for studying up on the supernatural. There was also a billowy black couch and large armchair. I knew instantly the armchair would be my spot. It was the perfect reading chair.
On the desk sat a blank pad of paper and a pen. I ripped off the first page and crudely drew a six month calendar. If I waited any longer, there was no telling if I would have the days right. David was the one who suggested us making calendars on our walk to the initiates’ wing. It was the one useful thing to come out of his mouth the entire evening.
I walked back into the bedroom and looked at the clock on the shared nightstand between our two beds. It said five twenty-three. Was that in the morning or evening? It was hard to tell since we were underground with no widows to the outside world. Not that it mattered. My body felt exhausted. I would have no trouble falling asleep. But staying asleep was another matter entirely. I feared the dreams I might have.
Holly and I both climbed into bed at the same time. She said good night and turned out the light. Darkness encased the room. For once it didn’t scare me. There was no feeling of things lurking in the corners, watching me—stalking me. I didn’t worry something would happen to Holly while I slept. I felt complacent for the first time since Danny’s death.
“So, what do you think about it all?” Holly’s girlish voice asked quietly.
“I don’t know,” I said in a whisper. “It’s all so strange still. I almost feel like I’m dreaming and I’m going to wake up back home.”
“I know what you mean. I’ve heard about this stuff my whole life, but I’ve never seen any of it up close. That black dog was terrifying.”
“It was reckless,” I said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Silence settled over the room again. I heard the softness of Holly’s breathing a few feet away.
“What do you think of the Chamber?” she asked so softly I almost didn’t hear her.
I shrugged my shoulders and then remembered that she couldn’t see me. “I’m not really sure yet. The Head seems nice. She doesn’t seem too down about non-descendants. The Vice-Head seems a bit overworked, but I’m sure that’s normal for someone in his position. The only other impression I have is from the other initiates.” I paused and then turned over to face her from my bed. “Can I ask you for one small favor?”
I heard the swishing of sheets as Holly turned to me. “Sure, anything.”
“Don’t leave without me for class. If I get lost I don’t want it to be alone.”
She gave a muffled giggle into her pillow. “Whatever you say.”
I smiled and rolled over to face the wall. My brain struggled to process all that had happened that day. The only thing I could see, though, was my son’s perfect, smiling face. His baby-blue eyes looked into mine. I wanted to reach out and wrap my arms around him so badly that my heart ached inside my chest. I knew I was exactly where I needed to be.
The Mess Hall