Apocalypse: Fairy System by Macronomicon (fox in socks read aloud txt) 📕

us.” Jake reached out and grabbed his headboard and lifted his entire body off the bed, holding it parallel with one hand.

“I even got a Class today!” Jake said, setting himself down. “I’m a Pikeman now. It gave me plus five to my Body!”

“What’s a Pikeman do?”

“Well, from what I could read, it helps me poke things with spears,” Jake said. “Mr. Surpey suggested it.”

Nancy shuddered at the mention of poking things with spears. She did not like killing the rabzi. They almost looked like rabbit-people, and they sounded…just awful when they died. That was why she started aiming for their necks.

Other children had adapted quickly to the situation, even chatting and laughing while they tormented the creatures in the cages, but it still made Nancy sick. The only two reasons she killed them was because if she didn’t, someone else would do it meaner, and because when she shied away from killing, all the keegan guiding them paid way too much attention to her.

It reminded her of her mommy’s expression shopping for fruit, when she discovered a bruised peach. Nancy had never known how terrifying it would be for that expression to be directed at her, but it scared her into killing fuzzy rabbit men the same size as her.

Not wanting them to hurt caused her to kill the rabzi faster than the other children, so she had even more blood on her hands. She was already level sixteen, just a week or so behind Jake.

She eyed the brand on the back of her hand that they had given her when she’d first started. It was definitely starting to fade.

Maybe she and Jake could graduate to the next step at the same time. Nancy would give almost anything to be past killing rabzi.

There was a soft knock on the door, and Nancy and the other seven children sat up, looking at the doorway. Keegan doorways were nine feet tall on average, absolutely massive compared to the children themselves.

“All tucked in for bed, I see,” Mr. Surpey said, folding his boney hands over each other as he entered. “I apologize for disturbing your night, but tonight we’re going to welcome a new member to the group and say farewell to another.”

A scared little girl even younger than Nancy peeked out from behind his pant leg, clutching a stuffed rabbit to her chest. Oh, she’s not going to do well. Nancy wondered if Mr. Surpey even knew what the doll was supposed to represent.

“This is Marcy Evans. She’ll be joining you.”

“…Hi,” the little girl whispered, barely audible.

“And Jake Baker, I’m happy to announce that you’ve graduated from this step. Everyone, gather round and give Jake your well wishes. You won’t be seeing him again until you join him in the next step: the academy.”

The children gathered round and gave Nancy’s friend hugs and congratulations, talking and laughing excitedly. Mr. Surpey stood by patiently, his hands folded as he waited for the congratulations to die down.

“Come now, Mr. Baker,” he said once the noise had quieted somewhat. “I have to show you to your tutor.”

“Okay then,” Jake said with a shrug. “Going to school can’t be much worse than stabbing rabzi all day.”

“Can I come with?” Nancy asked, stepping forward, a nameless dread building in her chest as Jake headed for the door. Something about the door reminded her of a hungry mouth. Not the shape or the color, but the feel. She wanted to follow Jake, and make sure that he’d be okay with her own eyes.

“No, the rest of you children must have your rest. It’s a lot we ask of you and you’ll be needing all the rest you can get. Remember, this isn’t goodbye forever; you’ll be seeing him again in the academy in a few weeks,” Mr. Surpey said, gently taking Nancy by the shoulder and turning her back toward her bed.

“I’ll be fine,” Jake said, flexing his nonexistent biceps and grinning before he followed Mr. Surpey through the door.

And then they were gone.

The other children clustered around the new girl, babbling excitedly as they caught her up to speed. The shy girl couldn’t get a word in edgewise and seemed to be on the brink of crying from the information overload.

Sitting on the edge of her bed and staring at the door, Nancy couldn’t get it out of her head. Normally, she would whisk the little girl away from the overbearing boys and give her some space to breathe, but she was still thinking about Jake.

She had been amazed to discover that Jake was still alive, and here. They all thought he’d been kidnapped. What were the chances that the same man saved them from the same bad guy and brought them here?

Nancy had no idea, but something felt strange to her, and it made her stomach twist with nameless dread.

Maybe I can sneak out and say goodbye in person, Nancy thought, standing up and heading for the door. She gently tugged on the latch and peeled the door open, looking around the edge of the wood.

Nothing but an empty hallway.

Nancy slipped out into the hall and went for the stairs, sneaking on her tiptoes.

The door next to the stairs clicked open, startling ice into Nancy’s skin. A melas housekeeper backed out of the room before she could react and bumped into the girl, knocking her to the ground.

“Oh, what’s this?” she asked, turning around to view Nancy, clothes slung over her shoulder. “Little Nancy, is it? What are you doing out of bed?”

“I’m…getting something to drink,” Nancy lied.

“Oh, I’ll fetch it for you then,” the maid said, her tone sweet and gentle as she bent low to address the girl. “You run on back to your room and I’ll grab a cart filled with water and snacks for you and your friends.