Prologue: "It Called Out to Me"

Have you ever felt as if conspiracies really aren't lies?

At night, your whole life, where ever you go there's a pair of eyes following you...

The school was horribly quiet. Quiet as in silent, dead, and eerie. Not a leaf stirred. The hallways were quiet, only the echo of footsteps from a wandering person bringing the marble floor to life. Actually, ironically, the male tried his hardest to be as silent as he can be which gave off the opposite effect. Sky blue slanted eyes quickly scanned his surroundings as he came upon a wooden, oak door and raptly knocked. When no one gave a reply, he placed his hand on the brass doorknob, surprised to find it unlocked and crept into the stillroom, shadows ruling the corners of the walls. "Nero?" He muttered darkly. Caligula squinted through the darkness, a bit uneasy on the atmosphere. It was his first night here in Excalibur. His younger brother was also accepted into this elite school, located in an island near the British Isles. There were more students from his school back in Canada chosen to also come here. "To explore higher possibilities for a better future," his principal from St. Jude high school had said.

Running his hand along the smooth wall beside him, he fumbled for the light switch. He didn't need to look for long though because he suddenly tripped on something that sent his whole body sprawled on top of an empty bed. The 15 yr. old male lay still until realization struck him, enabling him to get up quickly and start to panic. Caligula left the room in an awkward pace, closing the door carelessly and started to roam the narrow, dark hallways. Angry yet worried thoughts bubbled in his mind as he desperately prayed that maybe Nero only went to find the bathroom. But then again, Nero was always up to something and as the older brother; it was up to Caligula to get him out. His brisk pace led him passed a large window, the moonlight serving him as his only light.

He stopped to look out for a moment, to take in the scenery, quickly scanned the rather large willow tree beside the parking lot and turned away to continue with his search. He considered sneaking into the library that was around the corner but then changed his mind. Nero, that impatient guy, would never sit in a library unless it had something to do with scoring with the ladies. He stroked his side ponytail hair and sighed, only for a hand to suddenly reach out of the darkness and put a scented cloth on his mouth and nose. Struggling fiercely at first, his strength suddenly left him. His eyesight went blurry...

But everyone says that there could nothing be more normal than normal itself

If everything is as normal as it seems…

---

There's no hiding from those "Eyes"...

Translucent amethyst eyes gazed up at the large willow tree. The smell of salt water calmed her senses as she placed a dainty palm on the rough bark of the tree, gazing down at the grass that was springy against her shoes. The night sky was in a veil of darkness, a cloudless abyss with only half of the moon showing. "Geez mon," she huffed, "there's even no stars. I prefer St. Jude's… whatta creepy and weird place". Ellise hummed a soft tune as she got ready to spring up the nearest branch, only for her eyes to catch a slight movement towards the entrance door. The petite 14yr old female tensed and edged closer to wards the thick trunk, going behind a thick veil of long leaves, peering through her long bangs. She stayed still and alert, eyes turning into cold glittering amethysts.

It was a rather tall male by the look of the shadows dancing across his face. Ellise managed to grab a few details about the guy, spiked up hair with a ponytail, a rather cruel mouth outlined by a sliver of moonlight that managed to penetrate the velvet darkness. He must have not seen her since he went back inside and she felt her heart hammer in her chest. She immediately grabbed the lowest branch in her reach and gracefully pulled herself up incase anyone else walked out. The leaves brushed playfully against her cool skin and she shivered from the dew that trickled down her face. Blinking, she brushed away her bangs that covered her face, a moon ray casting the deep plum glow of her lustrous black hair. Her long tresses reached past her waist and she placed them on her right side, careful not to let any strands hang off the branch. Calming herself with steady breathing, she leaned gratefully against the rough texture of the tree, finally able to relax. Ellise couldn't put a finger on it but the whole school gave her the creeps. She could only wonder why she was chosen since her principal said that this was an elite school.

A melancholy sigh came from her lips and she closed her eyes for a bit, listening to the calm clash of the ocean waves. There were a lot on her mind yet at the same time; there really was nothing to think about. Stuff about home, school, how she couldn't settle in her dorm no matter who were her roommates... Glancing one last look at the sky and the cold moon, she jumped down only to be knocked down. By pure instinct, she tried to kick her attacker, earning her a pinch at the base of her neck. An immediate effect of paralysis took over her body and she fell rigged on the grass. Strong fingers pushed something down her throat and she hardly had time to spit it out, hands covering her eyes to prevent sight. She had no choice but to swallow...

It follows you, watches you, stalks you...

In school, at home...

---

Welcome to Educen Bacillus, formerly known as Excalibur high

A slender finger plucked a rather large book from its spine, clouds of dust flying everywhere. The female gave a suppressed sneeze, sniffling in distaste. Shaking her head, she carried the heavy book in her arms and walked towards the round tables near a big window. It overlooked the seaside of the island and her dark-brown eyes watched the gentle waves. A shiver suddenly passed down her spine, making her toes tingle and stomach uncomfortable. Ever since she arrived to study here in this apparently famous school, she hasn't even heard of this for crying out loud, a strange feeling had settled in her stomach. She called her intuition “a vibe” and she trusted it. After all, her vibes were almost always on the dot. Stephen rocked back and forth for comfort, letting that vibe roll over her body, a bit disturbed that her danger signal reacted so strongly even as she tried to sleep on her bed.

Actually, the 14 yr. old thought glumly to herself, that's the reason why I can’t get settled in. Ever since her principal droned on and on about a better future if she went to this school, secretly she wondered if they were on drugs since her grades weren't that high, she might as well accept for the sake of her parents. They were pretty proud, she noted to herself as she sat down on a chair, this is an "elite school" that is more promising than St. Jude's high school. She traced a name with her right pointer finger on the blood red leather like cover, eyes set in a pensive gaze. Memories flickered across her face, cringing as she gazed in the eyes of a pale boy with bright amber eyes and velvet black hair. Stephen shook her head and flipped to the back, gazing at a long list of information in the index.

Scanning each word carefully, she managed to find what she was looking for, flipping from page to page to find the right section. It took her a full minute before she found it, eager to start absorbing information that she desperately needed to know for a long time now. Because of her eagerness, she missed the creeping shadow that stalked behind the stacks of book from her left. It crept up behind her and her vibe suddenly went haywire. Stephen turned around in alarm, knocking the chair over and tried to scamper away for safety. Despite her attempt to dodge, she saw something glint dangerously in the moonlight and suddenly collapsed against the next row of bookcases. The last thing she felt was something sharp...

You know the saying "Don't judge a book by its cover"?

---

Take it literally.

After all...

A soft shadow passed through the dead hallways, an echo of shoes clicking on the marble floor. Arrogant, 13 yr old Nero scowled to none in particular. “Where are the girls?” He asked himself crossly, “Damn this is annoying”. Ever since he was transferred from St. Jude high school to this "Elite school", he hasn't been getting "much" lately and his cravings were getting the better of him. And of course, his curiosity to note when it comes to rather, large, expensive places. He gave a half-smirk, oh the possibilities. He decided to go downstairs, passing by the elegant office, straight towards the door that led outside by the giant willow tree. Nero stopped to look at his reflection on the door's glass. A twin image revealed a male with black spiky hair and ponytail at the nape of his neck. Mismatched eyes gave a big contradiction to his dark complexion. His right eye was pure white yet his left eye was completely black, an abyss of nothingness. Nero snorted. After all, he inherited his Father's eyes...

He touched the cold surface. A different reflection peered at him with its sky blue eyes illuminated by the small glow of the moon. Nero suddenly curled a fist and nearly smashed the glass. "Damn brother," he hissed, breathing hard with a sudden snap of anger, "everything should have been mine". He lolled his head to the side and those mocking light blue orbs disappeared, replaced again by his own image. Nero let his anger cool, flexing his hand and forcefully pushing the door open. He careless scanned the area, decided nothing was there, and came back in. going back upstairs towards his dorm. He passed by the library, considering going in, changed his mind, and went straight towards a familiar hall.

Actually, he could have gotten no trouble this night, if only for a small sharp sound that caught his attention. He stiffened, straining his ears. It sounded like...bottles...in a conveyor belt. With a fresh wave of curiosity, he followed the sound, leading him to a desolate area with a rather white door that said "Keep Out". Like hell I'd keep out, he thought confidently, carefully placing his movements under control. With a cat-like grace, he opened the door to a crack. He saw a flash of dull yellow and something that shook in chains. Nero tried to go in further, distracted by the activity that he failed to notice something creep up from behind. He didn't even get a chance to turn around when something heavy and painful connected with the side of his head. A dull throb vibrated in his skull...

I am no longer normal