Chapter 3: The Reality
Attendance was taken with mechanical precision, names called and answered like echoes in a hollow room. The first period slipped by almost unnoticed, dissolving into the quiet hum of chalk against the board and pages turning in reluctant obedience.
Elena sat in her usual place by the window, her posture composed, her book open before her—the page hadn't turned since the last 15 minutes, waiting for something.
As soon as the teacher entered, a sudden, vicious, stabbing pain seized her abdomen. Her fingers clenched against the desk, knuckles paling, as the pain surged again—stronger this time, deliberate. A tear slipped free before she could stop it, betraying the fragile control she fought to maintain.
Her Class teacher, Miss Celeste paused mid-sentence, her attention snapping toward Elena's stricken form.
"Elena?"
Within minutes, she was escorted to the nurse's office, her steps slow, measured, as though each movement demanded negotiation with her body.
The nurse examined her with quiet efficiency, her hands cool and practiced. Questions followed—routine, precise.
"What did you have for breakfast?"
"…Pelmeni," Elena murmured, her voice faint, carefully threaded with discomfort.
A thoughtful pause. Then a nod.
She moved towards Miss Celeste, asking for permission to send her home.
"Yes—yes, she can go!" She replied, gripping her hands hard. Her eyes held fear and she nodded even before the nurse asked for permission.
She dialed the number from her phone.
"Hello, who is this?"
"Mom, it's me… My stomach hurts badly! Can you come pick me up?" Elena replied in a faint and painful voice, clearly full of discomfort.
"Oh, my dear child! I'll come right away!"
"Take good care of you, Elena, the exams are ahead…"
She nodded and left the room. No sooner had the door closed behind her, the nurse bent over Miss Celeste.
"Didn't that voice sound like a child speaking?"
Miss Celeste's expression hardened—not in anger, but in firm disbelief.
"What are you implying?" She replied, her tone angry and edged with authority. "She is Elena Volkov! The most obedient and sincere girl I've ever met! Are you doubting her?"
The nurse straightened herself, almost embarrassed of her tone.
Miss Celeste still lingered on the door, even long after she was gone. She had known Elena since her first day of school… She was always marked by a quiet, unwavering sincerity—never loud, never seeking notice, yet always evident in her actions. Such steadiness of character was rare to Miss Celeste, and rarer still to see it endure. She considered her above all the other students, often giving her extra attention and favouring her.
Elena walked out of campus, claiming her mother was on her way… She'd easily been believed.
She walked out the campus and stood on the pavement a little distance from her building…
Her phone vibrated with a message
"Did you manage to escape?"
The message was from Kira. Then came the call.
"I'm standing outside the school…! Where are you ?" Elena whispered urgently, her voice caught between excitement and fear.
A burst of laughter crackled through the line.
"Girl, I can't believe you did it! We are on our way…!"
Elena glanced back at the school gates, unease tightening in her chest.
"Can you hurry up? I don't think I can wait any longer!"
"Relax, dude… We just got the keys and now we'll start the car!"
Elena's grip on the phone tightened.
"What? Now? What made you delay this late?"
A second voice cut in—Dasha's, amused and sharp.
"We didn't think the prison girl would do something like this…!"
"Yeah!" Kira added "Where's your obedience that Miss Celeste bragged to others about? I can't believe you did this!" Kira laughed again, lighter but no less mocking.
Elena swallowed.
"Can you just make it quick?"
"Yup, we're on our way!"
The line went dead.