4 Chapter Four: Is This a Dream?

The next morning, Epey woke up feeling a bit sick. She was surprised when she realized that she did not know where she was right now. And when she looked at the clock that was situated on the wall, it was already 10 in the morning, which means that she didn't make it to the interview she would have had in Sacrosanct. Nonetheless, all she wanted to know was where she was and what had happened to her.

Moments later, two women entered her room. "Good morning, ma'am. Here are the things you will wear today before madame talks to you." One of the women said.

"Wear? Madame? W-where am I? And who are you?" Epey asked. She was really confused.

"I'm Tania, ma'am."

"I am Gwen. And that's all we can tell you because it is strictly forbidden to provide any further information in here. If you want to know more about your situation, ma'am, I suggest you better get dressed already because Madame Rebecca is already waiting for you for breakfast."

Epey wasn't sure what to do but she just obeyed what the women told her. The truth was that she was hungry, too. And hearing about breakfast sounded tempting to her. Shortly after she got dressed, Tania and Gwen accompanied her to a large room where a woman so familiar to her was standing inside. The woman turned to her and smiled.

"We will leave you now, Madame. Please enjoy your breakfast." Tania said goodbye before she left with Gwen.

Since Epey wasn't sure what was happening, she just stood there awkwardly by the door.

"What are you waiting for? Come, join me for breakfast." The woman kindly said. Epey knew that this was that Madame Rebecca that the women had mentioned to her earlier. Epey was a little embarrassed but she was also hungry so she went inside the room and sat at the table apposite Madame Rebeca. The table was full of food.

"How are you feeling?" Rebecca asked again.

"I'm okay now, granny. Well, I don't know if you still remember me but we've actually met before. It's nice to see you up close. You are really beautiful." Epey said innocently while Rebecca just laughed because she actually also remembered Epey from before.

"Of course, you are that kind lady who saved Helena. I'm happy that you're feeling good now. I'm just sorry because you also had to go through an unconscious state last night." Rebecca replied. Epey remembered that she was injected something last night.

"Why is there such a thing, granny? I mean, I'm sorry but I'm just really confused. My brain also is still a bit slow, probably because of that thing that's injected into me last night. And of course, maybe there's some confusion going on right now. I only look like an elementary school kid due to my height but I'm actually already a college student, granny hehe."

Rebecca laughed again. If only Epey knew how innocent she sounded and looked now.

"Do not worry. What was injected to you was not toxic. It's just some sleeping fluid." Epey couldn't answer so Rebecca continued. "I forgot to introduce myself to you. I'm Rebecca, by the way. "

"Nice to meet you, granny, I mean, madame Rebecca." Epey seemed to realize what she had said and apologized while Rebecca just laughed it off. "I'm sorry." She just added.

"I don't mind, actually. It's been a while since someone called me with that term."

"I'm sorry, madame."

"No, no. It doesn't matter with me. You can call me granny if you want to."

"But, as far as I know, they refer to you as 'madame' here."

"Don't worry too much about that." Silence for a while. "You? What is your name?"

"Uhm, I'm April Mariz Dimaguiba, but just Epey for short."

"What has brought you here, Epey?"

"Uhm, well, it's a long story but I am actually here in Manila for my scholarship."

"Oh? What scholarship?"

"I was accepted as one of the applicants for a certain full scholarship at Sacrosanct University and I'm here for the interview, and probably find a part-time job or something in case I need some extra money in the future."

"I see. As I said, I remember you as the girl who saved Helena yesterday. But right now, I see you as the girl who had helped the academy last night. "

"Yes?" Epey was confused.

"That man who ran into you last night, he's a culprit of so many things here in the academy. So we thank you because he was finally caught because of you. But the thing is, I'm wondering how you got here. You are probably not his accomplice, are you? "

"What? No, of course not. "

"Then how come you are here in the Inner Circle?"

"Inner Circle?"

Rebecca didn't speak and just looked Epey in the eye before she continued.

"Don't worry, I'm not accusing you of being a thief or an accomplice of that man last night. But the problem is, I need to know why you came here without an invitation? This is a very...secluded property, and outsiders are not allowed to be in here."

"Oh. Uhm, I'm sorry if I came here. I didn't mean to. I'm really sorry, granny. I'll do anything you tell me, just please spare my life!" Epey said as fast as she could while almost kneeling down on the floor. Rebecca got surprised by her actions but eventually laughed out loud. Epey was the one who's surprised now.

Is she alright? This woman seems to have that quirk of laughing at inappropriate times, Epey thought.

"W-why are you laughing, granny?"

"Nothing. You're just funny...and so innocent."

"But what I am saying is true. I have no intention of stealing anything here. I didn't even know there was such a place here in Manila like this. The surroundings are like those of a modern palace. I just came here because someone tried to rape me last night."

"What?"

"I lost my map to SU because my cellphone's battery was low. Then I took a taxi so I wouldn't get lost because it was getting late already. However, I didn't expect him to take me in a dark place somewhere while we're in the taxi. I fought back and eventually ran away into the forest…until I saw this place…" Epey's face was serious and so was Rebecca's.

"That's a very outrageous thing. Do you still remember the plate number of that taxi? Or the face of that driver? I can't tolerate people like that." Rebecca must had been angry.

"Oh, granny, it's alright. The important thing is that I survived."

"What are you talking about? Of course it isn't okay. I'll see to it that certain actions will be taken to teach that man a lesson."

Epey didn't contradict anymore because Rebecca seemed determined.

"Thank you for the concern, granny."

"It's fine. We women, we have to stand up and fight for ourselves, too. "

"Yes, granny."

"So, anyway, how are you feeling now?" There was concern in Rebecca's voice. So Epey tried her best to sound cheerful to not make Rebecca worry any further.

"I'm fine now, granny. No worries. Also, these foods are delicious. I am starting to want to stay here forever." She was just joking but Rebecca's expression seemed serious.

"That's another thing."

"Yes?"

"Do you really want to stay here?"

"What? No, that's just a joke. In fact, I will go to SU later to ask for another chance for an interview."

"Epey, what I mean is now that you've known about our place and have entered here, I cannot guarantee you an immediate exit now."

Epey was stunned to hear what Rebecca had just said.

"W-what do you mean?"

"As I said before, this is a very exclusive place where only a limited number of people can enter. That's the reason why I can't let you go right away. This is a strict policy of this place and there's nothing I can do about it."

"I don't understand you, granny? Does the fact that I have already entered mean that I cannot leave immediately due to your security purposes? I have to leave now because otherwise I will lose my scholarship forever." Epey said. She was starting to get really anxious.

"I am very sorry, hija."

"But, granny, you can't just do this to me. You can't just lock me in this place without my will. What kind of place is this for you to be like this? Is it Malacañang Palace or something?"

"Well, I don't know if you'll believrbme. But this place...this is not just an ordinary place. This is a place for extraordinaries, Epey. This is the Inner Circle, which, I believe, is also known in your world as the Academy of L.I.B.E.R.A.T.I.O.N. "

At that very moment in time, Epey could not believe her ears. Her spoon dropped slowly on her plate while her mouth was also slowly forming into an O. This had been the greatest shock of her life so far. Not even in her wildest dreams did she expect this day to happen…the day when she would finally stepped foot in the academy where she once wanted to be a part of.