Deranged Writer's Afterword

Katherine's POV

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I wake up to find myself leaning on Adam's shoulder.

I've been awake for a long time...but I can't seem to move....this is so embarrassing.

First I act like a crazy person and then fall asleep on Adam.....speaking about him, he hasn't moved either.

I peep on him and find him.....sleeping.

Why didn't he just wake me up ?

Since Adam was asleep, I open my eyes and look around.

The sun was slowly rising up....did I just sleep the entire night on a bench and that too....this close to him ?

That's ridiculous.

I seriously need to get out of here....without waking him up, if people see us like this they're going to get the wrong idea.

Just as I was about to make a run for it.....I notice a strand of his hair that had gotten misplaced right in middle of his face.

I unknowingly pick the strand and push it back to it's rightful place.

' Cold.....', I thought feeling Adam's skin.

It was too cold, it's probably my fault since he had to stay outside all night because of me...

The rising sun shined it's light on Adam.....making him appear bright and he looked so...delicate.

As if a single touch could break hi-

" Katherine ?", his voice was still groggy since he had just woken up.

...

" Oh.....you're finally awake.", I say after getting up from the bench and moving quite a distance away from him.

....

~~~~

Adam's POV

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I can't believe that I slept on a freaking bench....

I probably should have woken Katherine up but she was sleeping so peacefully and truth be told....she looked like she needed it.

I was on the way back to my room.

Yesterday, after all the exams the students in the hero course were informed that they had to gather at the assembly hall for a briefing on the practical test. I still had an hour to get ready so it was all good.

" Where were you ?", Eric asked as I ran around in a hurry inside our room.

" Uhh...I was training.", I lie easily.

I had a quick shower and mentally prepared myself for what was about to come.

Changing into casual wear as instructed by the school, Eric and I head to the assembly hall.

~~~~

The assembly hall, like the other structures within school grounds was build lavishly. The marble floors gleamed and a huge chandelier adorned the ceiling. In the front was a raised dais where all the teachers and staff had gathered.

It took us a minute to find the others and just as we all met up together, Laurine our figurehead principal demon spy started addressing the students,

" Good Morning to all my dear students in the hero course, I'm sure that you've heard this a thousand times but please bear with me....you all are not just regular students.....you're our 'future' and it is our duty to nurture you into responsible and powerful heroes...but sadly enough, we have failed to protect you."

Hearing her, some students start whispering amongst themselves,

" It's no secret that.....this year has been a dark time for all of us....we lost our beloved principle, Gordon and his daughter, Leslie Vord.....who was a brilliant teacher. Even some students have been killed.....during such troubled times it is only natural that fear and distrust rule over us...I assure you that we will soon catch the killer but until then do not trust anybody."

The whispering becomes more prominent.

The emotion in Laurine's eyes seemed genuine but I knew that she was just reciting her lines from the script they had given her.

" There is only one way to survive in this environment where everything is hidden in deceit....you have to become stronger. With that in mind, the school has decided to make this year's test more challenging."

Laurine takes in a deep breath before continuing,

" The test is simple...all you have to do is to survive in a F-rank dungeon for thirty minutes."

An uproar occurred as soon as the students heard their principal.

It was only reasonable for the students to panic, even if it's only an F- rank dungeon....it was still a dungeon that was filled with dangerous traps and monsters. Inexperienced students would surely die within minutes....

" Please calm down.....I can understand your anxiety, please be aware that we have already informed your guardian about the test and we also have made them sign papers that make explicitly clear that the school isn't responsible for your life during the test.....so make no mistake.....this is very much real."

I observe the students who had gone silent hearing Laurine, fear was common emotion that could be read from all their faces.

" Of course, not all of your guardians agreed to this unorthodox test....we have prepared another test for those students. Now please step forward when I call your names."

Laurine proceeds to call out names and one by one, students lined up near her. After she finished, Laurine made a teacher guide those students out of the room.

Facing those that remained in the room, Laurine says,

" Good luck.....my dear students."

Laurine leaves us alone with Din....no Domino and Liam.

'Clap'

'Clap'

Liam clapped twice to get the attention of the students.

" Before heading to the site of the exam we have few things to say."

" To pass the test, you only have to survive in the dungeon for thirty minutes and this is a team exercise....one of you will be given a 'return stone', upon crushing said stone both of you will be teleported back safely.", Dina says her gaze on me.

I avoid her eyes as Liam says,

" For the teleportation stone to work, you will have to wear two bracelets that you must wear at all times when you're inside the dungeon. Also no matter what....do not engage the boss monster."

Dina and Liam continue to brief us on how the exam would go.

~~~~

Lecia was my official guardian, since she was eighteen and all. Officials from the school had approached her a week ago asking her for permission to send the both of us into the dungeon.

Lecia didn't want to take part in the test....but I somehow managed to change her mind. The official warned us to not inform the others about the test so we kept our lids shut.

" I feel nervous...", Emilia says rubbing her hands together.

" It's going to be fine.", Lecia consoled her.

We were currently waiting in line to use a gate which led to our exam site.

Each class had their own dungeon to deal with.....I hope our dungeon is easy.

In our class 5-A, out of a hundred students only thirty were taking part in this test including all of us.

This is going to be fun.....

~~~~