Chapter 35: Sucks
The alarm clock blared in the stillness of the room, its sharp tone cutting through the silence and forcing Eira awake. She shot up, slamming her palm onto the offending device, silencing it with a glare. The relentless ringing felt like nails scraping against the inside of her skull.
[Good morning Master.]
[Ugh, good morning.]
Weak, disoriented, and still half-asleep, Eira ran a hand through her tangled hair and let out a frustrated sigh.
Damn it. Being a teenager sucks. Going to school sucks. Not to talk of all those damn spoiled bitches and jerks she will have to see in school.
With a groan, she flopped back onto the bed, staring at the blank, white ceiling as if it held all the answers she sought. She counted the seconds in her head, waiting for the inevitable visit Elma had warned her about the previous night.
One minute... two minutes... three, four, five, six, seven, and—
Right on cue, there were two brisk knocks, followed by the creak of the door. "Ephyra, dear, time to get ready for school. Oh! You’re already awake?"
"Yeah," Eira sat up, rubbing her eyes, and gestured lazily at the alarm clock.
Elma offered a gentle smile as she approached the bed. "I figured it wouldn’t wake you since you stayed up late studying. Thought I’d come to wake you myself." She walked to the window and pulled the curtains open, letting sunlight flood the room. "How are you feeling? Not too tired or in any pain?"
Eira stretched and yawned, blinking against the sudden brightness. "Just a bit sleepy. I’ll go take a shower."