Shower Attack
~Euphoria~
On the first day of classes, all of us in the dorm were fighting over the bathroom stalls, desperate to get ready on time.
Well…
They were fighting.
I simply waited.
It was rather intimidating listening to everyone making threats and shouting at one another.
The girls here weren’t very kind to each other, and I couldn’t help wondering if they’d ever find a way to get along.
While I waited, my friends went through my wardrobe.
I didn’t have many outfits to choose from.
What little I did own was quite conservative.
Back home, people dressed traditionally, almost as though our village had been forgotten by time.
It was a blend of Victorian fashion and the early nineteen hundreds.
I didn’t mind.
In fact, I quite liked it.
The dresses made me feel like a princess.
Most of them were hand-me-downs.
Some were still in wonderful condition, while others had become worn with age, their hems frayed and the fabric faded from years of love.
Even so…
I cherished every single one.
Each dress had been given to me by a friend who cared enough to help.
Thinking about them made an ache settle deep inside my chest.
I missed everyone back home so dearly.
I hope I’m still allowed to write letters.
I don’t know how isolated this school truly is, but surely they wouldn’t forbid students from sending or receiving mail…
Would they?
“Put her in this dress.” Clara held up a pale blue one in front of me.
“It complements her figure without making it look like she’s trying too hard.
The corset will show off her waist.”
“No way.” Niera immediately shook her head.
“It makes her look like a nun.”
“It absolutely does not.”
“It absolutely does.”
Niera marched over and held up another dress.
“That one is the nun dress.”
She pointed toward the black dress with delicate off-white lace climbing from its sweetheart neckline all the way to the high collar around the neck.
“It’s literally black and white.”
“You’re crazy,” Clara scoffed.
“No.”
Niera lifted her chin proudly.
“I’m stylish.”
A giggle escaped before I could stop it.
Listening to them argue over my clothes was strangely entertaining.
Natari, who had been silently watching the debate unfold, finally spoke.
“Wear the one with the floral corset.”
She pointed toward the cream-colored dress with colorful embroidered flowers woven into the waist.
“It suits you.”
I smiled.
“I agree.”
There was something about Natari’s sense of style that made me trust her opinion completely.
If anyone knew what looked appropriate for a first day at an academy like this…
It was probably her.
“The bathrooms should be less crowded by now,” Natari said, picking up her towel and shower basket.
The three of us followed.
Natari walked ahead.
Clara stayed on my left.
Niera walked beside me on my right.
For some reason…
Walking together like this made me feel safe. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
When we reached the communal bathing room, I sighed with relief.
Most of the students had already left.
The loud voices and frantic rushing had faded away, replaced by the soothing sound of running water and drifting steam.
The tense atmosphere from earlier had completely disappeared.
Niera let out a long breath.
“Whew.”
“I was worried it’d still be packed.”
“Told you,” Natari answered simply.
She claimed the shower farthest in the back.
The rest of us spread out into the empty stalls nearby.
Steam drifted lazily through the room.
The water was still wonderfully hot.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d taken a proper hot shower.
It had been…
Far too long.
My old school didn’t have showers.
We had public bathhouses, but they charged money.
Money I rarely had.
Most days I washed in the freezing river outside town.
Sometimes, if I was fortunate, I’d bathe at the hospital in one of the unused patient rooms that still had an old porcelain tub.
Even then…
The water was never warm.
Our hospital couldn’t afford a water heater.
They were expensive.
We barely had enough funding to keep medicine on the shelves.
I closed my eyes as the water poured over me.
Warmth soaked into my skin.
Into my muscles.
Into my bones.
It ran through my hair and down my face, washing away the lingering exhaustion from the past few days.
For just a moment…
Everything felt peaceful.
Then I heard footsteps.
Fast.
Several pairs.
Followed by quiet giggling.
My stomach tightened.
An uneasy feeling settled over me.
Something wasn’t right.
Before I could react—
A bucket of freezing, grayish water crashed over my head.
I screamed.
The icy filth drenched me from head to toe.
It smelled stale.
Dirty.
Like old mop water.
My knees buckled beneath me.
I collapsed onto the shower floor as tears instantly filled my eyes.
What…
What did I do?
I don’t understand.
Why would someone do this?
The hot water continued pouring over me, washing away my tears almost as quickly as they fell.
“Dirty water for a dirty little country bumpkin.”
Laughter echoed through the bathing room.
Cruel.
Satisfied.
“You fucking whores!”
Niera’s voice exploded through the room.
“When I get my hands on you little bitches, I’m going to wring that skinny neck of yours!”
“Clarice!” Clara shouted.
“Are you serious right now?”
“Oh, Clara.”
Clarice laughed again.
“Don’t be so daft.”
“You sided with the loser club.”
“So now you get treated like one of the losers.”
Her voice gradually faded as she walked away.
“If I wasn’t wearing nothing but a towel,” Niera growled, “I’d beat her pretty pale face in.”
“Niera.”
Natari’s voice remained calm and steady.
“Don’t make this worse.”
“Mind your own business.”
“This school is dangerous.”
“People like her won’t survive long.”
“She’ll get what’s coming to her eventually.”
Then everything went quiet.
“Euphoria?”
Niera’s voice softened.
“Are you alright?”
I tried to answer.
Nothing came out.
My throat felt tight.
I didn’t understand.
I’d never tried to hurt anyone.
I’d never even spoken badly about Clarice.
So why…
Why did she hate me so much?
“Euphoria?”
I swallowed hard.
“I’m alright…”
The words came out shaky.
“I…
I simply need a moment.”
There was a pause.
“…Okay.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am.”
At least…
I wanted to be.
I heard the three of them whispering quietly outside my stall.
They were worried.
Because of me.
I hated making people worry.
After a long moment, I reached over and shut off the water.
Silence settled around me.
I grabbed the towel hanging just outside the stall and wrapped it tightly around myself.
Before opening the door, I paused.
I stared at my reflection in the fogged metal handle.
My eyes were still red.
I took one slow breath.
Then another.
I forced the corners of my lips upward.
“I’m alright.”
I whispered the words more firmly this time.
“I can do this.”
With my smile carefully back in place…
I reached for the handle and stepped outside.