FALLON ALTAIR: Impenetrable Mask

The air is thick as the sky turned red. Her hair looked more auburn than ginger and her sharp hazel eyes turn to slits. This is not reality, she thought.

Sunset – crimson as the blood in her hands when she raised them up to observe. Where did it come from? Faces appeared everywhere and before she knows it, her feet started running. To the light, she thought…seeing the ray shooting pass her face.



Her muscles pumped and adrenalin kicked in obeying instinct as she ran breaking through the speed of light even…everything in a blur. Then, blood began trickling down her head. She stopped and the world spun around like a revolving globe. “This can’t be happening…this is a dream!” she shouted. No one heard her cry.

Murderer…Murderer…




Voices haunted her…closer…hands crept around her body strangling her, caressing her…killing her…

Murderer…



…until she began gasping for breath… Tears slid down without knowing it… Blood…not tears. Blood.

Murderer!

She wiped away the blood from her eyes. “You bastards! I did not murder him!” she croaked as she fights for her breath. “Let me go!” Hands suddenly shot out of nowhere preventing her from moving. “NOOOO!!!” Her voice was taken away from her as the face of her uncle stared at her…

“How are you, my child?” Dr. Aden grinned maniacally as he slowly caressed her tights. “I’ve missed you so much…” He took hold of her shirt and tore it apart. “Let’s go back to those wonderful days now, shall we?”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

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One of the many houses that Fallon owns.

 The shrilling sound of her dying voice filled the large room. Fallon’s heaves can be heard as she bolted up from her sleep – sweat dripping down and body obviously in need of relief. She frantically reached for her meds on the side table of her enormous bed. Without water she swallowed 3 pills and sank into her mattress still breathing hard.

Dammit! That fucking dream again…

Her eyes turned to slits and she slowly gained control of her breathing. The clock on her wall says 4:00 AM and as she felt her body normalize.  She stood up and stared at the misty Monday morning that greeted her through the wide windows of her room.  Will I ever live differently?  Normally, perhaps?  She asked herself.  It's been ages since she had a decent sleep...  She headed for the closet changing into her sweatshirt, jogging pants and running shoes. These walls know too much of her...too much.

She grabbed her iPod and plugged her ears with the earphones. Mozart Requiem for a Dream filled her sense as she went down, took her backpack by the entrance door and started taking her usual jogging route just outside HADES.   The cool breeze whipped through her face as she sprinted.  There is nothing like running...  To some it's just a sport...to her, running is symbolic.

Main Door of the Altair Mansion

 The day is nothing new to her...the routine...along with the dream.  The dream.  Her eyebrows furrowed immediately.  Argh...  Why do I have to remember it every night?!  She slowed down and saw a very familiar figure jogging towards her.  It can't be...  She blushed.  Not in the first day!  She took a step backward when the mist cleared...

"Hi there, Ms. Altair.  Nice morning, huh?"

The headmaster...  THE HEADMASTER!!!  Fallon froze.  "G-gg-good morning, Headmaster."  She stuttered trying to maintain her thumping heart.  It's as if Cacucha Galopp immediately played in her head.

"Jog with me?"

Fallon swallowed hard.  The headmaster tilted his head to the side waiting for an answered.  "Of course, headmaster..."  She answered in a very faint voice.  As they were jogging, Fallon slowly shook all the kinks and can't help but feel lucky.   Truly, if she were given the privilege of acting like a normal girl, she would be giggling now.  But no, she doesn't deserve to be someone...normal.  So she didn't giggle...not feed her little girlish fantasies about the handsome man jogging beside her.

"Thank you."

To this, Fallon glanced his way.  The tall handsome, cheerful...handsome...cheerful...handsome...  She shook her head.  Is he really old?!  My god, he looks like my age!  She posed a questioning look when the headmaster turned her way.

"You always seem to be a perfect example of a student of HADES."

The headmaster raised a finger to emphasize the compliment.  Fallon smiled at this and blushed a bit.  "It's nothing, headmaster...  I'm just...doing my best..."

"Hmm...  That's good."  The headmaster answered.  "But wouldn't it be better to be yourself?  You're too considerate of others.  It's okay to be flawed once in a while...  I'd like to see that this year..."

Fallon immediately stopped in her tracks and wondered why the headmaster said that.  "Uhm...I remembered I have something to do, sir."  She reasoned out.  Could the headmaster be aware of...her history?

"Oh! Okay...  I'll see you later then?"

Fallon nodded and stared at the headmaster's retreating back.  It's like he stated...  I'm too considerate, huh?  She sighed as she turned and headed back to the mansion.  The gates opened for her and she thanked the guard.  As she walked up to the front door, she tried to remember how the mansion looked before her uncle died.

Facade of the Altair Mansion

The Altair mansion used to be a facility in disguise.  Dr. Aden Altair is one of the scientists who copied drugs and experimented on people - mainly his niece.  Fallon opened the front door.  She really marvel at how big the mansion is.   

For what?  Really...    

She bought a lot of houses.  Houses that serve as her getaway when the dreams became too real.  But she didn't burn the mansion.  She wanted to destroy it after the incident with her uncle...but she stopped herself from doing so.  The mansion is a reminder...    

I'll never trust anyone ever again.  

White Grand Piano give to Fallon by her uncle.

 She stared at the white grand piano beside the receiving room where she used to play for her uncle's visitors.  She hurried up the stairs to her room.  She took a quick shower and got ready for the first day of school. 

But wouldn't it be better to be yourself?

True - the headmaster hit it right...  No one knows her...  She trusted no one...not even some of her closest confidants.  "He might surprise himself by suggesting such a thing..."  She smiled.  No, she will never let anyone know who she is...  She will continue this beautiful play of a perfect student and her unrequited love with the headmaster.  Isn't it classic?

Receiving Area

 As soon as she entered the campus, several of the student body greeted her.  She is a well-known athlete after all and students like the fact that she gives prestige to HADES.  Of course, fellow athletes outside of HADES treats her like some kind of monster.  She does her best to minimize her abilities though...to no avail winning most of the track meets and martial arts competitions.

"Good morning."

Pink-black blurred her vision.  "Jin."  She merely replied.

"I see you're pretty gloomy...so early in the morning..."  Jin grinned as she hopped gleefully beside Fallon.  "I bet something pissed ya off?  Shahe, perhaps?"

Fallon shook her head.  "Too early for him to show up..."  She answered and continued walking as her junior tagged along.  "You look pretty excited..."

"Not in the least..."  Jin snorted and yawned.  "Just woke up early, i guess..."  She shrugged.  "I guess I better go for now..."

Fallon didn't bid her goodbye or see you later...she just continued walking.  The headmaster's words bothered her so much that she didn't notice a person in front of her.  She looked up at a new face...another Alter like her judging by the feel of his energy and his scent.  "Sorry."  She bowed and were greeted by bloody red eyes.  She realized that she'd be graduating soon...and never get to know this person much.

"Watch where you go."

Celesteine Noctis de Beau - well, close to what he looks like...

The voice wasn't really angry...to some, maybe.  But it was more of an advice...than a threat.  She can sense the sincerity of it and took it as it is.  Fallon nodded as the tall Alter left.  Heading for the Assembly Hall, she saw another Alters just around a corner.  No one can miss him...  Those silver strands, prominent horn and silk clothes that could rival those of royalty...  It was Celesteine Noctic de Beau...and he was staring at her.  She didn't mind his gaze.  For as long as she can remember, the Alter has been following her...from a distance.  It would be rude of her to assume he likes her...so she lets it be.  As she was nearing the entrance, she caught another figure...TOO familiar.

Abaven Shahe

Abaven...  She cursed inwardly and tried to hide behind other students.  She felt his gaze though...  And just for the opening of the semester, she graced him with a deadly glare before disappearing into the Assembly Hall.  It was a warning.  The young Alter is a stealth type...and she knew he was snooping about her mansion.  He's not a threat...but he annoys her so much that she put up several detectors - not that it helped.   Abaven Shahe is nothing but a two-faced money-hungry asshole...   She stopped herself from saying more.  Thinking about the handsome junior makes her feel like she's losing IQ points.  To hell with that prick...

"How was your summer, Ms. Altair?"

Several of the students asked her.  She merely smiled.  "It's great."  She answered in her facade.  She knows HADES too well to trust it...even the headmaster.  All the instructors have their own secrets...even the students.  She looked about her as she identified some of the famous students of HADES.  Many rebellious...some...obedient...but everyone has their masks on.  And in the midst of the huge room, Fallon stood wearing hers perfectly.  No one will ever find out her secrets...no one.



A/N: Hope everyone likes that....domo! Sorry for the delay! :3

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