The school Violet had started to attend was far from being a regular school. Upon entry, it could be seen that the building was not just meant for learning normal literature and arithmetic. Iron bars across the windows, heavy locks on classroom doors, and chains hung around restricted areas. Further still, the students didn't appear as every other high school students would. Always carrying lighters or knifes, not bothering to put them away as class progressed. And then Violet was given the direct assurance that the school was just that - abnormal - when the students were given their first assignment of the year.
"In order to continue with your schooling here, there is one thing that must be done to assure that you are ready to learn what we teach, and will not simply be here to waste our time," the headmistress spoke. "First, you must prove yourself worthy of attending an academy as elite as this. This task has been the initiation of many students that have come before you. And now you follow in their footsteps. To remain a student at Ira Academy, you must get away with murder."
Murmurs were going through the crowd of students after hearing that, but Violet couldn't tell if it was excitement or disbelief in the air. For a moment, she wondered if she had misheard the headmistress. 'Surely murder is going a bit too far,' she thought to herself. But then she considered the strangeness of the academy, the students, and all else in between. It must really be a school as twisted as that.
Many of the students were already headed out the door, ready to carry out the task. Violet followed the mob, but couldn't see how she could ever muster up the courage to commit something so dauntless as murder. As she walked, she overheard one of the other female students talking to her friend.
"I know just exactly who I'm going to go after! He's such an annoying prick that people will thank me for getting rid of him!"
"Really? I'm thinking of doing something a bit more subtle; a member of my indirect family, perhaps. After all, they've gone on that cruise..."
"Oh, that sounds like the perfect thing! Wish you luck."
"You too."
'They already know what they're going to do, and they still haven't even left the premises. I'm doomed!' Violet thought to herself, certain that she would never pass the initiation.
Suddenly, she felt a tug on her arm, and was pulled away from the mass exiting. It had been a girl to pull her aside, one that was much younger than her by the looks of things. As sweet as she looked, she had striking red hair that demanded attention, and was far from looking like an innocent child.
"I saw that you looked worried when Headmistress Invidia announced our assignment. It's the same one that's been announced for the past few decades, so everyone already knew about it. How come you didn't?" she asked, her voice sweeter than an angel's.
Violet bit her lip, wondering if she should tell the girl about her worries. But seeing the eager yet pitying look in the young girl's eyes, she relented.
"I never got a say into entering this academy. I hadn't known that it was for dealing with murder, of all things. I'm not used to such a thing. And getting away with murder, oh, I'll never be able to even lift a knife against someone!"
The other girl smiled, saying, "You realize that it is an option to carry out the murder with a partner?"
"A partner?"
"Yes. After all, some of the greatest murderers had accomplices. Everyone needs some help at some point. Would you care for a hand?"
Relief washed over Violet, now knowing that she didn't have to do this alone after all. She could join the girl, and have to do almost nothing!
"Would I! It'd be incredible if you would help me on this. I wouldn't know where to start."
"Then it's settled. I'm Riliane."
"Violet. Nice to meet you, Riliane. I hope we'll get to work well together."
"Likewise."
They shake hands, and turn to follow the remaining stragglers outside. The sun was just barely setting, so there was still a multitude of light around them.
Riliane started heading down a path that led to a small village, one that no one from the school had seemed to bother with going to. Violet hurried after her, not wanting to be left behind. With curiosity, she watched Riliane as she walked. She strode with purpose, head held high. She was not one to be afraid of others or what they thought. She would have her way no matter what she would have to do to get it. 'That must be why she's a student here,' she thought.
Through the treetops, Violet started to see houses. As they neared closer, she saw that although they were small, they were refined.
Riliane turned to face her, and smiled.
"This is the perfect place to start. I have a 'friend' here that might be able to help with our initiation."
Violet wasn't too sure about how she'd said 'friend,' but knew better than to question her. Instead, she followed her as she weaved through the -surprisingly - numerous streets. She stops at one of the houses, modestly built. For some reason, she takes a second to collect her breath and forces a big smile onto her face. 'It's almost as if she would prefer not to be here.'
Knocking, a man comes and opens the door. At seeing Riliane, he smiles.
"Riliane, my dear, what a surprise!" He notices Violet standing behind her. "And you've brought a friend. Please, do come in."
As they enter, he introduces himself as Allen. Riliane had come up with a story, and tells him that they were passing through, headed toward another village a bit farther off, and decided to drop by. Allen looked shocked at hearing they were traveling on foot. Insisting they stay for the night to rest, Riliane eventually agrees for the both of them. Through the entire exchange, Violet says not a word, not wanting to ruin anything. After all, Riliane had specifically wanted to come here.
So they stay for the fortnight. Violet finds that sleep does not come quickly for her, and wonders if it is because of the thought of the murder weighing down her mind. Had it been that, or something else, she didn't mind. She lied there, staring at the ceiling. Riliane had been left in another room, so she couldn't speak with her.
From somewhere in the house, there is a clatter. Violet payed no mind to it. 'Probably a pigeon has knocked something off the window sill,' she thought. Eventually, sleep overcomes her, and falls into a deep slumber.
When she wakes, it is to someone shaking her. People are yelling. So much commotion! Violet blinked a few times, getting the sunlight out of her eyes. People were surrounding her, people she didn't know. Somewhere, in the throng of people, someone calls, "Yes, that's her! She's the one that came with Lady Riliane!"
Upon hearing Riliane's name, Violet's senses come back to her. "What happened? Why is everyone here?"
Everyone quiets down, and a crying Riliane is brought to the front of the crowd. Violet is about to ask what made her cry, when she points at her.
"It was her!" she cries. "I brought her along, thinking she could be trusted. But no! Right at the moment I wasn't looking, she-" Riliane breaks off into a sob. "And look, still has his blood on her hands! Can't she even be a bit ashamed of what she's done?!"
Violet looks down at her hands, and gags. They are covered in dry blood. She knows that her hands were perfectly clean when she'd gone to sleep, and she doesn't get what everyone is yelling about.
Then it hits her. Allen had been killed. Someone had killed him, and as Violet had been the stranger in his house, put the blood on her hands. But she hadn't done it. And there'd only been the three of them in the house. Her, Allen, and Riliane.
Riliane.
Horror struck her as realization set in. 'That's why she wanted to be my partner! To have someone to blame!' Obviously Riliane was someone Allen had known and trusted, so did everyone else. No one suspected her. All the blame was put on Violet.
People were starting to yank her up, pulling her out of the room. Riliane had also started to vacate the room. But as they dragged Violet away, she felt her yank her arm, pulling her close. She whispered something to her that no one else could have possibly heard.
"Getting away with murder is much easier for a daughter of evil."