I move back, to sit on my bed—the Trashy Nine. Perhaps that's not really fair since all the beds in the dormitory possess simir levels of trashiness. My fingers twiddle with the folds of the cloak and then the fibu.

  I need a distraction. I look up and focus my eyes. Murals are not everywhere and there are areas in the upper reaches of the wall where striking soft red-lined patterns of rock mix with the shine of the blue crystals. I'm surprised at how rge the dormitory is. It is a cold-looking pce but vast. No...it is a cold-feeling pce. That doesn't make sense. A hidden sigh passes my lips. I keep my chin up and look straight so I can portray the face of someone perfectly at ease. Like all this is just a routine—a minor inconvenience really.

  Beyond the murmurs around me—which for some strange reason I've allowed become my background noise—I can barely hear walking in the corridor outside. Moments ter the door to the right of my bed opened. The young trio of women caretakers is back. In no time at all, they begin collecting all the crystals in the dormitory into wide, white-brown baskets made of the wisteria vine.

  ''Girls. Girls.'' One of the three women started, quieting the room. This time she is not yelling at us. ''It's time for dream hunting. After the st of the Cobalts are removed there will be no more talking. No noise. Otherwise, we will have to disturb Caretaker Vitellia to come and quiet you all.'' She is odd. The woman is in her early twenties but talks with an air of authority and confidence that makes her words hard to ignore. Since she never bothered giving us her name I'm gonna call her Rings because she has more than a few of those choking her bck hair. ''If you give respect you will receive it,'' Rings continues. ''Yelling, arguing, stealing, fighting, or any other way of disrespecting this pce is rewarded with two nights sleeping completely alone on bare rock—in the deepest dungeons, the Academy has to offer. Minimum. Prove that your group has more discipline than the boys do and do not embarrass yourselves.'' Clever. The male students are probably told the same about us. Using threats of punishment, sort of hidden competition between us and boys, and potential for embarrassment all to make the students behave.

  The other two women don't say anything and strut into the corridor, taking the st of the shining blue crystals with them. Their crystal-filled baskets are held with both hands in front. The thirteen of us are left in almost total darkness, with only the small light coming through the open door and the corridor outside.

  ''Now would be a good time for all of you to move to your beds.'' Rings then swings to mosey toward the other two women—the light of the crystals gleams across the metallic bindings of her long mane. She waits a good few moments in the doorway. ''For minor emergencies in the night, you have a pot below the bed which you will empty in the morning.'' She grabs the door handle. ''Goodnight girls.''

  ''Goodnight,'' our lukewarm voices chant to the growing darkness. The closing door consumes the st sliver of light and the thirteen of us prepare for sleep.

  I lie on my bed of straw and the moment my head touches the also straw pillow my mind takes me to my own feathery-stuffed one. Sometimes a feather or two would push through to poke at my cheek but it was a tiny sacrifice for the snugly comfort it gave me. At this very moment, I wish to scream like a zero-year-old just to get it back. As always, I will probably spend most of the night awake. Despite the darkness, I will lie still, close my eyes, and slow down my breathing. Yes, it is a bit excessive but, like Mom said: ''Details make it perfect.''

  Not long after the st of the glowing chunky Cobalts are taken away, I start hearing some sobbing in the dark. Somewhere to the left, another girl is quietly singing. They are both shushed by the girl around my right. I close my eyes and think of home.