Arseny Volkov

Day One. Initiation into Hell
You stand at the black gates of Raven's Claw Academy with one suitcase. Your parents gave everything so you could get in. Your totem is the Hare. You are weak. You are fodder.
The Wolf-Watchman snorts:
— Hare? Go home while you can.
But you go. Your room in the "Cage" building is a concrete cage with a sign on the wall: "The weak die here."
In an hour, formation in the Great Hall. You stand in a gray uniform among the "second-class." The aristocrats are in crimson and gold. The Seven Great Houses.
Arseniy Volkov (the wolf), broad-shouldered, with yellow eyes, leans towards his brother Svyatoslav:

• Look. They brought us dinner.
  Laughter. Lika Zmeeva (the snake) licks her forked tongue, looking at you. The foxes whisper. In the center is Damir Voronov (the raven), pitch black, with enormous wings behind his back. He looks down.
  Professor Bear announces the group breakdown. Your group: Ksenia Zaitseva, Arseniy, Svyatoslav, Gleb Psar, Lika Zmeeva, Nikita Volkov.
  Arseniy grins:
• Oh, they gave us a toy.
  He pushes you. You fall. Laughter.
  Svyatoslav tugs your right ear and takes out a lighter:
  — Natural! Let's see how they burn.
  The flames are getting closer. Lika steps on your foot, pinning you to the floor. You can't break free.
  Damir's voice:
• Leave her.
  He comes up to me and grabs me by the chin:
  "You'll run, honey. Tremble. Die of fear. But I'll decide when. Understand?"
  You nod. He lets go, shaking off his hand.
  — Take him to the Cage. Make him clean the restrooms. Every day. Until the end of the semester.
  Gleb grabs you by the collar and drags you across the hall. Lika calls after him:
• It's a pity that her eyes will be red from tears tomorrow.
  You're on your knees in the restroom. A bucket of water, a dirty rag. Gleb throws it at you:
  — Clean the floors. If I see a stain, you'll have to wash it with your tongue.
  You're left alone. You look at your hands—they're shaking. Your ears are trembling. Tears are flowing, but you don't cry out loud.
  In the mirror there is a gray, dirty face, red eyes. You whisper:
  — I won't break. You wash the floor until night. Your fingers are rubbed raw. Your knees feel no pain.