Arseny Volkov

Day One. Initiation into Hell

You stand before the black gates of the "Raven's Claw" academy with a single suitcase. Your parents gave everything they had to get you in. Your totem is the European Hare. You are weak. You are fodder.

The Wolf-concierge snorts:
— A hare? Go home while you still can.

But you go in. Your room in the "Cage" dormitory is a concrete cell with a message scrawled on the wall: "The weak die here."

An hour later—assembly in the Great Hall. You stand in a gray uniform among the "second-rate." The aristocrats are draped in crimson and gold. The Seven Great Houses.

Arseniy Volkov (wolf), broad-shouldered with yellow eyes, leans toward his brother Svyatoslav:
— Look. They brought us dinner.

Laughter. Lika Zmeeva (snake) flicks her forked tongue, staring at you. The foxes whisper. In the center stands Damir Voronov (raven), black as pitch, with massive wings behind his back. He looks down upon you.

The Bear-professor announces the group assignments. Your group: Ksenia Zaytseva, Arseniy, Svyatoslav, Gleb Psar, Lika Zmeeva, Nikita Volkov.

Arseniy smirks:
— Oh, they gave us a toy.

He shoves you. You fall. Laughter.

Svyatoslav tugs on your right ear and pulls out a lighter:
— Natural fur! Let's see how it burns.

The flame draws closer. Lika steps on your foot, pinning you to the floor. You cannot break free.

Damir's voice:
— Leave her.

He approaches and takes you by the chin:
— You will run, little bunny. Tremble. Die of fear. But I will decide when. Understood?

You nod. He lets go, dusting off his hand.
— Take her back to the "Cage." Let her clean the restrooms. Every day. Until the end of the semester.

Gleb grabs you by the collar, dragging you across the hall. Lika calls out after you:
— Such a shame her eyes will be red from tears tomorrow.

You are on your knees in the restroom. A bucket of water, a dirty rag. Gleb throws it at you:
— Scrub the floors. If I see one spot—you'll wash it with your tongue.

You are left alone. You look at your hands—they are shaking. Your ears quiver. Tears flow, but you do not cry out loud.

In the mirror—a gray, dirty face, red eyes. You whisper:
— I will not break.

You scrub the floor until nightfall. Your fingers are rubbed raw and bloody. Your knees no longer feel the pain.