Nikki Drake (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=145695.msg6568989#msg6568989)<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Bleachers, Football Stadium<br/><strong>Tag:</strong>Hideo Saitou, anyone else.<br/><br/>Nikki hadn't said much of anything to anyone last night.  She definitely hadn't talked about what had happened on the beach, and if Lihua or the nurse had tried to engage her in conversation she would have simply smiled sadly to them and said with a soft voice that she was fine.  Which, in truth, she had been, once the initial shock had worn off.<br/><br/>The morning sun had risen, and she'd woken in her dorm bed, IV fee, and in the same clothing she recalled falling asleep in.  She was still alive, for all she could tell, and whether she'd finally fallen down the rabbit hole, or actually truly living a nightmare, she was unrestrained and free to go where she wished.  After a solitary, early breakfast she had attempted to jog around the campus, but had lost her motivation when she had neared the stadium and instead, had climbed a tree.  The bough of the tree had been where she had spent the intermittent time, safe in its shade - or as safe as possible on this island.  Her vantage point had offered her plenty of time to watch and observe, and better the elevated height had provided a feeling of security.  She had been able to see almost anything approaching, and more importantly, if anything had wanted to get her it would have to climb the tree after her.  It wasn't perfect, but it had worked.<br/><br/>Her attention had been caught by the droves of students entering the football stadium.  She'd completely forgotten about the ceremony, and only briefly contemplated joining the large crowds before she swung down and landed roughly on the ground below where she had perched, earning only a few stares.<br/><br/>The hood of her sweatshirt had been quickly pulled up and her vibrant red ponytail had been carefully tucked under the hood.  She attempted to blend in with the throng of teenage students.  Large groups provided a measure of safety too.  Like a school of fish, even if a predator came the odds of a single individual surviving were greater than had that same predator found that same individual alone.  So even if a monster came and killed half the students surrounding her, she'd have a good chance of surviving, especially since she had an advantage over her fellow students.  She knew the truth.<br/><br/>After entering the stadium, she'd decided to once more take the high ground and had climbed the stairs to the top where it provided the best view and only two access points to come and get her.  That made running difficult, but once again, she'd see trouble coming long before her fellow students.<br/><br/>A tall boy caught her attention.  He was much too tall and too thin to be a normal boy, even if he was cute - in a tall and lanky fashion.  Hazel eyes followed him suspiciously until he took a seat, placed his extremely long arms on his extremely long legs and leaned forward as if he could be remotely interested in what the lady... principle... dean?... could possibly be saying down on the field below.<br/><br/>Nikki found herself drawing closer to the unusually tall Asian kid, curiosity temporarily winning over paranoia.  If anyone had been watching, she was likely a funny sight as she literally crept up closer to the lanky Hideo.  He was definitely human looking, and was likely only just a student, she realized, but still it was worth a closer investigation.  The monsters would likely appreciate a larger snack, even if he was mostly all bone.<br/><br/>The booing and jeering followed by the cheering baffled Nikki and she looked down to the middle of the field when it began.  Why would the students boo when she mentioned the school's name?  Why would they throw things?  And why were they cheering when she brought up yesterday evening's events?  They all must be temporarily psycho.  That would explain things, especially those students who were throwing things.<br/><br/>She heard the tall boy, whose expression had grown awfully serious and possibly unhappy, say that he didn't believe what the Dean had said.  Was it a possible plan from the monsters to create disbelief?  Then they could attack again without anyone being ready.  Or maybe the kid was human and really didn't believe Dean Knight.  He wasn't there after all when the cut-in-half boy had pulled that silvery sword out.  Of course that had been a dream, and she knew it was a dream because cut-in-half boy had poofed into ash right after.  Though if Nikki was still dreaming then that meant it was actually real in this world, and since this abnormally long and tall kid was in this world, it meant that it was real for him too.<br/><br/>"Why would she be joking about a thing like that?  Soulblades and monsters?  Is that really something to joke about?" Nichole asked in a serious though quiet voice, which easily carried to Hideo.<br/><br/>Nikki smiled, possibly for the first time since the beach.  The redhead smiled.  The first time since the beach the evening before.  A single look at her could tell anyone that she likely hadn't slept perfectly, but other than that she seemed to look fine.  Of course, she did have sweatpants and a hoodie on, over her head, in summertime, and if Hideo hadn't been paying that much attention, she could've eerily seemed to have appeared from nowhere.