forum Alfea College (Closed)

Started November 23, 2021 by @emilyevewrites group

tune

Mila nodded, feeling the same way as she carefully made her way towards the door… but didn't open it. That would just give them away.

The two were close together and speaking in hushed voices a few feet away from the door to the headmistress' office. Callum had left his office, so the space was clear.

"I've spoken with my contacts in the other realms," Saúl murmured. "No other sightings of Burned Ones."

Farah sighed softly. "So ours was just a fluke?" she asked, looking at the door to her office briefly. There was a sort of hope to her tone, but she knew as well as Saúl did that it was most likely misguided hope.

"Maybe, but it's a dangerous fluke," he countered.

At that, Farah looked back at him quickly and quietly scoffed.

"The capitol's prison is more secure than ours, and the queen would scan its memories if you asked." The headmaster's voice sounded almost desperate, like this was something he'd been trying to convince her to do before.

Farah inhaled swiftly. "This is my school, Saúl." Her voice was set and stern.

"Yes, it's a school, and there's already gossip," he said almost immediately. It was like he was prepared for exactly what Farah was going to say. She loved that about him. But sometimes, like now, she hated it. "It's only a matter of time before the kids cross the Barrier to find it. Please, let's do this right."

Farah hugged her arms across her chest and pressed her lips together, looking at him skeptically.

"Farah… the chains in the barn won't be able to hold it forever. It obviously is somewhat resistant to the Zanbaq. If you gave it as much as you said you did, and it still woke up, I'm worried. It very nearly scratched you this morning. Let me make arrangements with the queen's army to transport it safely," Saúl said gently taking her hands in his.

The headmistress closed her eyes and sighed. "Alright," she whispered softly. "But be careful."

Saúl nodded. "I will be."

"Please, Saúl," Farah insisted, opening her eyes again quickly, and he pulled her hands to his chest above his heart. "This is serious."

"I will be," he repeated confidently.

Farah exhaled slowly. "Be back as soon as you can."

(You’re fine. I just got busy yesterday…)

Mila covered her mouth to hide a gasp at what she heard. It was hard to make out everything but… It sounded like something dangerous was chained up, for now, in a barn. Only thing was she didn't know where that barn could be or if she actually wanted to find it. “We should move.” she whispered, gently, as she moved away from the door.

Nissa's eyes widened. "A Burned One?" She whispered as she stepped away from the door. "I thought they were all gone…" She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Burned Ones still existed? How many of them were there?

"Farah, I swear to you I won't be back a second later than I have to be." He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead to relax her, and it worked. "Let me go call Luna and make the arrangements." With that, he dropped her hands and left, his footsteps receding in the distance.

Farah sighed and watched him go, hugging her arms around her torso and thinking for a moment.

“I thought they were too.” Mila whispered back as they made it back to their positions. “But at least it sounds like there's only one… Maybe it was better at hiding before or something.”

"Yeah… maybe." Nissa had a sneaking suspicion that it was something bigger than that, but she stayed silent. She'd explain her thoughts to Mila later, when they were alone.

Farah re-entered the room, shutting the door behind her. "I'm sorry for that interruption, girls," the headmistress apologized. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long. Would you like to continue?" She circled around in front of them and noticed slightly different emotions coming from them. At the discovery, she leaned back against her desk and arched her eyebrows. "Were you listening to my conversation with Headmaster Silva?" she asked pointedly.

(😅)

Mila was somehow able to keep an impassive expression when the Headmistress caught them. Though she was sure the spike of internal panic that ran through her only confirmed the older woman's suspicion.

Headmistress Dowling felt a sudden and intense spike of panic as if it were her own. She couldn't tell which girl it came from, but it was enough for her to sigh at the confirmation that they'd been listening. It was her fault, she supposed, for having the conversation within earshot. She'd have to tell Saul that they knew the specifics. "How much did you hear?"

Nissa knew there was no point in lying. "Enough to know that Burned Ones still exist." She said, crossing her arms. "We've always been told that they were gone, but now you have one locked up in the barn?" She had to admit, she was a little angry. It felt like they'd been lied to. "If one survived, who's to say there aren't others out there?"

Farah inhaled swiftly and held her chin high in the air. There was no point in dancing around the truth. "They have been gone. For sixteen years, not one has been sighted. I don't know why they're back, but Headmaster Silva and I have the situation under control. There is no need to be worried, but it would be best if you don't go talking about this with the other students."

“I’m sorry, ma’am, it was my idea.” Mila confessed when Nissa confirmed that they had been listening. “I was…” curious? worried? “I have no excuse but I will not tell anyone else.” she agreed.

Nissa nodded in agreement. "We won't say a word." She understood why they had to keep quiet. There was no telling how everyone would react.

Farah nodded and eyed them each. "If you don't mind, girls, we can pick up the remainder of this session tomorrow. I have some urgent work to do." She didn't say what the work was, but after the conversation they just had, it was abundantly clear what she had to work on.

“Yes, ma’am.” Mila nodded, her voice still a bit soft from embarrassment or guilt (she wasn't sure). “Good luck.” she attempted to smile before walking towards the office door.

Nissa left without a word, closing the door behind her. She was silent for a moment, then looked at Mila. "So, now what?"

“I don't know.” Mila sighed, shaking her head slightly. “But I don't think we should talk about it here. Let's wait until we get back to our suite.” she suggested since she still was trying process everything.

Farah remained stoic and calm until the girls left, but once the door was shut, she lowered her chin to her chest and sighed tiredly. After a moment, she made her way back around her desk and slipped her phone out of her pocket to make a few phone calls undisturbed before Callum came back.

"You're right." Nissa agreed, glancing back at the door. "Let's go, then?"

“Yeah. Let's go.” Mila nodded, before leading the way back to their room.

As soon as they got back, Nissa looked at her roommate. "There's gotta be something we can do." She turned to the window, gazing at other students as they made their way to wherever they were going. "We need to find out where that thing came from, how it survived. If there more of them out there, who knows what'll happen?"

As soon as they got back, Nissa looked at her roommate. "There's gotta be something we can do." She turned to the window, gazing at other students as they made their way to wherever they were going. "We need to find out where that thing came from, how it survived. If there more of them out there, who knows what'll happen?"

“How are we supposed to do that? We're only second-year students.” Mila pointed out. “I’m sure headmistress Dowling and Mr. Silva are already working on those same questions. But I sincerely hope that there isn't more of them. Some of the stuff I read about them is pretty… terrifying.” she admitted.