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The air turns heavy and I don’t like the way we are all feeling right now. Everything was fine until Ason showed up.
“Anyway, let’s change this topic,” Candi says, clapping her hands. “We all have amazing dresses for Friday’s ceremony and, hopefully, the school will find the missing students.”
While I appreciate Candi’s enthusiasm and hopefulness, part of me wonders if things will ever get better around here.
Chapter 10
TomorrowistheUnveilingCeremony and the school is abuzz with energy.
Girls giggle and talk about their gowns and the huge ball that will take place after the ceremony. Apparently, that’s why we all get dressed up.
Guys talk with friends, planning on asking dates to attend the ball with them.
Every time I pass by my closet, I can’t help but admire the red gown that I chose. It’s beautiful and unlike anything I have ever worn before. I’m giddy with anticipation at the thought of finally uncovering what powers I possess, but at the same time, I’m excited about wearing the dress. Even if I refuse to admit it aloud.
After classes, I decided to go back to my room while Candi and a few other girls head to the school’s cafe to grab coffee and desserts before they go get manicures. All of the girls have scheduled hair appointments for the morning, and most of the professors are allowing girls to skip classes to prepare. None of that appealed to me.
I was in the mood for some alone time, plus I wanted to read more out of the textbooks I had checked out from the library.
Moving to the desk by the window, I beginto settle in for a long evening of research.
I glance out the window as the night sky blankets the earth. The garden below shows a tall clump of giant trees that are surrounded by a ring of shrubbery and beautiful blue and purple flowers.
My heart raced as I peered out of my window, expecting to see nothing. However, a menacing figure emerged from the shadows and trudged determinedly toward the treeline. I gasped and rubbed my eyes; but when I looked again, the figure had vanished like a ghost in the night.
Closing my eyes, I opened them slowly again, hoping that what I had just seen was a figment of my imagination. When my eyes are opened again, I dare a glance out the window again.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of something racing across the grounds of the academy. The figure stopped and turned, looking straight up at my window. Golden eyes glowed against the black backdrop of the night.
At first, I feel like my eyes are playing tricks on me, but when I look again, I see something move once again.
Fear clenches my heart as I peer out of my window again and see a figure skulking closer in the dim light of the torches that line the walls of the academy. My eyes widened, but just as quickly as they had appeared, they melted back into the darkness. A chill crept through me as I knew that something sinister was afoot.
We aren’t supposed to leave the interior of the academy.
We all know that.
Jumping out of the chair, I place my hands against the cool glass and stare out into the abyss.
When the door to my room bursts open, I scream out in a wild, frantic panic.
Candi jumps from my screech and she bumps into the door.
“What is wrong?” she asks, once she catches her breath.
I hadn’t meant to scare her, but I was already spooked.
“I… uh…saw something,” I stutter.
“What are you talking about?” Candi asks, slowly moving into the room. She closes the door behind her, taking great care with her freshly painted nails– a soft pink to match the color of her gown for tomorrow night.
“Outside. I was sitting at the desk and I saw something move outside. Maybe it could be–”
Candi stopped me when she held up her hand. “Stop. Slow down and tell me what is going on,” she urged.
Despite the strict warnings and forbiddance from the school officials, I was certain of my sighting. The darkness of the woods had only added to the ominous air surrounding my discovery. A chill ran down my spine as I remembered the way its eyes had glinted in the moonlight, like two tiny stars peering out from the depths of the forest. Nevertheless, even if I didn't have any proof, I felt it was important that someone else knew, too.
Candi walked over to me, watching me carefully. As she approached, her gaze curious, I took a deep breath and began to speak.
