n after the lights came back on, even after the shadow disappeared from the doorway,

her eyes still fixed on the blackboard, her

I whispered to her. "

there. "I don't know" and that's what s

ry of this school, you said you kn

r eyes full of fear. "That doesn't mean I know what really happened her

n, my chest tight. "Then m

ind. "How? How do you plan to do that?

ecords were erased. If the school doesn't want students knowing what hap

You want to break into his office? Amay

s," I said. "I think it's w

od. Then she exhaled sharply. "Fine. But if we get caught, I'm te

oom. The walk to the instructor's office felt longer than it should have, and

Books floated above the shelves, pages turned by themselves, and a silver compass spun slowly in th

ered, stepping inside. "This

m tightly. "I've never seen anything

to," I said, but my

ing connected to the missing student. Then I noticed somet

ming closer. "Sofia,

e a door there. I've been here before, that

oved, revealing a hidden doorway. Darkness

spered, her eyes wide. "We

tsteps echoed outside in t

"Someone's coming. Someo

er the des

. The instructor entered, but he wasn't alone. Another person walked i

ought they would hear it. Sofia sque

e tense. "You're still here. I thoug

r said noth

back?" the instr

ranger answered, voice quie

stopped. Sh

er. "Time for what? Time to do what

nger said. "That's all. She n

ady last week, now you say

ed evenly. "And now? She is clos

n around my wrist. Neither of

o be careful. If anyone discovers you're still here, if anyone sees

response. "I know the ri

ere? Why can't you just s

se I need to see what she becomes. I ne

Who were they talking abo

es scanning the room. Sofia and I froze, our faces inc

nal glimpse of the black clothing, then both of them left. We waite

hands shaking. "We're leaving. We're leaving

gs weak. "Okay,

he main corridor, and then we almost cras

ackward, alm

. "Okay. Either I'm interrupting something very important, or you two have

ened," Sofia

s convincing. Truly, you should both become act

ned, James," I repeate

ervant. "You're both terrible liars, you know that? Espec

ensive. "James, please. Can

ted walking away, then stopped and turned back. "Oh. There's some

him, wary. "What

ying the power readings around the school. The readings around

of readings? What ar

said, looking toward the windows. "The moon's energy has

d. "What do you mea

having strangely too," James said, looking between

What does that mean? Wh

t whatever is happening isn't natural. It hasn't ha

ged a look. James

inting at us. "You definitely kno

" Sofia sa

course you don't. See you at class, liar

the corner. "What was he talk

now, Amaya. But I have a feeling whatev

s wrong. We just didn't know

nda'

ajesty High that never felt peaceful. It always felt like the schoo

chest, my footsteps echoing. Then I heard

tsteps stopped too

ckly. "Who's there?

he corrido

tinued walking, faster now,

me. Water exploded from the pipes wi

at the end of the corridor, complete

oice shaking despite trying to

. Instead, they raised o

shed from the broken pipes and twisted through th

nd the water slammed into t

ed. " How did y

a powerful wave and sending it cra

he wave stopped in mid-air. N

. "What? That's impossible. No

a second, then dropped heavily to the f

ands shaking. "I won't ask agai

essly. Again. And again. My brea

o are you?" I whispered

ootsteps

ran

s with her, run

them. "Both of you get

eyes on the stranger. "What is happening? Mir

pointing. "I was just walking an

nd for the first time, they became

Amaya's arm. "Amaya... why i

powerful force struck the three of us at once. I

reamed, pushi

. "Miranda, a

tranger, summoning every bit of water I

, wind swirling around her. Sof

ia cried, her flames sh

rything we threw, our attacks colliding with

. "We... we're losing

her face pale. "I... I c

reaching for her. "Amaya,

threw me backward against the lockers. The stra

."What do you want from me

raised a hand

touch her!"

ed, not with fear, but with something else. The air

's happening

king around as the lights flickered vio

jesty High, shaking the whole corridor. Windows rattled throug

hand still raised, as if

dy shaking. "I... I don't know what's happe

rder. The lights e

Amaya. Something I couldn't name,

as the force tore

. Just gone, like they w

ctor dropped the object in his hand. He felt it in his c

aking. "No, it's too early. She was

ng through the school, thro

ollably, tears running down her face. "What

one of us knew. We just st

omething ancient had awakened. Something t

e in centuries, the s