Chapter 18: It can't be . . .

- Nya's POV -

"Yes, sir?" I asked Mr Ranger in forced politeness, narrowing my eyes.

His eyes suddenly turned bright and panicky, and he rushed through his sentence. "Miss Analove, please leave here. Get as far away as you can!"

I could feel my eyes widening in surprise. I mean, this was Mr Ranger, the crazy potion teacher who had attacked me in the classroom with Herobrine's Sword we were talking about. And now he was warning me?

When I tried to interrupted, he raised his hands to shush me. "No, listen, Nya. You need to get out of this place. It's not safe for you!" His hands were clenched and he shut his eyes tightly, as if he were fighting something in his head.

"Er, Mr Ranger, are you okay?" I inquired nervously, taking a step back. Suddenly his eyes snapped up to mine, gleaming with fear.

"No! You don't understand! The Mistress, she... She's one of your..." He stuttered, looking like he was going to throw up. Then his tone changed and he smiled at me.

"Sorry for that, Miss Analove. You can go back to your seat now." He glanced back to the desk behind me, gesturing for me to leave. Mr Ranger's change in character had surprised me more than I'd like to admit, and I really just wanted to get away from him. I stumbled back to my seat next to Emily and the still absent Clare.

What shocked me the most was that Mr Ranger had tried to warn me of something, and boy did he sound scared. Something along the lines of 'she's one of your...'. One of my what? Classmates? Family members? Friends? Teachers?

I had no idea, and it was hurting my brain to come up with explanations. I decided I would tell Zach afterschool, and hopefully he'd have some comforting words. I also decreed that from then on I would be particularly careful about the people I'm around.

***

~~ 2 DAYS LATER ~~

Zach had helped me with forgetting the incident, but I could tell something was bothering him too. I was shocked to hear that sweet little Emerald who couldn't hurt a fly had actually stabbed Zach and then ran off. It made me want to punch her, as bad as that sounds. I also inwardly decided to confront her about it, and explain to her that assaulting my could result in a few broken bones or several severe burns.

Zach had calmed me with a kiss to the cheek and a promise he would help me out whenever I asked. I was so grateful for his caring personality; plus, he also took me out for dinner that night. Double grateful.

The next morning, however, was pretty messed up.

I woke up, missing Zazzles (who was being kittysat at my parent's place) and exhausted from lack of sleep. I grumpily pulled together my Literature books, ignoring Clare's nasty comments about my bed hair and Emerald in general. I was late to class, and my English teacher was not pleased. In fact, she gave me a detention. So far, not a very good day.

It got worse.

When I had confronted Emerald for stabbing Zach, she had gone all teary eyed and sad. She told me sorry, but I could tell she was hiding something; it was in her expression, her voice, her posture. Even I, the self-awarded densest person in Bloquear, could tell. And that was saying something. I had decided to avoid her as much as I could, since seeing her filled me with a desire to hurt someone or break something.

Later, Clare had a splitting headache during Potions class, and so we were walking down the wooden corridors to the nurse's office. I was thinking about random topics, and creating little sparks of fire between my fingers (something I had been practicing to control since the apartment incident). Clare was massaging her forehead when we bumped into Mackenzie Reed.

I said hello, but backed off when I realised she was glaring at me like I were a zombie on a rampage. Wait, not me; Clare.

Her face was stained with fear she looked like she was trying really hard to hide. Clare gripped my arm tightly and begun turning me around, muttering, "Let's go this way, Nya."

It was as if they were afraid of each other. Mackenzie and Clare, whom I am sure have never had a decent conversation.

I watched helplessly, being dragged away by Clare, as Mackenzie hurried away in the opposite direction down the corridor. I didn't miss the frightened glances over her shoulder she cast as she ran away from us.

Clare didn't say anything until the lunch bell went. I had so many questions I was begging to ask, but I kept my mouth shut. Right now, Clare looked more peeved than a poor man losing a diamond.

They obviously had some negative relationship going on there, but I was an impolite person and respected their privacy. If Clare wanted to tell me something, she would, because she's my friend and hopefully believes she can trust me. I wasn't going to squeeze some truth out of her if she didn't want it to be shared.

During archery class the next day, I noticed that Mackenzie was avoiding Jordan and I. Particularly me. Jordan didn't understand what was going on, the poor guy. To be honest, I didn't really know either. I mean, if it were Clare she was angry at or whatever, why would she try and stay away from me?

Whilst Mr Slayer was lecturing us on the correct stance when you're aiming, I felt someone's presence beside me. But it was only there for a moment, and it disappeared after something was placed in my left hand. I turned to see an empty space, and confusedly opened the scrunched up piece of paper that I had been slipped.

Meet me outside the potions classroom at 10 tonight. Please don't be late.

- M.R

My eyes darted across the room, where Mackenzie was watching Mr Slayer intently. I could see her glance at me from the corner of her eye, but then straight back to the front of the class. She repeated this a few times until I realised she was waiting for a reply to her message.  I could see the stiffness in her posture, and the desperate light in her eyes. I could sense that she really wanted to tell me something; it was pretty obvious. I gave in, giving a nod and mouthing, 'See you there.' I mean, if it were important, which it seemed as, I should listen, right?

***

The thing was, at this university, there's a curfew for the students who live in dorms (as lame as it sounds). Unless its a Friday or Saturday night, all students were to be in their rooms by 10:00PM. This made my plan of getting away and meeting with Mackenzie a lot harder, unfortunately.

The bed below me creaked as I sat up, and the floor boards echoed the sound of my feet as I tip-toed to the door. I nearly made it when I heard a mumble;

"Nya..? What are you doing?"

It was Emerald's voice, strained and croaky since even though it was quarter to nine, she had been sleeping. I cussed silently to myself for being too careless. "I'm just... Getting a book from the library." I lied, hoping Emerald will just go back to dreaming peacefully, where she can't interrogate me about leaving the dorms after curfew.

"Oh, okay." She said softly, before leaning her head back down into the pillow. She probably just can't be bothered waking up fully, and I was thankful. I didn't need someone on my back.

The hallway was dark, the lamps turned off to help the teenagers sleep. It was easier to not be seen, and since they didn't actually have teachers patrolling the halls, there were no obstacles I had to pass. I reached the potions classroom just before 10 o'clock. Wow, I had either been taking my time, or trying extra hard not to be caught.

I could see through the thick veil of darkness to where Mackenzie was leaning against the classroom door, with her arms in her pockets and head down. She glanced up when she saw me, and even though the hallway was almost pitch black I could see her scared eyes.

"Thank Notch you came, Nya! There's something you really need to know!" She whispered urgently, her voice low and terrified. I hadn't ever heard her talk this much before. "If anyone else heard-"

"What? Is something wrong?" I inquired, making my tone soft. "'Cause if you need to, you can talk to me-"

"That's not it!" She interrupted, hissing. "Listen to me, Nya! You need to get out of here, away from all your friends! You're in danger!"

I could tell from her panicked tone and shaking hands she was definitely telling the truth, although it was hard to believe. She was gripping my wrists, and her grasp was painfully tight. Her worriedness was getting to me, which was putting me on-edge and my mind was trying to translate what she had just told me. She looked so desperate and frightened that I was now feeling that way too.

"Why am I in danger?" I asked, my voice quivering. "And what's wrong with my friends?"

Mackenzie's eyes were shedding scared tears. "She's trying to kill you, Nya!"

"Who?" I asked, practically hissing myself. "Who's trying to kill me?"

"Your roommate-"

She never finished her sentence. Because through the darkness, I heard a laugh that I had become so accustomed to I recognised it immediately. Only this time it was a twisted, evil chuckle. My gut filled with dread and I felt the room spinning around me, and the blood rush from my face. No, it couldn't be...

Shaking, I raised one hand and summoned a bright flame, and it's flickering light gave me a clear view of both Mackenzie and the person in front of me.

"Greetings, Nya Christen Analove. It's good to finally meet you in this form." She said, her voice as smooth and cold as a flowing waterfall.

"No," I murmured in utter despair and disbelief, the world feeling like it was crumbling around me. "It can't be..."

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*avoids slap aimed at face* IM SORRY!!! I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF!!! CLIFFHANGERS ARE ATTRACTED TO ME!!! (if  anyone has an idea 'bout what's gonna happen, please comment it and ill give a little shout-out for the person who gets the closest)

GUYS I AM GOING TO GO SEE CATCHING FIRE TONIGHT IT ONLY CAME OUT TODAY OMG I AM SO EXCITED ASDFGHJKL

Where is Finnick? Odair he is!

ALREADY WORKING ON THE NEXT CHAPTER SO DONT STRESS :D

Four more days until the competition close, good luck entrants!

- Jazz