"Now, now, now, Penelope." Nate steps in and saves me from her deathly glare. She rolls her eyes and follow the direction Roman went.

Nate furrows his brows and leads me to the bookshelves at the hallway after the living room. We stop in front a shelf and begin to take out the book. I'm not sure what we're looking for in the books but I follow his lead. Some moments later, he decides to comment on Penelope's warning. “It wasn't a torture. Far from it actually, it was fun, and we had access to the whole place. I don’t know why he made today a living room party.” He says as he grabs and opens an enormous book.

I nod. “Why are you here? I know what I did, but I don’t know why any of you are here.”

“Penelope and Roman were caught sneaking in past curfew, and yes, we do party outside school. I was caught doing drugs.” he answers.

I frown. "Why would Penelope and Roman be together?" I ask curiously, I don't even know they're friends.

Nate pauses what he's doing to look at me. "You don't know?" I shake my head. "Roman is my roommate."

And then I just remember the conversation we heard about how much he hates Penelope because she's loud and he's roommate's girlfriend. Wow, I never saw that one coming. Roman and Penelope are dating. They have nothing in common except if asshole is equivalent to bitch and then they have everything in common. Damn. Roman is like a fucking onion, he has so many layers to him. Peel one off and realize there's like a thousand more. The guy is a fucking mystery.

"Oh..."

He closes the book and returns it to it's place. "Yes oh and somehow I know you guys are involved."

"What? Are you crazy? Roman and I are not involved. Why would you think that?"

He shrugs. "I don't know, probably because he snuck out of your room this morning,”

My mouth drops open. “How did you even-” He interrupts me.

“Know? He is my roommate. I always smell you on him, and I’m not stupid. You guys clearly have something going on, which brings me to my request.” He slams a book shut, making me flinch, I didn't even see him take it. “Your friend, Jessica. Can I have her number?”

I raise my eyebrow in question. It's not like I wasn't expecting it. It's obvious that he has some kind of feelings for her. “Because...?” I don't bother to address his assumption about Roman and I, I'll save it for another time.

He shrugs. “She asked me to collect her number from you.”

“You are lying, aren’t you? And I’ll ask her if I can give it to you." I assure him.

He smiles. “Thanks, you are a lifesaver and I just found your totem, the raven.”

I collect the raven statue from him and stare at it. Ravens, what is it with me and ravens?

"So what's the deal with the totems and us?" I ask Nate.

"Hell if I know. Let's just find my cat and we'll be out of here."

He's not even curious. I know I have loads of questions to ask the headmaster when we get back to school.

Sighing, I close my eyes and raise my head. Opening my them, it connects with something strange and interesting. Somehow the sign I see on my hand and my necklace is hanging as a painting on the wall of the Headmaster's living room. Both signs. Something really freaky is going on and he knows more than he is letting on. Why did he lie to me? I mean, I never told him about the sign but I asked him about the spell repeatedly and he gave me nothing. Roman said the guidance counselor went to him after I showed her the sign, which can only means he knows something.

I don’t want this life, a life where people that are supposed to give me answers keep lying to me. My parents hasn't gotten back to me and that pisses me off more than anything. I never wanted this life, not for one second but somehow my life is all tangled up in it, it’s like every moment I live is already decided, and everyone knows it but me.

Ravens means something. It's connected to me somehow and if no one is going to tell me, I'm going to find out myself.

“Found mine. This is very easy, way too easy, almost like he deliberately wanted us here." Nate wonders as he shows me his cat statue.

If I'm to take a wild guess I'll say the headmaster brought us to know ourselves, or whatever reason he has to give each of us a totem that clearly tells more about each person. Like how I have connection with ravens, Penelope with her pride and beauty, playful Nate and cunning Roman.
This wasn’t a punishment, it’s a revelation.

Now, I don't know who to trust. Fuck! why can't I just be normal for a sec?

***

"Vegi su kacb uro modeerf," We say at the same time but like the last twenty-four times, nothing's happened.

Penelope breaks the circle and keeps her arms wrapped around her waist. "We've been at this for almost an hour and nothing is happening," She whines like a stupid child.

"Maybe we just need to keep trying." I try to sound positive.

Penelope glares at me. "This is all your fault, no doubt. This isn't our first time here, you aren't concentrating, I don't even know why they let a foo-" Nate and Roman interrupts her simultaneously.

"Oh come on, Penelope."

"Stop blaming her," Roman turns to me, and for the first time today, he's staring at me. "Camille, listen to me. We need to work together to get out. Without the four of us using magic together, we can't leave this place," He explains.

I keep my gaze everywhere but his face. "You three can go," I tell them.

"Good idea," Penelope says.

"And leave you here, no can do, love," Nate replies. "I still need you to give me your friend's number," He winks.

I hear Roman sigh as he places his hands on my shoulder. "Don't you understand. This place is a temporary reality that exists for the four of us. We can't leave you here, we have to get out together." He removes his hand from my shoulder and places it under my chin, forcing me to look at him. "We need to do this together."

I am tired of hearing that word 'together'. It's like whenever they say, they take some reserve sense from me.

He whispers and pulls away from me, looking deep into my eyes. "Focus, you can do this, please, clear your mind and focus, just like we did together," he says as he pulls away from the hug and takes my hand in his.

Nate takes my other hand, Penelope closes the circle. I sigh and prepare for the spell.

"Vegi Su Uro Modeerf."

The lights shine around us. I don't close my eyes this time, but somehow my eyes open at the library.

We are back.

I look beside me to see Nate smirking at me. I have some scores to settle the headmaster.

***

I barge into the headmaster's office without knocking. I don't care if he's busy, he's going to listen to me. And I'm relief when I see him sitting in his office, looking comfortable as ever while I was locked in another dimension.

He raises his eyebrows as he sees me. "Camille, I'm glad to see you," He says with a genuine smile.

I sit on the chair opposite him with a scowling expression. "Can't say the same," I reply harshly.

He frowns. "Excuse me?"

"I saw a painting in your living room that looks exactly like my pendant and the sign I see whenever I use magic. Care to explain that?"

His eyes widen in shock and quickly recovers. Not after I caught him. "I don't know what you are talking about," He lies.

Fucking liar.

"Dean-" He cut me off.

"That is Headmaster Wallace to you, who do you think you are, barging into my office like you own it and demanding me of something I know nothing about!" He yells and I don't think I have ever seen him this angry before. "The expérience hors du corps was created to feel familiar to you. I'm sorry for trying. I should give you another detention but it won't matter, get out of my office."

I scoff. "Gladly,” I mutter, and get up from the seat.

I slam the door behind me as I walk out. I see Roman leaning against the wall and immediately I step out.

"Camille-" I cut him.

"Just leave me alone, and I'm fucking done with this awful place." I walk away before he can say anything and he doesn't try to stop me.

The detention is a wake up call for me. I need to get the hell out of this place and find my answers.

I sprint to my room, open the door and slam it shit. I rush to my mini closet and take out my duffel bag. I rip the stupid tag on my jacket and throw it somewhere in the room but don’t care where it lands. I am shaking with anger and God help me because whoever tries to stop me is in for a rude awakening.

I pack the whole closet full of clothes without removing the hangar and dump it inside the duffel bag.

"Stupid," I push my stuff inside the bag. "Stupid school," I mutter as I move over to my side drawer.

"Stop!" Roman's voice orders from the doorway, I don't look at his side. "Camille, stop, you are behaving like a child," he says.

"Well, this child is fucking done with you, the whole lot of you. Get the fuck out of my room!" I frown and zip my bag up.

I carry the bag and walk towards him with determination. I'd like to see him try to stop me.

I stop in front of him and tighten my hold on the bag. "Move, Roman or I'll move you." I threaten and I mean it. I don't care if I conjure the whole ravens.

He smirks and it's annoying me. "You are angry, I get it but you leaving like this won't get you the answers you seek."

"You sound like my Grandfather and he's fucking dead. Now fucking move!" Through my gritted teeth, I warn.

"Camille-" He didn't finish his sentence as the school alarm blares loudly.

I look at Roman. "What is it now?"

Fucking panic alarm.

"Something bad."

Oh great!