My feet carry me into a run before I realize that I've moved. My hand is instinctively reaching for my wand from its place on my hip. I track the hooded head of Luke as he disappears among the group of girls and lunges into a sprint.

I bolt through the entrance of the store, passing Astrid and Tessa as they are still waiting just outside. The amount of people in the mall grows since I'm nearing the food court and I can just catch a flash of Luke's retreating form as I weave among the dozens of people after him.

He's here to kill me, but he can't kill me if I'm ready to fight.

My heart thrills in my chest, my blood pumping in a rapid-fire tempo that rises and falls unevenly. I sprint past a man who shouts at me when I crash into him, but he's none of my concern as I keep running. Luke's blue-hooded head stays a dozen paces ahead of me as he runs and takes a side hallway and darts out of sight.

Doors at the end of the hall lead into the parking lot as he shoves one open and disappears outside. I pour on the speed and ready my wand, the crystal cylinder burning hotly in my hand as my fingers itch with the magic in my veins.

I burst through the doors after him, one of them nearly hitting a woman who was about to walk up. I sprint past her, the door slamming shut behind me. The breath catches in my throat when I see that no one is outside. There is no Luke but I know in my heart that there's no way he could have gotten away that quickly.

He was right here, he should be right here.

I spin in a circle to scan my surroundings, but I see no flicker of movement, no hint to show me where he could have gone.

I saw him, he should be right here!

"Kara!"

I look up to see that Tessa has followed me, the door swinging shut behind her. It opens again when Astrid shoves it and starts in my direction.

"What are you doing?" Astrid yells as she strides over to me, her eyes wide as they look at me and past me.

My mouth dries up then, the words sticking in my throat, my mind short-circuiting as I'm at a loss for an explanation. Tessa's eyes narrow as she fixes me with an intense stare that I have to look away from.

Keep it together, you're just seeing things.

I feel like all of my emotions and thoughts are drawn across my face in sharpie. The obviousness available for anyone to read and I feel vulnerable. I turn away from her as tears prickle in my eyes, the irritating sensation making me want to hide. I take a steadying breath to clear the lump in my throat.

"I just...I thought-," I put a hand to my forehead as I tuck my wand away, only to realize that my other hand is empty.

I spin in a circle, panic rushing through me as I feel guilty for dropping Indigo's gift. Astrid gives me a long look before she pulls a bag out of her coat and holds it aloft.

"You left it with us, remember?" she says flatly before she passes the bag to Tessa, "I need to go sit down."

She turns and heads back into the mall then, her tread slow and careful, like her shoes are full of glass. She walks up and opens the door before she disappears inside. Tessa watches her go before she shakes her head and steps over to my side.

"She's told me that the killing curse her uncle cast on her can still hurt," Tessa explains in a low voice, "she's not mad at you or anything."

I nod, though I still feel responsible for her pain. It would have been me if Astrid hadn't stepped in to protect me that fateful night in the graveyard.

"So...why did you run?" she inquires. 

She tilts her head to the side like a curious bird and I see the uncanny resemblance of how she matches her dove familiar's movements. I know then that I'm about to be picked apart.

"It was nothing," I answer her quickly. 

I know in that moment that I had replied too fast as she frowns deeply. She eyes me for a second before she shakes her head. 

"You were acting like you had seen a ghost or something."

If only you knew.

But Luke was still alive and locked away, serving out his sentence for nearly killing me.

"Kara, I'm worried about you," Tessa continues, "Indigo's told me that you don't really have any friends at Greenwood."

"Tess-," I sputter but she lifts a hand as she motions for me to stop talking.

"Let me finish, I just wanted to say that I'm concerned and that I'm wondering why you haven't made any new friends, is there anyone bullying you?"

I shake my head as relief washes over me, this wouldn't be a lie.

"No...no, most everyone is leaving me alone."

"You swear that you're not lying?" she pries.

"I promise," I assure her, "it's just...you know, everything about my sophomore year makes everyone want to stay away from me."

I feel like the words are pouring out of me as I say this and Tessa's face tightens.

"I'm sorry," she says softly, "I feel like I haven't been here for you."

"You have," I protest, but she shakes her head.

"No, I don't think I have, hell, all I've done is text you, I should at least video-chat some time when I go back to school."

Shereaches up to run a nervous hand across the top of her head, her dark curlsmashing under her touch. Her expression makes me feel guilty for lying to her

"Tess I'm just under a lot of stress, I'm sure things will be okay once I finish up with my swim-meets," I assure her.

"Just promise me that you'll be honest if you're having any issues or need to talk."

"I promise," I say and nod, the lie easily slipping past as she smiles.

"Good, let's go get a treat or something, maybe we can pick up some ice cream at Molly's," she suggests as she grins, "I'm buying."

I force a smile even though I can't help but feel like I'm being watched. I turn away from the parking lot and start back toward the mall.