I clutched my wand tightly, making my way down the long, dark hallway. Droplets trickled down the walls, creating an echoed noise through the entire chamber.

It was quiet, eerie. I knew I could definitely be walking into a trap, but even then, I still had my life on the line, and if need be, it could be mine to take.

I walked into the large, cave, like opening, where Nicholas stood. There were candles places around a large parchment of paper. Thankfully he was the only one I could see, so I assumed I was safe from an attack.

"Anastasia, welcome." He smirked, tucking his wand into the pocket of his pants. I kept my wand out, still unsure if I was able to trust him or not. It would make sense for him to want Zachary dead, but they're closer than anyone I've ever known.

"Nicholas." I nodded, standing a few feet in front of him. I let my eyes wander for a few seconds, relieved to see that we were still alone.

"Let's get on with it." He said evenly, sitting in front of the circle of candles. I nodded and say across from him, keeping my wand directly next to my side.

He grabbed the parchment from the middle of the candles and handed it to me. "Read it over. This is the bonding will, so every word will be implemented once the ritual is over." He said.

I grabbed the paper and looked down at it. Black cursive was scribbled onto the page. I looked up at Nicholas, to see him eagerly watching me, like time was short.

With this ceremony of bonding, Anastasia Greendale will be bonded to Nicholas Riddle. They will be bonded in these terms; Anastasia will agree to be in his possession, if Zachary Riddle dies at their hands. She will still have the choice between Tom and Nicholas, but her name will be in Nicholas' possession, she will be bonded with these terms, nothing more and nothing less.

"These terms are agreeable." I said, placing it back in the middle of the circle. He nodded in agreement, then extended his hands toward me, over the candles.

I took his hands, lacing my hands on top of his. He began chanting words in a language that I didn't recognize. I watched closely as Nicholas bowed his head, chanting the words quietly.

"It's almost complete." He said between words. I nodded, allowing him to continue. Within a few seconds his sentences grew louder and quicker, like we were coming upon the ending.

His tone was almost reaching a yell, and the air suddenly grew cold. I had the urge to take my hands from his, but this bonding ceremony will help me to get a target off my back.

Suddenly a set of loud footsteps, running footsteps, tore through the chamber. Nicholas' hands broke from mine. We both reached for our wands and stood up, turning toward the noise.

It was Tom and Adam, running down the hall.

I pointed my wand at them, and Nicholas did the same. About thirty feet away the two of them stopped, wands pointed toward Nicholas.

"Stop this madness at once!" Tom shouted, his tone angered. My whole body tensed up, adrenaline coursing through my bloodstream. I was absolutely terrified in every way possible.

"Leave, Tom. I'm taking care of myself. I don't need you here." I shouted back, my wand still pointed at him. Though my hands trembled, I wouldn't be afraid to cast a spell on him.

"Anastasia, you're on a suicide mission. You've already jumped out of a window, therefore I will not let you bind yourself to Nicholas." He replied impatiently. I didn't know what to do, what to think. All I knew was Tom was still trying to keep me strictly to himself.

"I would rather die at my own hands- or maybe even Nicholas' hands rather than yours, Tom." I said through gritted teeth. My temper was rising, and quickly. Pretty soon I'd be off the charts, making wildly unpredictable decisions.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Tom shouted, wand pointed at Nicholas. White light emitted from his wand so quickly neither Nicholas or I had a chance to perform a shield spell to deflect it.

Tom performed a spell where Nicholas would be temporarily paralyzed; unable to move. The body of Nicholas fell onto the ground, limbs seemingly glued to his body.

As I watched his body fall, I didn't even realize Tom was about to act on me next. "Alarte Ascendare!" He shouted. My body was removed from the ground and heightened into the air, so far up I lost my breath.

My body levitated there, in the air. I may have been floating, but that wouldn't stop me from acting out in response. "Aqua Eructo!" I yelled. A burst of water erupted from my wand and sprayed directly onto Tom. There was so much water he was lost in the mist.

Since he was caught off guard, the spell holding me up had been wiped from his mind, which means I was falling, and rapidly. "Arresto Momentum!" I shouted, just before my body hit the ground. A slowing spell. I declined speed until my body hit the ground softly.

I scrambled onto my feet, eyes locked on Tom. My water spell has finished, and so he stood there, soaked from head to toe. In a few moments notice Adam was sprinting at me, wand pointed directly at me.

"Colloshoo!" I yelled before he could come any closer. A spell that would stick his shoes to the ground, at least for a few moments, until he could free them.

"Depulso!" I yelled again. This time the spell would send him away from me, at least to the furthest part of the chamber. His body seemed to fly in the wind, back, and back further, until he was no longer in sight.

I saw Tom's eyes as he turned toward me. They were hungry, for power perhaps. He was angered, so much so I swear I could hear his shaking breath. He pointed his wand at me, and I knew if I didn't do something at that moment, he would have me, again.

"Evanesco." I whispered, pointing my wand at myself. This spell would turn me invisible, at least for a few minutes. As I cast my own spell, so did Tom. He casted one that would freeze me.

As he cast it I rolled out of the way, and since I was invisible, he would have no idea where I'd be. I crouched down to the ground, only about ten feet away from him. I stayed silent, until I cast another spell.

"Everte Statum!" I yelled. This spell would fling him backwards. Not far, but far enough for him for me to gain some time to try and get out of here. His body began moving backward, but in a few moments he realized what was happening and cast a spell of his own.

The moment I cast this spell I became visible again, the only downside of the invisibility spell. It doesn't last long.

"Colloshoo!" He commanded. This spell grounded his feet to the ground before he could take off anywhere. I panicked. With him being grounded, at least for now, there wasn't a good path of escape.

"Grytrash!" He yelled, tone propelled with anger. A surge of green crystals illuminated from his wand, which were headed straight toward me— to attack me.

"Protego!" I yelled in response. A few moments later, a shield of clear blue was stationed around me, which deflected the spell Tom had casted.

Tom wore an angry face, and one that was growing more impatient by the second. I knew for a fact he would win this, but that didn't stop me from trying.

"Just give up already!" He yelled, walking toward me. I knew I should listen to him, that I should just let him win, but something inside me told me that wasn't an option- that I must fight.

My mind raced back to my parents, especially my father. He would want me to try, even if it would mean failure. And my mother would want me to keep going and not give up.

I stood there for a few moments, my eyes closed imagining their sweet faces that I used to see every single day as I child. My eyes flashed open, landing directly on Tom, who was standing on the outside of my shield.

I knew I'd be toast if I stayed in the chamber, so instead I decided to leave. "Apparition." I commanded. My vision went swirly, and in a few moments I was back in the Ravenclaw dormitory.

I knew I'd be safe up here, because Tom can't walk around the school, especially not when security has been so heightened recently. My heart was beating so rapidly I could hear it in my head.

My legs trembled with fear as I say on the edge of my bed, fingers still gripped tightly around my wand. I had to get out of this place. Somewhere, someway, somehow.

If I didn't, Nicholas and Zachary would continue to try and kill me, as would Tom. If I left everyone in the school would be safe. I could lead the Riddle's as far away as possible, at least until I knew everyone would be safe.

But I'm no hero, I'm only a girl with a curse. I was torn in half about what I should do. In the end it comes down to my safety or the safety of those around me, and there's only one clear choice.

I have to run, to save everyone else. The Riddle's will find me, of course, as they always do, but perhaps if I run enough I will no longer fear death at their hands.

One way or another I will die. Perhaps it's much sooner than I wanted it to be, but at least my friends will be safe and sound here.

I felt so helpless, so invisible, like a single drop of water in the entire ocean. To everyone else I'm just me, but to the Riddle's they see me as a prize; power. To them I am a prize that results in ultimate victory.