I spotted the girls in the hallway of one of the largest school buildings I'd ever seen. Half the students were rushing past, their backpacks bouncing as they hurried to their classes. The other half, seemingly indifferent, lounged against the walls, chatting or scrolling through invisible screens.
In the chaos, I managed to catch up with Kelsey. I called softly, "Kels!"
She turned around, eyes wide with surprise, followed by Tasha and Charlie. I hurried over, trying to catch my breath.
"Hey, girls!" I said, voice trembling slightly. "Kelsey, I need to talk to you."
Kelsey nodded, motioning for the others to give us some space. We ducked into a quiet corner, away from prying eyes and ears.
She looked at me, concern etched across her face. "What happened?"
My face was pale, and I was sweating despite the cool hallway air. Panic bubbled inside me, and I struggled to keep my voice steady. "I just signed the Oath of Confidentiality. I didn't even know about this magic before. I didn't know it existed."
Kelsey tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "That's why it's secret. Ordinary people shouldn't know about it," she said casually, almost as if it were common knowledge.
"No, that's the problem," I replied, voice rising slightly. "They thought I knew. But I don't. I don't know anything about this magic, about any of this."
She softened, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Calm down. I'll help you. For now, just stay low. Keep your head down and don't draw attention to yourself."
I nodded, trying to steady my breathing. "What's my first subject?"
"Governance, Law, and… Arcane Policy," she said, frowning slightly. "Sounds boring, but it's important. And lucky for you—that's my class too."
Relief flickered through me. "Really?"
She grinned. "Yeah. Just stick close to me. Keep a low profile, and you'll be fine. We'll figure this out, I promise."
-----
We stepped into one of the classrooms on the top floor, a quiet space with only about ten students scattered across the room. Luckily, the teacher hadn't arrived yet. I kept my head down, trying to blend in, while Kelsey led me to the last vacant seats at the back.
Just as I was about to sit, someone yanked my chair back with surprising force. I plopped onto the floor with a grunt.
"Aww," I exclaimed, staring up in surprise.
"Hudson!" Kelsey scolded, quickly pulling me to my feet.
My eyes widened as I looked up—and straight into Hudson's mischievous grin.
"Oh, my bad! I didn't see her," Hudson explained, shrugging with a playful grin. "She's taking my seat."
He held out his hand, but then just sat there, frozen. Kelsey didn't hesitate—she yanked me up and pushed me gently into the seat.
"She's sitting beside me, Hudson. Shoo!" Kelsey snapped.
Hudson made a mock pout, then shot me a teasing glare. "You'll pay for this, seatmate thief," he said, eyes twinkling with mischief, then swaggered off.
I looked around nervously as I settled into my seat. My panic doubled when I recognized some of my classmates—Hudson, Hunter, Eva, and Calixta. They looked at me with guarded curiosity, and I felt the weight of their scrutiny.
"Kelsey, I cannot do this," I whispered, trembling. My stomach twisted in knots. Before I could say more, the classroom door swung open and the teacher arrived.
He strode to the podium in the center of the room, his polished shirt and pants, silver-gray hair thinning in a way that made him seem stern but distinguished. He cleared his throat, ready to start.
"Welcome back, everyone, after your short mid-term break," he announced, voice steady and commanding. "We finally see each other again, but unfortunately, not all of you. Let's welcome your new classmate."
My stomach clenched as all eyes shifted to me. The teacher motioned, and I hesitated, then slowly moved to the front of the classroom.
I chewed my lip anxiously, trying to hide my trembling. Kelsey quickly stepped forward.
"She can't speak right now, Mr. Williams," Kelsey said smoothly, surprising me with her quick-thinking. "She got an allergy from the… nuts she ate at lunch."
I turned to the teacher, quickly bowing my head in apology.
"Are you okay, Miss Del Valle?" Mr. Williams asked, concern flickering across his face.
I nodded, giving him an 'okay' sign.
"Very well," he said, adjusting his glasses. "Everyone, please welcome Margaret Del Valle."
The classmates offered brief glances and tentative smiles, then turned their attention back to Mr. Williams. Only Hunter and Hudson exchanged suspicious looks, their eyes narrowing slightly.
-----
The class dragged on for an hour, with Mr. Williams dominating the discussion, his voice steady and authoritative. Despite his control, I couldn't shake the feeling that Hunter and Hudson kept sneaking glances at me—furtive, deliberate. My plan was crumbling fast. They definitely knew it was me.
When the bell finally rang, the students began to straighten up. They bowed politely to Mr. Williams as he packed away his papers and left the room. Some students, including Calixta, gathered their things quickly and headed for the door, whispering amongst themselves.
Hunter, however, stood frozen, eyes locked on me with a glare that could cut glass. He didn't move until Calixta called out, "Hunter, let's go to our next class."
Reluctantly, he finally broke free from his trance, glancing once more in my direction before turning and following Calixta out the door.
Meanwhile, Hudson remained seated, unmoving, his gaze fixed on the empty space where Calixta sat. A male classmate tapped his shoulder, breaking his trance.
"Hudson, we better go. Arcane Sciences & Magical Physics is next," the classmate said softly.
Hudson clenched his jaw tightly, his head turning slowly to follow Calixta as she disappeared down the hall. His fists were tight on the desk, knuckles white.
Then, without warning, he started walking toward me—his expression tense, almost hostile. My heart kicked into overdrive. I instinctively shrank back just as Kelsey stepped forward, her voice sharp and commanding.
"Stop harassing my cousin, Hudson," she snapped, her eyes blazing.
Hudson paused, confusion flickering across his face. "Cousin?" he asked, voice edged with disbelief.
Kelsey nodded firmly. "Yeah. Cousin. Why? Are you familiar with her?"
He looked me up and down, his gaze lingering with a mixture of suspicion and challenge. My stomach twisted, but I held my ground, meeting his stare as bravely as I could.
He seemed to weigh her words, then finally, he sighed and turned away without another word. Without another glance, he walked out, leaving the room in tense silence.
I exhaled slowly, feeling a mixture of relief and confusion.
"Woah," we both exclaimed simultaneously, exchanging stunned looks.
Kelsey shook her head, her expression tight with concern. "That was close. Too close."
I felt more exhausted than I ever had in my entire life. The afternoon had been a blur of anxious glances and tense silence. I hadn't learned a single thing in class; my mind was spinning with thoughts of Hudson and Hunter lurking around every corner. The weight of their suspicious gazes pressed heavily on me.
When Kelsey and I finally arrived back at the dorm, I was so drained that I didn't even bother to change out of my uniform. I collapsed onto the bed, eyes closing almost instantly. Sleep claimed me quickly, a much-needed escape from the chaos.
But suddenly, I was jolted awake by faint tapping on the window. My eyes snapped open. Heart pounding, I sat up straight, straining to see through the glass.
A shadowy silhouette loomed outside—a vague, dark shape blocking the dim light. My stomach clenched. What the hell? Who could it be?
I was just about to shout for Kelsey, to wake her up, when I heard a voice—faint but unmistakable.
"Kels? Let me in. Kels? It's me, Hudson."
My breath hitched. Wait—Hudson? Without thinking, I scrambled off the bed, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it. I dove beneath the bed, curling into a tight ball, trying to make myself invisible.