The cloudless evening sky stretches for miles and brings a chill over the campus. A soothing heat radiates from the soft foam cup through Natalie’s gloves. Her brain chews on the idea of painting like it’s her last meal. Savoring the colors and textures as the ingredients salivate in her mouth. She wants to paint again, no, she needs to paint again.
After parting ways with Anne, she returns to her room, twisting the door handle and greeting the cascading darkness. Usually Siobhan’s doing homework, or busy hovering from room to room socializing with her friends. But she’s studying in the library tonight leaving Natalie alone.
She flicks the switch, and the light blankets the room in a soft glow. She replaces her belongings in the wardrobe. Everything has a place Natalie, the nurse’s sing song voice whispers in her ear. Stripped of the heavy coat and boots she turns to the waiting cup of tea resting on the desk by the window.
It’s one of the few things from Ivory Cross that brings a smile to her face. The nurses always made tea, and if they were in a sharing mood, they gave her a little cup. Although having the luxury of milk and sugar is a much better addition. The warm foam caresses her lips and the hot liquid slithers down her throat.
A wayward ball slams at the glass. Her cup slips from her hands spilling the hot beverage over her lap. Searing liquid stings her thighs, it penetrates her gloves, and scalds her fingers. She yanks them off tossing them on the desk as the cool air soothes her stinging skin. The rest of the contents runs like a narrow brook over the desktop. The caramel trail pools at her feet, threatening Siobhan’s library books stacked under the desk.
She reaches for the handkerchief next to the pencil, but panics as the soft cotton caresses her bare skin. Her fingers tingle as the air around her vibrates, and blood swooshes in her ears. Her muscles jerk, a tremble resonates from deep inside her body, then flutters to the surface. It’s uncontrollable, rocking her body as she loses her balance. The swooshing in her ears vibrates into her skull. It squeezes her head until the world spins, her vision blackens, and her knees give out from under her.
Her descent is lingering as time drags onwards. She’s pulled deeper into space itself, a thick fluid atmosphere, suffocating all sense of life. Anticipation fizzes through her body as fear bubbles in her stomach. Gravity wraps around her, clings to her skin, and pulls with a force of an ox. Fast and strong until the bile rises in her throat. An unseen wall slams into her chest, forcing her eyes wide open.
She’s standing in a corner of a chaotic classroom. Groups of students, desks, and noise flood the room. There’s no teacher, no order, and everyone is too absorbed in their circles to pay attention to her. She wrings her shaking hands, and fights to steady her erratic breaths. No, not again, Natalie how can you be so stupid.
Her breaths are short and fast, and the walls close around her. She yanks at the doorknob, twisting and jiggling the handle, but it won’t budge. She’s trapped, but for how long she doesn’t know. Her heart races inside her ribcage. She kicks at the door, but nothing happens. Something inside her mind tells her she can’t return until it’s over. Until she sees what it wants her to see.
Hugging her chest, she rubs her arms and wanders through the room. Laughter, like a bell, rings through the air; coming from the group in the back. Sitting in the beam of the afternoon sun is Siobhan. She’s younger, with shorter hair but still tied in ribbons. Whispering in her ear is the boy from tutoring. He’s younger and quite handsome. A rosy blush blooms on her face as he plants a delicate kiss on her cheek.
She shoos him away with her handkerchief which drops from her delicate fingers. The chatter fades to a deep gargle as time slows the fragile cloth’s descent. The light dims as the space whirls around her changing from a classroom to a bench outside. Siobhan plucks the handkerchief from the grass at her feet. The blush on her cheeks is gone. Her laugh is no more. Lucas sits at the opposite end of the bench, twisting away from her.
“I thought you loved me,” her lips tremble.
“I do,” he gnaws at his nails staring over his shoulder.
“Then you love her more, is that it?”
“I don’t love her at all.”
“I don’t understand, she said you did things… things you’re supposed to do with people you love.”
“For God’s sake Siobhan, lots of guys kiss other girls. I’m with you, aren’t I, what more do ya want?” She plucks her handkerchief from her feet and wipes her tears, “oh great, she’s crying again!”
The air around her shudders, trapping her body and squeezing her head until her skull is about to crack. It pulls her limbs, twisting them in all directions as she hurtles across the endless void. Every nerve is on fire, searing her from the inside out. Try as she might, she can’t get a breath. Her vision goes dark. She’s falling, faster than before, shooting through the thick vagueness of time and space.
Everything stops. Her heart thumps in her chest. She takes shallow breaths as her fingers caress the wooden floorboards under her. The cloudy sensation whirling around her head is gone, and the space feels right once again. The buzzing light teases her eyes open. Looming over her is the desk and chair. The world outside is dark. How late is it?
Her memory returns to her in pieces. The handkerchief. The vision. I’m alone. Her body trembles as she pulls herself to her knees. But she shouldn’t be. Where’s Siobhan, shouldn’t she be back by now? Her head throbs but touching her sweaty skin tells her she’s vulnerable. She finds her gloves and slip the damp material over her hands.
Panic trickles through her body and whispers in her ears. If she saw her and went for help, then everyone will know. What if she notifies the teachers and they tell her parents? They only agreed to Esterhaven because of a lie. A lie that she was doing better. Her best shot at normalcy is out the window. I need to find Siobhan.
As she steps into the lit hallway, she’s assaulted by the chaotic sounds from the girls fluttering from room to room. Their laughter and chatter resonate from their open doors. She clamps her arms around her shoulders and pushes past the echoes of their excitement. Three doors down she finds Delilah sitting at her desk doing homework. Another girl she doesn’t know lays on the bed reading.
“Hello,” she knocked on the open door, “have you seen Siobhan lately?”
“Hmm…I was studying with her in the library after supper. But I left to shower, maybe she’s still there.”
“It’s past eight,” answers the other from behind her book. “Missus Fields would’ve kicked her out by now.”
“Did you check downstairs; she’s probably hanging out down there.” She smiles and her friend agrees that the common room is the best solution.
The stairs creak as she descends to the common room. One of the senior’s knits behind the desk in the corner. One group plays a board game by the fire. A couple sits in the corner sharing a private conversation. No sign of Siobhan, but she spies Anne at the table hunched over a puzzle.
“Umm Anne?” She stares at a piece which could either be a tree or a bush. “Did you see this girl Siobhan, she’s, my roommate.” She considers the shape then places it alongside its sister piece. “It’s okay if you don’t know her…” Embarrassed by the silence between them, she turns to leave.
“Everyone knows Siobhan,” she picks another piece and studies it. “I saw her about an hour ago heading upstairs.”
Her stomach sinks, if that’s true then she saw her on the floor when she returned to the room. What if she got scared and left and now, she’s trying to avoid her?
“Natalie, are you alright, you seem pale?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” But it’s a lie. Her mind spirals into a whirlpool of fear and doubt. Siobhan’s absence is jeopardizing her future at this school.
“If you say so,” she returns to the puzzle. “Breakfast is at six-thirty tomorrow.”
Delilah shut her door by the time she returns. Despite peeking into every open door, she can’t find her. Stay calm Natalie, you’re overreacting. Her tired body protests her every step. She can’t focus and the hallway lights sting her eyes. She returns to her room, hoping her roommate is there. But she isn’t. The darkness becomes a sanctuary, and she crawls into bed pulling the covers over her head. She lies to herself, whispering, ‘I’m safe’ until she finally falls asleep.
The morning alarm ringing in the hallway, rips her from her dreams. She drags herself from her bed and notice Siobhan’s sheets haven’t been slept in. Her stomach sinks: something is wrong. She dresses, slipping on her gloves and shoes before rushing to meet Anne in the common room. A group of girls argue with the dorm senior who blocks the entrance. Anne, buried in her thick red scarf pulled to her chin, beckons her over. She pushes her round glasses further up her nose.
“The grounds keeper found a girl this morning. In the bushes by the side of the road. Did you find Siobhan last night?”
“Her bed wasn’t slept in. The girl they found, is she…”
“They’re taking her to the infirmary.”
“Do they know who it is?”
“The dorm senior won’t give a name, but I bet it’s Siobhan.”
“What do you think happened to her?”
“Don’t know, but it seems serious.”
As the minutes pass more girls file into the common room. With each group the chatter increases, and with chatter comes gossip. She hears bits of rumors muttered under their breath. One talks about a bear attack. Another, with a thick accent, theorizes it’s a blood thirsty monster living in the forest.
Two girls discussed in detail how mangled her body was when they found her. Despite all this the senior, standing with her arms cross, guards the door and says nothing. Anne pulls her scarf over her mouth. She almost vanishes in the crowd; being shorter than the rest of the girls in her level.
When they’re all jammed together the door opens, blowing the crisp frigid air into the room. A tall woman enters, bushing a wayward leaf from her tweed coat. She removes her yellow knit hat revealing a wrinkled face and brown eyes. She only met the Headmistress once, but the way a hush falls over the room; this is a rare appearance.
“Ladies, I understand this is not a part of the usual routine and I appreciate your patience during this time. For those who are unaware, a student is on her way to the infirmary as we speak. But I assure you, your safety and wellbeing are my highest concern. I will update you when more details emerge, until then travel in groups of two or more and avoid the forest paths. The police are on campus investigating the incident and will conduct interviews throughout the day. Your cooperation with this matter will not affect your attendance. Furthermore, I am cancelling this morning’s classes. The dining hall has extended their hours so when we conclude here, head for breakfast.”
“Headmistress,” a girl raises her hand, “who was it?”
“I regret to say it was Siobhan McCleary.” The girl next to her sobs into her friend’s shoulder. While others, angry at the circumstance, shouts for answers. “Ladies,” she raises her palms and motions for silence. “It is a terrible situation but please hold yourselves together. Siobhan is on her way to the best place that can help her. She needs us more now than ever. The best thing we can all do is be strong, continue as best as we can and hold her in our hearts and prayers.”
- Next Chapter
- First Chapter: His Dancing Mistress
- Scriptorium (Home)
The Scribbling Scribe 