Violet - what do you mean by you know her?
Maya - I saw Rebecca's face in Alicia's face the exact moment I saw her, but I couldn't link one thing to the other..
Estela - okay, so how about you fill us in on your part first, then Violet fills us in on hers, and we see how we can help.
Maya - okay, I already told Jheysi before, and since she trusts you, I believe I can trust you too.
Violet, when you said my admission tests were incredible, well… they were nothing like that… I simply ended up wiping out all the examiners.
All the girls are shocked.
Violet - even Fionna?
Maya - yes, but she woke up faster than the others… and after that she hid me at Valéria and Uncle Rod's house.
Violet - so that's how you know Rebecca???
Maya - yes, she took care of me and the thing.
Estela - what thing?
Violet - I get it… so you're like Fionna, right?
Maya - yeah…
Estela - what do you mean?!?!
Jheysi - do you remember Annora?
Maya - no!! Don't say that name!
Jheysi - sorry?
Maya - I just can't, I only feel hatred toward her…
Jheysi - I know, Maya.
Jheysi walks up to Maya, hugs her, and gently runs her hand through her hair.
Jheysi - Estela, do you know the story of the uncrowned queen?
Estela - yes, the bedtime tale?
Jheysi - it's not just that. It exists.
Violet - RIGHT! Maya, did you talk to Rebecca? Did you know anything? Did she tell you anything?
Maya - no, she went to Valéria's house almost every day and we talked about vague things, nothing very incredible. She never told me anything about Alicia or her life.
Violet - I understand, she must have had her reservations.
Maya - I heard her talking to Fionna about something involving a forest and a castle, but it didn't go beyond that.
Violet - okay, that can help a lot. Even though there are many castles, in Lawvide alone there are three castles just within the school grounds, all used by the institution. Four around it, one still active, and two belong to the Yurchenko family.
Estela - so that leaves one that's abandoned, right?
Jheysi - yes, if I'm not mistaken, that one belonged to the Anbuza family.
Violet - correct, but that's the only one that's far from the forest.
Jheysi - but the forest isn't that far away, the Black Forest is right there.
Violet - yeah… maybe it's that one.
Violet shows an expression of pure apprehension!
Violet - well, I need your help, because… Fionna told me to investigate the situation of people disappearing on campus… and today… I saw that girl being taken right in front of me… and that's not the worst part.
Jheysi - the boy talked to you, you know him, right?
Violet - yes, I struggled a lot not to understand it, but it's true… the voice was my brother's…
Estela - no way!!
Jheysi - then that changes everything!!
Violet - so… and… wait!! Where's Alicia?
Estela - she told me she was going to her room… to research more about her mother.
Violet - damn it, that means we need to find her now!
Jheysi - why?
Violet - Fionna, for some reason, told me to look after her, to the point of "protecting" her at any cost.
Estela - that's irrational.
Violet - Jheysi, please come with me.
Alicia's point of view
Alicia (thinking) - okay, where do I start?
Maybe with my "father"… if Violet helps me, maybe I can get some files about my mother and my "father"…
I don't want to depend on Violet…
The only question I can ask myself is: Why are students disappearing? In reality, only the girls…
And why aren't there police officers or, I don't know, the army all over the place?
This is very confusing.
Alicia reaches the door to her room, and the door is slightly open.
Alicia - wow, I forgot something there in the cafeteria, damn it. I'll have to go there!!
Alicia whispers "evanescere" and becomes completely invisible.
She walks to the end of the hallway and stops.
Alicia (thinking) - I don't know if there's still someone inside… damn it, maybe I can wait for some movement.
It's possible to hear the sound of a door closing.
Alicia (thinking) - there's definitely someone in my room. I'll go to Mandy's room, it'll work, there's no problem at all.
Alicia heads toward Mandy's room and knocks on the door, knock, knock, knock, and no one answers.
Alicia - she hasn't arrived yet, damn it. I need to find someone urgently!!!
It's possible to hear a soft chant far away.
Violet's point of view
Violet - Jheysi, you go to the dorms. Maya, call Fionna and tell her Alicia is in danger. I'm going to security, I need to confirm something with Finn.
Maya quickly grabs her phone and calls Fionna.
Fionna - hi, Maya? Did something happen?
Maya - yes, Alicia… it looks like someone is after Alicia and me.
Jheysi's point of view
Jheysi runs toward the dorms as fast as she can, but as she passes the main office door, she sees hooded people coming toward her…
Hooded 1 - look, isn't that the one who hangs out with one of Leonora's daughters??
Hooded 2 - well, the boss said to grab her and any of her friends.
Hooded 1 - hey, you there?!?!
Jheysi looks, but quickly averts her gaze and keeps running toward the dorms.
Hooded 2 - there's no way, she saw us. Let's go, grab her!
Hooded 3 - yes, sir…
The hooded figure removes his cloak and mask, raises one of his arms toward Jheysi, and for a second it's possible to see red-colored chains wrapping around Jheysi from a distance.
Jheysi thinking - damn it, they're fast!!!
Jheysi whispers incomprehensible words and breaks free from the bindings.
Hooded 2 - look, it seems she won't be so useless after all?
Maya's point of view
Fionna - where are you? I'm already on my way. Are you with Violet?
Fionna - are you in danger? Are you there?!?! Maya? Tell me where you are?
Fionna - are you still at KeySands? I need you to answer me.
Fionna - are you with Violet? Maya?!?? Maya?!?!? Can you hear me?
Maya trembling voice - I'm here!
Fionna - do you know what happened? With Violet, I'm trying to call her but she won't answer.
Maya - I need to tell you something serious.
Fionna - is it about what happened to the missing students?
Maya - wait!! That's it.
Fionna - try talking to Jericho, she always knows about these things.
Maya - who?
Fionna - try to find her, she's always in the garden.
Maya - ***
Fionna - nothing very urgent, just try to gather the favônias in the woods.
Maya - ***
Fionna - your Aunt Valéria also knows a lot about favônias, maybe you can count on her. Take Alicia with you, she likes flowers, especially favônias.
Maya grabs the phone, throws it hard against the wall, and quickly points her hand at it, shattering it with a whisper.
Maya thinking - what happened to Fionna?
Violet's point of view
Violet thinking - everything will be fine, Violet, you can do this. It's not like you had another opportunity… Was it the right choice to separate from her?
Violet arrives at the KeySands security center at 19:34 (08:34 pm).
Violet enters the building and goes straight to the room where all the institution's cameras are monitored.
Violet - Finn? Tell me you've got something good for me.
Finn - let me tell you, Violet, it's pretty calm, to be honest. Other than the girls training in the gym and the fight club, everything's very calm. Most of the students are either in the dorms, the cafeteria, or outside the institution.
Violet - give me footage of the dorms. We're looking for a girl with long brown hair who usually wears a coat.
Finn - I saw some guys with cloaks and hoods wearing masks hahahaha, those students are crazy. We're very far from Halloween hahahahahahaha!
Violet - damn it, Finn, those aren't students!!! Send the code to Fionna, we're under attack.
Finn - Violet!! Right there in front of the female dormitory.
Violet - is that Jheysi?
Jheysi's point of view
Hooded 2 - Fausset, stop playing around and capture her already!
Fausset - ahhh boss, I wanted to have a little more fun.
Jheysi - so your name is FAUSSET!!!???
Fausset - damn it! Somnum Nunc!!!
Jheysi - sorry! I have resistance against this kind of spell. I grew up on the streets, buddy.
Hooded 2 - very good!!! Congratulations!!! Look, Fausset, apparently she has resistance against a basic spell like that hahahahaha. You can apply level 2 now.
Fausset - yes, sir.
Jheysi thinking - level 2? Damn flawed institution that only teaches the basics!!
Alicia's point of view
Alicia runs toward the exit of the female dormitory, and as she passes through the door, she manages to hear a strange melody she had never heard before.
Alicia thinking - another song? I need to complain to the girl who takes care of the dormitory. Why are these people listening to loud music at this hour?
Alicia goes out and can see Jheysi and some hooded figures in the distance.
Alicia thinking - the guys from earlier today? I need to help Jheysi.
Alicia runs as fast as she can toward Jheysi.
[To be continued…]