Beatrice – Maya, when you were born, I was there…
Maya stays lying down, saying nothing.
??? 7 – Come on, Beatrice, there's still time to go back… if they find out you told her all this, be reasonable. If you stay quiet now, we can still appeal.
Ophelia – Look, Akuma, there's no redemption anymore. There was only one rule, and we broke it.
Akuma – I didn't break any rule. Beatrice did.
Ophelia – We're all under her command. If Beatrice goes down, we go down too…
??? 5 – That makes no sense… If you don't have the courage, I do.
Amaya, we are part of you and we are you. We have always been within you. We are also the reason you didn't run after your mother that day.
Maya immediately jumps up and starts screaming.
Maya – Who are you?! And how do you know that?!
Beatrice – Tenebra, you went too far.
Tenebra – We're already screwed. I just had the courage to do what you didn't.
Ophelia – But it wasn't your place to say that—
Maya – SHUT UP RIGHT NOW!!!
A heavy, sincere silence settles in.
Maya – EXPLAIN TO ME WHO YOU ARE AND HOW YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT ME!!
Beatrice – Tenebra has already ruined everything… We are you because we were born with you. And you are literally all we know.
Maya – And what does that even mean? That you're my emotions?
Beatrice – Hahaha, no. It would've been simpler if that were the case, but no. We have no control over you.
Maya – Okay. Nothing you're saying makes sense. I need explanations.
Beatrice – You know that inner voice that says "don't do this" or "do that"?
That's us, choosing what we think is best for you. But you can choose to listen… or not.
We're also a source of power. Just like you've seen your friends use "powers" many times while you only did basic things—we protected you from that.
Maya – You're telling me that all this time I've been unable to use magic not because I'm weak… but because you made me weak?
Footsteps begin to echo outside the cell.
Maya – Who's out there?!
The footsteps fade away, as if whoever it was has left.
The lights begin to flicker in a strange sequence…
1, 2, 3, 4 – 2, 3, 4, 1 – 3, 4, 1, 2 – 4, 1, 2, 3
---
Violet's point of view
Violet wakes up to the sound of voices.
Mandy – I just don't know. Overnight, they took over the entire school.
Woman – They're already inside the institution?! And Alicia? I knew this was a mistake. I never should've left her there.
Mandy – From what Violet told me, they took both Alicia and Maya. Probably Jheysi too…
Fionna – I was sure they'd grab two or three, but they went too far.
Woman – It was ridiculous to think both the Ambuza clan and the Children of the Eclipse would honor the agreement.
Fionna – I didn't expect this… The council said they would hand over some students. I had no idea the Children of the Eclipse would go straight for Alicia and Maya.
Woman – Damn it!! Fionna, I trusted you. I left my daughter in your hands, and you weren't capable—
Fionna – I know. I'm sorry, Beca… I thought… I thought Violet was strong enough to protect her.
Mandy – Fionna, forgive the disrespect, but shut up. Do you even realize the damage you're doing to Violet's mind?
Fionna looks at Violet. She's sitting on the couch, head lowered.
Fionna – What are you talking about?
Mandy – I spent the whole night casting calming spells on her because she can't take it anymore—
Violet – Mandy… don't…
Mandy – I'm sorry, Violet, but I love you too much to watch you like this.
Fionna – Damn it…
Mandy – Fionna, what you did to Violet… She blames herself for everything. She became literally the best student, the best warrior in KeySands…
For you. Have you ever once asked Violet what she wanted?
Fionna – Mandy, this isn't the time or place for this.
Mandy – Fionna, look at the state of exhaustion this girl is in! And you don't care??
She saw too much today. If you don't make the right choice, I'm taking Violet away from here.
Valeria – Let's be rational. Arguing won't help right now, okay? I understand your anger and your pain more than anyone, Mandy.
Fionna – I understand… I know I messed up a lot. I was trying to protect—
Mandy – Protect who? Yourself? Because you didn't protect anyone. Not Alicia, not Maya, not Jheysi… not the other students. You only care about yourself.
Mandy sits beside Violet and hugs her.
Mandy – Hey, Vi… I'm here, okay?
Rebecca – Valeria, I don't even know what else to say. I agree with Amanda and Violet. As soon as I find Alicia, I'm taking her far away from all of this.
Fionna sits down and buries her face in her hands.
Valeria – I understand. The Children of the Eclipse need the daughters of Annora—or rather, Hydrangea—to complete the ritual, right?
From what I know, Maya isn't with the Ambuza clan, nor with the Children of the Eclipse.
Rebecca – But they only need one. And we don't know where my Alicia is.
Valeria – The ritual is more effective with more than one daughter of Annora.
Rebecca – That girl, Jheysi… is she one of them or not?
Valeria – Definitely not. Only five are born each century. And there are only three still alive in this one.
Rebecca – Right… Alicia, because of that bastard of a father… that girl Maya… and who's the third?
Valeria – She's right there.
[To be continued…]