Britney's calm voice sounded from inside her room.
"Who is it?"
"It's Fiona."
The door opened, and Britney blinked behind her glasses. "Oh! Fiona. What a surprise, you rarely come to my room. Is something wrong?"
Fiona forced a smile. "Nothing. I came to collect what's mine."
Britney frowned. "Pardon? Did I borrow anything from you? I don't remember taking any of your belongings."
"Oh, cut the act, green snake. I know you have my journal. Bring it out this instant."
Britney stared at her, genuinely confused. She hadn't been near Fiona's room in days.
"You won't talk? Fine. I'll find it myself, and when I do, everyone will know who took it." Fiona stormed off, leaving Britney standing there, completely lost.
Fiona slammed her own door shut.
If it wasn't Britney… then who?
It couldn't be Daisy. She didn't even care enough to search her room.
Frustrated and exhausted, Fiona decided to take a shower to clear her head.
She turned on the bathtub tap, stepped in, and let the warm water calm her nerves. She tried not to think about all the questions people would probably ask her later. Questions she already knew too much about.
After rinsing off, she wrapped a towel around herself and reached for the bathroom door-
Suddenly, everything went pitch black.
"What? A blackout? Seriously?"
She reached out in the dark, searching for the doorknob.
Nothing.
That didn't make sense. Her bathroom wasn't even big.
Feeling her way forward cautiously, she bumped into something-
something solid.
Something… human.
She froze. "Is anybody there?"
Moonlight slipped in through the small window, outlining a tall figure. Too tall to be Bluebell. Too still to be a prank.
"I said, is anyone there?" she repeated, louder this time.
The figure stepped closer.
Fiona tightened her grip on her towel, heart pounding. She backed away, but he moved with her. A hand caught her waist. Not harsh, but firm enough to terrify her.
"Who are you? What do you want? If you don't let go, I'll scream!"
A hand covered her mouth. Not painfully, just enough to stop her.
His voice was low and familiar.
"If you scream, this will get complicated."
Twilight.
Her eyes widened. Twilight? Here? In her bathroom?
When she calmed a little, he slowly removed his hand.
"What do you want? How did you even get into my house?" she whispered, eyes stinging.
He didn't step into the light, but she could feel him watching her.
"Well, Miss Marvin," he said, using the nickname only he ever used. "I'm not here for anything you're afraid of."
"Then why are you here?" she asked, voice trembling.
His hand, still on her waist, relaxed slightly.
"I need you to find them," he said softly. "The ones calling you."
He brushed a strand of wet hair from her face. She shivered. Not from the touch, but from the strange mix of fear and confusion.
"Find… who?" she managed to ask.
The lights flickered.
Then returned.
And he was gone.
Just… gone.
Fiona dropped to the floor, breathing hard.
Was that real? Was she losing her mind?
She hurried out, changed into her pajamas, and paced her room until a knock from her mother startled her out of her thoughts.
The next morning, pale and drained, she dressed for school and forced down breakfast. When she arrived, nothing felt normal. Her joy was gone. Her mind was a storm.
The missing journal.
The figure in the bathroom.
Twilight… or someone who sounded exactly like him.
She scanned the classroom. Twilight's seat was empty.
That only made her suspicion worse.
She sat down heavily, ready to hide her face in her arms when Aviva appeared beside her.
"Hey! Good morning!" Aviva smiled warmly.
"Good morning," Fiona said weakly.
Aviva's smile faded. She pulled a chair close.
"Fiona… you look drained. What happened?"
"If I tell you," Fiona sighed, "you'll think I have a screw loose."
"What? No. We're friends. Tell me."
"I'm just tired," she lied. "The doctor said I needed rest."
"Wait-a doctor? Don't tell me you're pregnant." Aviva teased.
Fiona rolled her eyes. "No. I had a high temperature, that's all."
"Ohhh. Okay. So… you staying for the basketball match later?"
"Sure. Maybe cheering will wake me up."
Just then, Frederick walked in. Fiona didn't notice him until he stopped at her desk, looking unusually bright and handsome in his uniform.
"Good morning, beautiful ladies," he said with a soft smile.
But his eyes drifted mostly toward Fiona.
"Good morning," they replied.
One of his hands stayed behind his back.
"Aviva," he said politely, "may we have a moment?"
Aviva smirked, winked at Fiona, and walked away.
I wondered how he knew her name.
"Is something wrong, Frederick?" Fiona asked.
He shook his head. "No, milady. I'm simply on an errand."
"An errand?"
"Yes. An errand from Twilight." His jaw tightened when he said the name.
Twilight? Why would he-
Frederick brought his hand forward.
The journal.
Fiona's breath caught.
How did Twilight…?
"You seem shocked," Frederick said gently. "Are you okay?"
She nodded quickly and took the journal.
Frederick turned to leave, and bumped straight into Twilight, who had just entered.
Twilight's hair… was black now.
Why?
Why now?
Frederick shoved past him casually.
Twilight stared at her emotionless.
Fiona returned the stare with a glare that burned.
So that was it.
The journal… the bathroom…
Everything pointed to him.
Who are you, Twilight Fall?
And what do you want with me?