Chapter 2 Caught

"Friends forever, nothing and no one will come between us," Charlotte's voice echoed in Charlene's mind, now a haunting mockery.

Charlene's eyes widened as she stumbled upon the unfathomable scene: Jace and Charlotte entwined in a passionate kiss, their lips moving in perfect sync. The washroom's fluorescent lights seemed to flicker in tandem with Charlene's racing heart.

"Wh-what is going on here?" She whispered, her lips trembling, and tears welling up in her eyes.

Jace and Charlotte disengaged, their faces a blur of guilt and malice. Charlotte's smirk twisted the knife.

"Best friend, I'm so sorry you had to find out this way," She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Charlene's eyes locked onto Jace, pleading for denial. "This isn't happening, right?"

Charlotte's laughter cut through the air. "Heartbeat, don't you think it's time to tell her?"

"Heartbeat?" Charlene's voice cracked.

Charlotte's roll of her eyes was a cold slap. "Come on, bestie, aren't you tired of being clueless? Jace and I have been together for months."

Charlene's world crumbled. "Jace, please tell me it's not true. You said you loved me..."

Charlotte snatched Jace's hand, her grip possessive. "Stop dreaming, Charlene. You were just a placeholder until Jace realized his true feelings.

Charlene's vision blurred as tears streamed down. "Not you too, Charlotte. You promised..."

Charlotte's voice turned venomous. "Grow up, Charlene. Promises are meant to be broken."

The washroom seemed to shrink, suffocating Charlene. Betrayal and anger boiled over.

"I hate you!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

The mirrors in the washroom shattered, and the walls cracked, as if responding to her anguish. Her voice echoed off the tiles.

Charlotte stumbled backward, fear etched on her face. "What's going on?"

Jace's eyes widened in horror. "Charlene, stop!"

But Charlene's glare sent him flying across the wall. He crashed to the floor, his back throbbing in pain.

"Why are your eyes... red?" he managed to stammer before losing consciousness.

Charlotte fled the washroom, unable to bear the terrifying scene.

Charlene collapsed to the floor, overcome by despair.

"What have I done? How did I do this?" she cried, tears streaming down her face.

In a desperate bid to punish herself, Charlene grabbed a shard of broken glass and slashed at her wrist.

But instead of blood, her skin healed seamlessly, leaving no scar.

"Ah!" Charlene screamed, horrified by her own reflection.

Her vision blurred, and she passed out.

As Charlene felt her world crumble and passed out, distant whispers of secrets sounded in the shadows.

And unknown to her, forces stirred in what seemed like a contention for existence.

****

Master Arnold stepped into the dimly lit chamber, the scent of old parchment and burning incense enveloping him. The air was heavy with anticipation, and the flickering candles cast eerie shadows on the walls.

Before him stood the shaman, his eyes fixed intently on the scrying pool's shimmering surface. "It's going to happen, any moment, I can feel it," he whispered, his voice trembling with excitement.

Arnold's brow furrowed with concern. "Don't you think it might be dangerous? Like, what if she gets killed?" He approached the shaman, his footsteps echoing off the stone floor.

The shaman's smile never wavered. "You worry too much, Master Arnold. If it's the will of the deity, then so be it." His eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intensity.

Arnold's gaze lingered on the shaman's staff, its carved runes pulsing with an unsettling energy. "But what about the prophecy? The girl with the scent, the one capable of breaking the curse... What if she's not ready?"

The shaman's gaze drifted into the distance. "Time will tell, Master Arnold. The threads of fate are complex. We can only guide her; the decision is not ours to make."

****

Next Morning (infirmary)

Charlene's eyelids parted open.

Her stomach suddenly began churning as the scent of disinfectant enveloped her.

She sat upright and a piercing headache hit her really hard, causing a painful moan to escape her lips.

"What am I doing here?" She asked herself, rubbing her temples still feeling the throbbing headache.

"Oh no!" She whispered in horror, as the memories from the previous night suddenly flooded her mind.

"It can't be real"

She screamed loudly, her voice echoing through the room and the hallways.

The Chandelier above reacted to the pitch of her voice as it shook too before crashing aggressively to the floor.

The school doctor and nurses rushed in, slightly panicking.

"What in the world happened here..." A middle aged female nurse gasped, her eyes fixed on the wreckage.

Charlene's gaze rested nervously on the shattered chandelier, her eyes glowing red and her body visibly trembling.

"Can someone explain this?" The doctor asked softly.

"I..I saw her glare at the chandelier as she yelled... Suddenly it came crashing down" A sophomore witness stammered fearfully.

Charlene's face fell, and all colours drained from her face as the realization that someone else saw what happened dawned on her, sending cold chills down her spine.

"I... I don't know how it happened" Charlene cried, with trembling lips "I swear"

The Doctor sighed, his expression contorted of Concern and wariness.

"I'm afraid you'll have to come with me"

"To.. Where?" Charlene whispered hiding her trembling hands behind her.

"The disciplinary committee" The doctor replied sternly "I'm sorry this is beyond me"

The room went dead silent and all Charlene could hear was her frantic heartbeats.

"You're not calling my mum right?" She asked fear obvious in her voice.

"I'm sorry miss.., that's a decision for the committee not me"

**SOME HOURS LATER

Mrs. Craig and Charlene sat before two disciplinary committee, the cold air of the boardroom interrupting Charlene's free flow of breath.

After the doctor reported the infirmary incident, the CCTV footage was played to satisfy the committee's curiosity, then Mrs. Craig was invited.

"Any traces of sorcery in your family?" A staff asked in a rather intrusive tone.

Mrs. Craig sighed "Is there really need for these questions?" She asked, her voice breaking "Just give your verdict, so my princess can know her fate."

"We can't keep her here Mrs. Craig" Another Staff member said harshly "letting her stay here will endanger other students."

Charlene stuttered,unable to hold back the tears streaming down her face "what...what are you insinuating?"

Witnessing her daughter's vulnerability, Mrs. Craig's eyes grew misty.

She placed her hands on Charlene's, trying to calm her.

"We can't have a monster in our school" Another Lady spoke bluntly, adjusting her eye glasses.

"withdraw your daughter from Vintage college or she'll be rusticated. And you know what that means... No other school will take her in"

Charlene's sobs increased, fear obvious in her eyes.

"Thanks for the sarcasm" Mrs Craig muttered. "It was well served"

"This has got nothing to do with discrimination ma'am" Another staff said softly.

"parents may withdraw their kids...please do the needful"

"Mum let's leave" Charlene whispered sadly and got up from the chair.

"I guess I really am possessed" she whispered and began making her way to the door.

She'd never have imagined herself getting expelled from college, worst of from her dream college.

All of a sudden her life had turned upside down within moments.

"I'll be fine" she assured herself turning the doorknob.

Mrs Craig stared at Charlene, with warmth an compassion,her heart aching.

No matter how dangerous others claimed Charlene was, to Mrs. Craig, she would always remain he little princess...