Atypical Truancy

The Halls of East-Wallace Academy were mostly deserted, by the time you emerged into them, the full weight of your visions began to press down on you.

You rubbed your face as you braced yourself against the wall, unable to shake the image of those otherworldly crimson orbs, the world-shaking voice... and the pale woman wound up in brambles.

You had chosen this, you wanted to see the truth... and you got the truth, perhaps a little too much at once. No, no you could handle this, you needed to keep your head in the game.

"I'm still in their territory, and Rudy isn't here to watch my back."

That's when the actual real-world events came back to the forefront of your mind, and you recalled something the witches had said while you were strung up in their tangled veins.

Vana had said it herself "Altering her memory will be a challenge to be sure."

"Vicky!" You said aloud, putting your thoughts out of your spiralling visions and into the newly found task at hand. You had to get Vicky out of here before the Witches would find her and alter her memory.

Your soundless footsteps carried you all the way to the cafeteria, the glow on your phone told you it was quarter past three, which meant lunch period had long passed and students would be settling into the start of Second Period's Classes.

"Come on think, where is Vicky, Drake, where is she?"

You didn't share classes during this period so you could draw little but a blank... when the answer came to you.

Subtle voices in the distance only just caught on your sharp senses, a dense crowd filled with suspicious murmurs followed by loud tones of instruction.

"Settle down, just settle down! stay back please for your own safety!"

You erupted into a dash towards the source of the noise, it sounded like a ruckus for sure, and nothing drew students in like moths to a flame more than what could be a completely underwhelming ruckus, whether Vicky would waste her time seeking out any stimulation that wasn't freshly handed out textbooks and boring lectures.... you'd take those odds.

The disturbance was indeed one that seemed to collect much interest, a bustling, gossiping crowd of bookbag-wielding, angst-ridden teens were being pushed away from the girl's bathrooms in the west wings.

"Stand back! can't you see there's been some sort of accident? will you please just settle down? STEP AWAY I SAID, I AM HEAD BOY!" Cried the head boy himself, refuting the insistence of the nosy do-gooders who tried to get a look through the fractured doorway.

Pushing deftly through the crowds, you raised up on tip-toes to gaze through the bathroom entrance. The sound of the sprinklers spitting aggressively in the room could be heard, although what had happened was clear to see.

Huge claw marks had torn the doors asunder, and grains of dust and rubble floated in the air, looking subtly over the wall of Prefects the image of fractured stalls and mounds of broken tiles and dirt made what had happened all to clear.

"That'd be Rudy's doing." You nodded to yourself, that's where she must have dug down to get to the subterranean college.

"Hot-dayum, what the hell is going on here?" A familiar, springy tone asked absently.

You turned to see the blissfully ignorant face of Millie Bruce, trying to tuck her huge head of coiled frizzy hair through the crowd. Instead, she found you, catching her attention with an urgent gaze.

"Oh my god. Charlie, heyyy there! So weird Rosie and I were just talking about you!" She said in a girlish voice, feasting her temptous eyes on you.

Rose... she'd know what to do. No, there was no time, and you couldn't put her in danger too.

"Millie, thank god, I'm looking for Vicky have you seen her?" You asked quickly.

Camile folded her arms petulantly, sticking her nose up at you "Oh I get it, you're avoiding talking about our date, aren't you?"

"What? no that's not true at all.-" You tried to interject with absolutely no success.

"I mean we haven't even discussed it properly yet, what we'll do, where we'll go. Why would you need to worry about little old me, you're already set up with Vicky, why even talk to me when you've got the Queen Bitch in your pocket!"

She squeaked as you took both of her arms, making sure that she saw the seriousness in your eyes "Millie. Listen to me, we can talk about our date whenever you want, you have my number - Hell we can go tomorrow, just focus for a second

Where. Is. Victoria?"

The dark-skinned vixen smiled to herself "Tomorrow, wow really... okay, okay, we just finished our history lecture, I just... um nipped out to go to the little girl's room, you know... duty calls and all that. That means she'll be heading to Miss Franklin's class I guess?"

You nodded going to rush away, before realising you knew better - You jumped back, placing a warm kiss on Millie's full cheeks. She flushed biting her lip as you smiled thankfully "Thank you, Millie. Tomorrow! Send me a message!" then you rushed off, leaving Millie squeaking with excitement.

"Bye Charlie! don't forget to bring your swimming trunks for the beach tomorrow!!" You didn't hear her goodbye, you had already turned the corner to get to Miss Franklin's class.

You'd hoped the Wiccan would go for Rudy's hastily made excavation site first, but you had a feeling they were far too smart for that. Your suspicions were confirmed when you emerged into the passage leading towards the lecture hall and saw three people engaged in conversation.

The tall buxom figure wrapped in the neat blouse and slacks of a neatly put-together Miss Franklin stood with none other than Vicky Kaz next to her, she looked non-plussed about whatever they spoke about with the woman who faced away from you.

Straightening out and stepping forward, you cleared your throat to announce yourself. The three ladies all turned... and alongside Miss Franklin and Vicky, was none other than Miss Omnyo herself, clean-cut bob and casual sweater and all.

You glared at her suspiciously, as Miss Franklin spoke out "Mr Drake, you're not on my register for today. Shouldn't you be in class?" her supple hands rested on her waist.

Ripping away the glue which stuck your eyes to Miss Omnyo's pleasant grin the Mathematics Professor had a subtly frosty look about her as if she could peer right through her spectacles into your soul.

...

You decided to greet them casually "Hey, Miss Franklin, Vicky... Miss Omnyo."

"Shit this is tense. All of these monsters, hidden right here in plain sight. I better get poor Vicky out of this."

The Math professor eyed you extensively, thoroughly searching your dishevelled appearance... your dark hair was messy and wild, luckily you'd managed to just about save your shirt from burning up. "Is there something we can help you with, Charlie?"

"Yes, Professor. there is. I have just come from a nice chat with Mr Harrow, he's one of those guys I genuinely look up to. He's set an assignment for us." The lie was quickly crafted but plausible.

Vicky stood looking between the three of you, clearly sensing some muted hostility in the air. "Umm is everything okay here?"

"I'm really not too sure, Just wanted to see if we could get on with some study, It's my birthday in a couple of days so I have a bad feeling my sister might organise a party. Takes up a lot of the Manshion's schedule" You said confidently.

Miss Franklin eyed you with those suspicious azure eyes of hers "What a coincidence, Professor Omnyo has just informed me that Miss Kaz here is needed for some work for the Spiritual and Religious Studies club."

"Oh wow, weird timing." You said, spotting the knowing twinge in Miss Onmyo's poker face.

"Charlie, we all know how profane your relationship with Miss Kaz has been in the past. Why this sudden change of heart, don't you have trouble accepting the way she used to treat you?" Omnyo pointed out diligently.

Wow, you'd have to really sell this one. It seemed like Miss Franklin had Victoria in her grasp, she stood close to her almost protectively. Haru Omnyo was a very serene woman, with a smooth friendly face and a sisterly air, it would be a gamble to take control.

You liked your odds.

"Look... I really didn't want to ruin the surprise but, if I could just..." You lent into Miss Franklin, her scent was overpowered with soft fragrances and many layers of fancy lotions, but it did nothing to remove the animal musk beneath. "...I am going to ask Vicky to the Lyndis Festival at the end of term. I really don't want to ruin the surprise," you whispered.

The History Professor revealed a charming smile, shooting Omnyo a sideways glance she spoke "You plan on getting some studying done today then, Victoria?"

Vicky quickly stepped away from Franklin and Omnyo and over to your side, she flashed you a cringing face in the small window where her back was turned. "Yeah, study... right."

If the Maths professor was upset she didn't show it, though she pressed on her colleague eagerly "Are you sure that's wise, Francheska? You know the rules-

"-Excuse me, Haru. Do I know the rules? I helped write the majority of those rules, don't you forget that I taught you and your sister not so many years ago. Now I know that Mr Drake has turned over a new leaf from his previously violent behaviour, He is clearly a young man to be trusted, don't you agree?"

Omnyo frowned deeply "Yes, I trust him."

Vicky looked as if surrounded by a trinity of lunatics. "Okaaayyyy. Bye then? AH!" She yelped as you took her arm and led her away, fast walking down the passage where you lapped around the cafeteria, and headed not towards Principle Kaz's office on the top floor, but out into the courtyard.

"Charlie! you know I swear I'll stomp on your fucking ballsack if you ever pull me away like that again" Vicky growled, pulling her arm away as you emerged into the cool autumn air.

You sighed "So vulgar... Listen, we really need to get the fuck out of here."

"What are you talking about, you're acting like a crackhead and you look like you've just been dragged five miles tethered to a dump truck, the fuck is going on?" She spat.

"I..." You hesitated, looking around, you'd have no way of knowing if the Witches were eavesdropping on you.

"First the weird shit with the S&Rs, giving hickeys in public and now this. Answers Charlie, now." She demanded.

Huffing you moved in on her, lowering your voice "I will tell you everything and anything you want to you know, I swear to god."

"Pft, god" Vicky grumbled.

"Pretty please?" You said with little a boyish charm.

"Better...
Is this that danger you were babbling about earlier? Because the teachers back there were spooky as hell, that math chick her stare made my skin crawl."

"Home base, that's the place to go. Believe me when I tell you that there is no exaggeration when I say that this entire place is their territory."

She waved her sun-kissed arms at you "Alright, alright! I get it. I don't give a shit about ditching a few classes, but here you go again with that weird shit.
Their territory?
They are just a group of occult-studying nerds, not the Lodge of Sorceresses!

You almost sniffled, filled with blissful admiration.

"...You know how insane you sound right?" She folded her arms, eyebrow raised and wrapped in playful suspicion.

Perhaps she didn't believe it, maybe she actually did but hid behind her trademark cavalier attitude. In the end you actually agreed "Yeah, yeah I guess I do." reaching out you gently ran a hand through her soft straightened dark-brown hair "...You're sharper than most people give you credit for you know? Anyway, I'm just gonna head the car."

She looked conflicted, watching you keeping eye contact for a moment before turning and walking away. There was temptation behind the worry.

The scratch of dry autumn leaves blowing in the wind across the tarmac, shut out by the car door swinging closed. You loved being inside your car, everything felt so calm inside, and nothing could calm your nerves like the old Torino

A sudden click from the car door made you jump, as Vicky tucked herself inside, lounging on the passenger seat. "Drive, before I change my mind."

The Car rolled into a soft pur as you turned the key and gripped the wheel "Yes Ma'am"

As the light suspension rolled away on the potholes in the pavement, you found yourself gazing through your rearview... at the black guitar case in the back seat. It drew your gaze for maybe a little longer than it should have

"See me... set me free... Take her... let us kill, let us kill..."

"Hey!" Vicky cried, grabbing the wheel to stop you from rearing off the road. "Look where you're going, do I need to drive for you?"

You cleared your throat, shooting the case one more quick glance before playing it off "Not a chance."

What should have been a ride full of Vicky's frantic questioning was instead occupied by peace and quiet, against all odds. She rolled down her window, taking in the torrent of cool air which flowed through her dark strands of silky hair.

It had been that way all the way up until you'd left town, riding smoothly down the forested roads, littered with the millions of amber leaves which sailed down from their natural home. You had just passed the intricate iron gate into the long stone-paved driveway to the mansion when Vicky leaned over from the passenger side and gently put her hand on the wheel again.

"Pull over here for a minute." She asked lips tight with worry.

The crackling movements of loose stone beneath your tires ceased as you parked on the grass on the side. Roaring and rumbling, the engine gave way to the silence as you turned off the muscle car and sat, observing Vicky's conflicted fiddling.

"I'm still not used to seeing you so freaked out, You've always been this big bad immovable object." You said lightly, trying to unwind her tension.

"I am going to ask you something, and I don't want any of your evasive, manipulative bullshit, and I especially don't want you to treat me like some fragile little princess either." She let out a long self-soothing sigh, massaging her temples. "...Are you a serial killer?"

A chuckle nearly escaped you "Ummm, no, not the last time I checked. Hold on, let me ask my other personalities they might have an answer?"

"You're not funny. Ugh fine, I'll just come right out with it. Are you trying to lure me to my **** or something? Has all this been some long bid for **** against me?" She asked rather dramatically.

"Oh yes, because I saved you just so I could axe-**** you in the shower."

"Saved me? For all I know!? Ever since you came back from whatever happened with your dad, I've had this weird feeling that dicky-drake died back there, and whatever you are is - just - something else! Now more than ever, the minute we drove passed that gate it felt like a gang of mountain lions is about to pounce on us!" She cried, flailing her arms around.

She was getting pretty stressed out, understandable. Victoria Kaz was indeed sharper than you gave her credit for if she could sense the rest of the Mansion Staff who very likely were in fact watching your arrival.

"You're right to feel that way. Where we're going, the Lions will be licking their lips at us, but luckily for you, you're riding hand in hand with their tamer. If you're curious about the magnitude of what I want to show you, then I'll just say it outright: Today will be the last normal day you will ever have, nothing will look the same, nothing will feel the same, nothing will smell the same. I'm not just showing you the truth about Me, about the academy and Wallace, this is a whole new world. If you want to back out, I have a method of wiping the slate clean.

I could drop you home safe and sound, you'd wake up in the comfort of your bed tomorrow none the wiser to any of this. You have a way out of this, just say the word."

She studied you closely "And if I do want to go home? will the S&Rs leave me alone, will I be safe?"

You tried to hide your worry, but you feared a little may have slipped out "I would never let them get to you, regardless. But... they'll likely still come for you, yes."

Coaxing her in, a bit at a time... you tried to ignore it but the delicious thought of pulling her into your web. It was oddly enjoyable.

The two options wrestled between Vicky's perfectly plucked eyebrows, putting her head in her hands for a moment, before rising up, emboldened by a newfound conviction. "Keep going then. Let's see this 'New world'."

You smiled deftly as the Torino's engine roared back to life, carrying you and the nervous Vicky towards the tall spired shadow of the Black-Drake Mansion.