WitchCraft Academy (The First Book)
The Seventeenth Chapter

The upcoming days pass by swiftly, as if racing against time itself. Ethan and Andrew become my guiding lights, helping me catch up on everything I missed in class. They patiently walk me through each lesson, ensuring I don't fall behind.

Meanwhile, Juniper and Axel become my partners in crime, partying with me until the late hours of the night. Surprisingly, being under house arrest turns out to be fucking exhilarating. Maybe I should consider punching Phoenix in the face more often. Juniper says she's still crying about it to all her friends.

Juniper is still struggling with Taylor's death and feeling guilty but we all keep telling her that it's not her fault. It was an unfortunate accident. I can't believe The Sisters haven't caught the killer yet. I mean, with all the magic they know, you think they would by now.

Despite waking up with a pounding headache from last night's festivities, I push the discomfort aside and jump right into the shower. Today marks the end of my house arrest, and I can finally sneak out to meet Silas. It's been an entire week, and the longing for his presence has become unbearable.

As I lather myself with soap, Harmony's commanding voice echoes through the walls, demanding the immediate presence of all students and staff in the gymnasium. I quickly rinse off the soap and hastily throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt before making my way towards the gym. Juniper has already vanished, most likely already making her way to the designated meeting spot.

"Hey," a familiar voice greets me as I approach the gym. It's Sophia Jones, a girl from my elemental class.

"Hey, what's up?" I respond, walking alongside her towards the gym. Sophia and I were friends back in Neophyte year. She possesses a cute appearance, with a chubby face, soft features, and short, straight, dirty blonde hair. Her sweet and innocent nature is probably the reason our friendship only lasted a year...

"I wonder if they caught the killer," Sophia says, her voice filled with anxiety and fear.

"I really hope so," I respond, sharing her concern.

"So, you're friends with Axel, right?" she asks nervously.

"Well, kind of. Why do you ask?" I reply hesitantly.

"People are saying that you two are together. Is it true?" she asks, her face turning red with embarrassment.

"No, definitely not!" I exclaim, surprised by the rumor. Well, maybe not. We do hang out a lot these days.

"Um, do you think you could put in a good word for me? I'm not really good with boys," she admits, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Um, sure?" I respond, feeling a bit unsure as we enter the gymnasium and spot The Sisters on the stage.

Harmony's voice fills the room, her tone solemn. "There has been another murder. Phoenix White."

The crowd erupts into panic, both students and staff alike. A group of girls who were close to Phoenix cling to each other, tears streaming down their faces. I scan the crowd for Axel and find him standing there, his jaw clenched, his gaze fixed ahead.

"How did she die?" A student calls out, desperate for answers.

"She was drained of her life force, just like Taylor. We are doing everything we can to find the person responsible. However, if we fail, the school may have to temporarily shut down," Harmony explains.

Protests and cries echo through the crowd. Some of these students have even tougher home lives than mine, while others, like Juniper, don't even have a home to go to and will be thrown back into the foster care system.

"We will find a way to solve this," Melody interjects, her voice filled with determination. "Our school has stood strong for three hundred and fifty years. We will not let this shut us down. From now on, do not walk alone, and do not leave your dorms after curfew for any reason. Any suspicious behavior should be reported to us immediately. And combat class with Mr.Grimshaw is now required."

I approach Axel, reaching out to gently touch his arm. In that instant, a vivid image flashes before my eyes. I see him as a young boy, his mother's hand striking him and the fear in his eyes as she locks him inside a cramped cupboard. The vision startles me, causing me to pull away from him and he looks at me with confusion.

Lately, my ability to control these visions has been faltering, and they occur more frequently than usual. And it's not just Axel's past that I see. When Juniper touches me, glimpses of her troubled history in various foster homes flood my mind as well.

"Are you alright?" I ask him softly, concern etched on my face. Despite his consistent denial, they've still been involved as fuck buddies for the past two years.

"Honestly, I don't know. Just because I didn't want to be with her doesn't mean I didn't care about her..." he trails off, his voice filled with a mix of emotions. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Tonight, I had planned to visit Silas, but I know he can wait. Taking a deep breath, I make a decision. "I think you should stay with me and June tonight. You shouldn't be alone. Bring a pillow and a sleeping bag."

Axel raises an eyebrow in surprise, questioning my offer. "Are you sure?"

I nod with conviction. "Absolutely. I'll see you later tonight."

The rest of the day passes by in a blur. Classes are canceled, and The Sisters tirelessly work, conducting interviews and diving into people's minds in search of answers. Exhaustion consumes us all by the end of the day. As I enter the room, a wave of surprise washes over me. I had completely forgotten about Axel staying with us. To my astonishment, the bed on the floor is already made, and Juniper is peacefully resting in her own bed

"I'm glad you're here with us tonight, Axel," I say, glancing over at him as he settles into his makeshift bed on the floor.

He looks up at me, his expression filled with a mix of gratitude and apprehension. "Thanks for letting me stay. I really didn't want to be alone."

I grab my pajamas and head towards the bathroom. "Of course. Are you doing okay?" I ask, concern evident in my voice.

Axel sighs, his voice tinged with guilt. "I don't know. I feel guilty about how I've been treating her lately, I was a complete dick when I ended things."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Axel," I respond, my voice filled with empathy. "Tomorrow, we should start figuring out who did this. We can gather a small group to walk around at night and try to find the person responsible."

He nods, a hint of appreciation in his eyes. "That's actually a great idea. Goodnight, Ember."

"Goodnight," I reply, slipping into bed and drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

Suddenly, Axel's voice pierces through the darkness of my slumber. "Ember! Snap the fuck out of it! Wake up!"

Startled, I jolt awake, my head throbbing from hitting something hard. Axel is straddling me, pinning me down and restraining my arms. Confusion and fear flood my senses as I realize something is terribly wrong. I attempt to push him off and speak, but when I turn my head, I see Sophia lying unconscious against the hallway wall.

"What happened? Is she okay?" I ask, horror and confusion consuming me.

"I don't know," Axel replies, his grip on me tightening. "What the fuck, Em? You were going to kill her, and your eyes... They were completely white."

Panic rushes through me as I deny his accusation. "No! I didn't do this, Axel!" I struggle to free myself from his hold, but the pain in my head and shoulder overwhelms me.

"I just watched you do it! Something is wrong with you. We need to get you help, now!" he insists, pulling me to my feet but still gripping my arm tightly. Together, we approach Sophia and Axel checks for a pulse in her neck. "She's alive but barely."

He pulls us both up, his grip on my arm unyielding. "Ow, that hurts. Where are we going?" I ask, still grappling with the confusion and disbelief of the situation. It must be some kind of mistake.

"To The Sisters," he responds, determination in his voice. And without further explanation, he leads me out of the hallway, urgency guiding our steps.

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