Ace

Angela remains by the door, clutching the door knob as tightly as a madman would grip his last thread of sanity.

She's panting like she'd just run a marathon, her eyes wide, pupils dilated, hair messy.

My eyes travel down her disheveled uniform. It looks like it had been donned on in incredible hurry.

She's trembling like a leaf, her face pale and lost.

Furuno seems stunned to see her as well, though his hardened jaw hints at the opposite.

"What the hell happened to you?" I ask her.

She rushes into the room, leaving the door ajar.

I reach for her, gripping her arms to steady her.

She doesn't meet my gaze. Her stark blue eyes are almost grey now - similar to that of the blind people I have been most unfortunate to come across.

I jerk away when I look into her eyes. Another pair of eyes stare back at me, not hers - someone else's.

"She's here. She's everywhere. Help me. Make it go away."

I freeze, releasing her arms immediately. She asked me for help - no one has ever done that.

Furuno closes the door quietly.

"Who?" My voice comes out sharper than I intended.

"Her." Is all she says.

Furuno grabs her left hand and pulls her to face him. His face is stern.

"I told you to sleep through it. It was just a nightmare." He says, searching her blank eyes for the slightest sign of a response.

She nods hesitantly.

"Good." He mutters.

I narrow my eyes at him.

"What nightmare? I happen to have a charm for that." I chip in.

He shoots a glare at me.

"Everything's fine, Blondy." He says through gritted teeth.

"Blondy?" The name is actually… amusing.

A slight smile tugs at the corner of my lips.

Colour animates his pale face slightly.

"That's how I remember you."

"Fair enough. But, next time, go the extra mile to learn names."

His gaze returns to the squirming girl in front of him.

Her lips are trembling from terror - something I recognize all too well.

Adjusting my stance, I shove my now-trembling hands into my pockets.

"You know something."

His shoulders firm, his jaw hardens.

Indeed, he does.

Then, she fishes into the pocket of her skirt. She produces an empty vile.

The vile is marked with the same colourful sticky paper the potions department uses.

I snatch it from her, turning it around until the label id visible to me.

Ara - the black doom.

The vile drops from my hands and shatters into several tiny bits on the floor.

"What was it?" Furuno asks, his voice rushed.

I glance at him.

"She poisoned herself."

His eyes widen, disbelief apparent in those black depths.

He grabs her upper arms and shakes her slightly. "Did you take it?" His voice is raised slightly.

"Yelling at her is no use."

He doesn't spare me a glance. "We have to know for sure that she took it."

She shakes her head slowly.

"She made me do it." She whispers.

I step forward and brush her hair away from the side of her neck with the tip of my fingers.

Her neck is dark with bruises.

"This wasn't her first attempt at suicide." I say aloud.

Furuno runs a nervous hand through his hair.

"This isn't fair. It's just not fair. Why don't you stop at me!" He laments to no one in particular.

Then, her knees buckle. He catches her before I do.

"You're not going to die, okay?" He whispers to her.

Tears slip out of both her eyes. She tries to say something else, but she starts gagging, foaming at the side of her mouth.

Her body starts convulsing violently.

I drop to my knees immediately, assisting him to lower her vibrating body to the ground.

"Restrain her."

He presses her kicking legs to the ground.

She jerks against our hold, pulsing like a jolt of current is flowing through her.

"What now?" He asks.

I peer at her face. Her eyelids are purple with bruises.

I look at him. "Now, you tell me everything."

He laughs, a dry and bitter sound that sends chills down my spine.

"How's that going to help her?"

I raise an eyebrow. "I saw her - the person she's talking about." I force him to meet my gaze. "I know you know exactly who that was. This isn't about your damn pride for once."

"When did pride come into the picture? She's in this predicament because she knew more than she should have. I won't have anyone else share the same fate if I can help it."

"Tell me who I'm supposed to be afraid of - you or your pursuers?"

He arches a confused brow.

"I don't follow."

I stare down at the helpless girl before me.

"Did they do this to her? Or, was it you?"

He sits back on his haunches.

"It would have been me - and it wouldn't have drawn out this long. But somehow, my will has kept me from staining my hands with innocent blood."

I nod. He finally answered my question without evading.

"Then, who should I fear?"

"Stop asking me!"

I lean forward.

"Let me talk to the voice in your head. He's the one that seals your lips if I'm correct - or am I wrong?"

Wide and shocked eyes meet mine for a split second.

"How did you-" He cuts himself off.

Too late - I already caught the slip.

Distracting himself, he reaches for her wrist. His fingers skim for her pulse.

"Angela, no!"

The hopelessness in his tone irritates me beyond words.

"Do something."

I refrain from calling him an idiot… or something much worse.

Then, someone appears in the doorway.

I don't have to look before I know exactly who it is - Karim.

He hesitates before walking further into the room.

Furuno's grip on Angela's legs tighten.

She had stopped convulsing now, only slightly vibrating.

From the side of my eye, I notice him lean heavily againt the door jamb.

"What happened?" He asks.

My focus returns to the girl in front of me.

I slip an arm beneath her head and attempt to lift her up.

"Don't move her!" Furuno almost yells.

I stare at him as one would stare at a half-witted child.

"I need to find her and keep her mind active until you can get the poison out of her system."

The doubt in his eyes makes me want to deal him a dirty slap.

His hand flies to his chest. "Me? How the hell am I supposed to do that?"

Karim moves further into the room.

He clears his throat before asking, "Was she poisoned?" His voice is hesitant - like he doesn't actually expect a response, but asks anyway.

I glance up at him sharply, allowing him to feel the full intensity of my gaze.

"Do you need to be told?"

Then I turn to Furuno. "If you're waiting to be taught how to use your gift of healing, you can find a kindergarten sorcery school."

He's shocked at first - probably wondering how I know. But the shock immediately gives way to a fierce glare.

He reaches for her wrist with his two hands.

I decide not to watch him - mostly so he'd feel more comfortable while performing his task.

I lean forward, peering into her eyes.

The growing glow on her hand distracts me.

I search her mind, descending into the void that has become more of a home to me than the real world.

There's no trace of her or the ghost that had been plaguing her.

Her entire body begins to glow.

I look at Furuno. His eyes are closed in co concentration.

Then, he opens them, releasing her wrist.

I watch her eyes eagerly, waiting for them to flicker. For any sign of life.

None.

Everything suddenly becomes blurry.

Angela never died in my vision. I thought my visions are always predictable.

I pound my fists into the rug.

"This wasn't supposed to happen." I think aloud.

Karim runs a hand through his hair.

Furuno rests his head on her abdomen, his eyes closed. He makes a little sound - a hopeless sound.

Then, she starts coughing violently.

I scuttle to where she is immediately.

Furumo raises his head slowly, as if the sound was just a figment of his dull imagination.

But alas, she's awake. Her eyes are blank, but they're not lifeless.

Karim sinks to his knees beside her.

She graples in the air for something to hold. Karim beats me to it, grabbing her weak arms and lifting her to a sitting position.

I lean back with a heavy sigh of relief. My vision wasn't wrong.

"I've never been more scared before." Furuno muses out loud.

I raise my thumb up at him in agreement.

Then, she heaves on Karim's coat. My heart goes out to the expensive fabric that is now soiled.

The once-fresh air is now domination with the odour of vomit. I pat her back gently, quietly encouraging her to rid her body of the fatal poison.

When she's done, she leans her head on Karims's chest.

He smoothes her hair gently.

"I don't know why I did it." She mutters, her voice hoarse and strained.

"It's okay." I hear him mutter.

I watch them. Furuno does so as well, but with a faint smile that baffles me.

The sound of heels clicking along the hallway draws my attention.

I glance at Karim - he doesn't seem to notice.

Furuno tenses as well.

Then, Mrs. Val appears at the open door.

"I thought I'd find both of you here. To my office, immediately!" She says.

We exchange glances.

This is it. I can see the resolve in her firm and thin lips, in her rigid posture.

We're getting expelled.

A sly grin curves my lips.

I pull out a pen from my pocket and follow her silently.

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