Page 148 of Every Shade of Shadow

“Explains a lot,” laughs Lily.

I hold up my hand. “I think I heard something.”

We all stiffen, dead silent.

Heavy footsteps are sounding from somewhere outside—heels.

“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I suggest.

We move quickly, Ava swinging the painting back into position behind us.

On our way towards the door I pass the Headmistress’s emerald robe. I don’t know why, but I reach out to touch it. The moment I do, something passes through me—a darkness so deep and fathomless it’s like being buried alive.

The shadows inside me go wild.

It’s her, I realize. It has to be.

Ava grabs my wrist, tugging me towards the door and severing the connection. “Come on.”

We make it out the door, a dim glow coming up the stairs to match the increasing volume of the footsteps.

“This way,” whispers Ava, leading us down the hall in the opposite direction, but it’s only when we’re back down on the student accommodation level I breathe.

We make it inside Ava’s room. I realize I’ve never been in here before. It’s as stark as my own save for the singular 2001: A Space Odyssey poster above her bed.

“Someone closed the door, right?” I ask, still thinking about that sensation I felt touching Isadora’s robe.

“No, I thought we’d leave it open, air the place out a bit,” Lily says, seeing the expression on my face. “Of course I fucking closed the door, but we got nothing, did we? Bar a secret room and a bunch of creepy animal parts.”

“It’s not exactly conclusive, and not enough to go to Darkwood with,” says Ava, sitting on her bed.

The Professor.

Shit. It’s almost midnight and I should be at his chambers as instructed.

“What is it?” Lily asks.

I point to the door. “I’ve got to go.”

“Where?”

I back up to the door, reaching for the knob. “I just…sorry. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

I close the door to Lily’s protest, quickly making my way back down the hall towards my own room.

I’ll need my coat, after all.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

I stand before the Professor, coat removed, proud.

He surveys me. “How far you’ve come, my pet. Are you ready for the final trial?”

“Yes, Professor.” There is not a hint of doubt in my voice.

He crosses his arms. “Yet I don’t have your full attention. Something you want to tell me, perhaps?”

I could tell him about what I saw, the strange darkness I felt touching the Headmistress’s robe and the building suspicion against her, but it can wait. I need to see this through first.

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