Page 120 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

I turn and scan past the massive lake.

My breath catches. “Is that...?”

“Cinderhart Academy.”

“It’s like something out of a fairy tale.”

“Yeah, they were definitely going for that whole Sleeping Beauty vibe back then. You’ll actually see a lot of that architecture around Cinderhart, especially by the warehouse district.”

“Really?” I frown at her.

“It used to be the center of town, but after the explosion, they relocated to a spot further away from the coal mines. Just in case, I guess. Now we have a bunch of really pretty, really run-down buildings filled with packing plants and hobos.”

My eyes are drawn back to the black spires of Cinderhart Academy. They peek through a thick forest of firs that stretch all the way to the distant banks of Scarstone Lake.

“And that—” Juliet points “—is Camp Joy.”

“What’s that?”

“A summer camp you donotwant to end up in.” She gives a laugh that sounds anything but merry. “But at least it’s betterthan Lavender Valley, the military academy. We’ll be at that intersection in a few minutes.”

I watch the stunning landscape stream past for a few seconds before I pull out my phone and open Google Maps. We’ve been on the road for over an hour since we left Cinderhart Square, which begs the question...

“Wait, so where are the shops?”

“Shops?” Juliet giggles. “We just came from them.”

“So there’s nothing but the academy and that Camp Joy place out here?”

“Yup!” Juliet sounds happier than she should. “Easier to focus if there aren’t any distractions, right?”

Oh my God, I had no idea this place was so isolated. I mean, I looked it up and everything, but it’s so differentbeinghere. Suddenly all the green bits on Google Maps take on a more sinister meaning.

“But don’t worry,” Juliet says, completely mistaking my sudden silence. “The Academy has everything you could need.”

She’s right, of course. I spent a bit of time on Google Maps when I was planning my move here for the fall semester. The Academy grounds take up hundreds of acres. There’s a massive square building with some kind of field in the middle, which I assume is where the classes and stuff are. Then there are several sprawling structures dotted through the rest of the grounds. A football stadium, tennis courts, and possibly stables. They did mention they offered equine studies.

“And if you have to go into town, you can catch the bus. There’s one that goes all the way to the Lavender Glen intersection from town, twice a day.” She winces. “Although, they don’t let students off the campus grounds during the week. Only Saturdays, really.”

I don’t know why I’m suddenly bothered about shopping. It’s not like I can afford to buy anything. So what if I’m not five minutes from a mall? I’m here to study.

Juliet points out the Lavender Valley intersection a few minutes later, and then we turn onto a dirt road that runs beside the lake.

My parents drove this exact path the night they died. Them and I guess a whole bunch of other former students. Seems ridiculous to travel so far for a reunion party. This place must be some kind of special. Those spires were impressive, but I don’t know...

This is my home for now. Summer break, I’m moving back to the city to spend some time with Peggy.

Thankfully, Mr. Black said he could use the extra hands at Purgatory during summer break, so I’m planning on picking up some shifts when I’m back home.

Although that seems like a long time from now.

Months when I’ll be stranded out here, isolated. Alone.

“Is there electricity?”

Juliet laughs. “Girl, this is a coal town. If there’s something we have more than enough of, it’s power.” Her mirth trails off a second later. “Although sometimes when we get a lot of snow, the power lines can go down for a day or two.”

Great.

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