The car ride back was long and quiet. I stared at my hands, still feeling the imprint of the weapon. It felt great, too great for someone like me to handle. I listened for the voice to come back, but there was nothing. I curled my lonely hands into a fist, frustrated that I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me.

The image of those orange eyes glowing like fresh embers appeared as I recalled the practice fight. Was this connected with the voice somehow? I wasn't eager to find out.

"Are you guys going to tell me about that ouija board?" I asked anything to get my mind off of this.

I heard bits of information about it; it was left abandoned at a creepy rundown hospital and had a magic symbol on it. Those were the only things I knew about that board. 

"What do you want to know?" Ross said, looking at me through the mirrors.

"Why was that magical symbol different from the one on the pin?" I pulled the golden ash tree from my hoodie pocket and waved it in front of my face.

"That's because the sigils are from different types of magic. The one on the pin is Arcane, and the one on the board is Ruin. Magic isn't evil, but it can be."

"Soo you can place a curse on me if you want, right?"

"Hexes don't work that way. Only objects can be cursed."

"Who would want to curse an ouija? Isn't that already cursed?"

It doesn't take a genius to know those things were bad news. If movies and TV shows were right, they could conjure up dangerous spirits and demons. Who in their right mind would think about messing with those? Idiots or maybe some cult.

"Why would anyone use that thing?"

"That's what we are going to find out," Meyer said, grinning.

That doesn't answer my question, but they were done talking. I stared out the window. Trees of all shapes and sizes disappeared from view. We are almost back in town. With everything I knew, it felt like I was walking into alien territory. 

I gulped as I watched the grey buildings fly past. Everything normal would be abnormal as any magic or creature. Mr. Ross warned me that there was no turning back once I joined. It became clear what he meant by that, but it didn't change anything. Nothing was ordinary about me before, and I doubt it ever was after what happened today, with or without this "curse."

If it was a curse, according to Mr. Ross, only objects can be hexes, so what do I have exactly? 

The black car halted in front of the school entrance. The sun was still up in the sky, but I could tell it was almost evening. I didn't need a phone for that. However, I checked it to ensure I still had time to walk back to the cafe. The phone's green neon light blinked at 4 pm on the dot. That gave me enough time to walk back to the cafe. There may be fewer people around for me to take a peak and get something to eat. My stomach rumbled at the thought of fresh pizza. I licked my lips. I'm starving, famished, like I haven't eaten in days. My breakfast wasn't huge, but I shouldn't be this hungry.

I put the golden pin and flip phone in my pocket and swiftly got out of the car. The academy loomed over me as it always did, causing me to shutter. I glanced back at the two agents. This place had seen things too. What secrets were behind these walls? I shook my head, still staring at them. I had enough discoveries for one day. However, tomorrow might be a different story.

"So... what will happen next?" I questioned.

"Act like an average high school student and wait for further instructions," Mr. Ross said as he put on his glasses, "If you leak anything, we have no choice but to neutralize the threat. You understand?"  

A cold chill ran down my spine as I let his words sink in. They won't hesitate to kill me. No, Mr. Ross won't hesitate to kill me. He didn't have a second thought about using me as bait, the bastard. 

I nodded, keeping my face as neutral as I could. He gestured for me to come closer to the car. I complied, and my heart stopped seeing those black button eyes staring at me with curiosity. That rat likes popping out of nowhere. 

They say curiosity kills cats, so rats have nothing to worry about.

"Don't lose this," Mr. Ross orders. He hands me a tiny coin, and seeing me confused, he answers, "It's a radio. You can hear us but not talk to us."

"How does it work?"

"Have it with you. No one will hear it but you."

I placed the radio in my pocket near my phone and pin. Besides my sketch pad, the three valuable things were on my person. If I lose these things, I will go crazy or dead. My fingers rubbed the items. Yes, I would most likely be dead without them. I grimaced as my fingers touched the golden ash tree pin. Weren't people supposed to return the favor if they rescued someone? Does this mean I owe him? No, of course not! He didn't save me! Ms. Meyer did.

The car sped off when Ms. Meyer yelled goodbye. Her emotion was bitter, with not a trace of sadness in them. Was she happy that I was uninjured or gone? I frowned. My head was still throbbing, but it wasn't as bad as before. However, thinking they were delighted to see me gone would only make me feel worse than my headache.

I began my walk back to the shops and restaurants, trying to ignore the eerie feeling of passing by those mannequins.

~~~~~

I called my dad when I arrived at La Chérie with a pizza box in my hands. They didn't have pepperoni, so I ordered extra cheese. What kind of restaurant serves pizza without pepperoni? That was the only way to eat pizza, but I guess plain cheese would have to do. The employees made it thin, like a cracker, enough to eliminate that doughy texture.

He arrived in his old beat-up red truck. Mom's probably still working; otherwise, dad would have taken the car. I glanced at the back and saw wooden planks and paint. There was a little dust on the paint lids, but other than that, the items look brand new. Dad went shopping for some project. He acted a little suspicious this week, but maybe it was nothing.

We drove off when I plopped inside the passenger seat, sinking inside the soft chair with the pizza box on my lap. My eyes drifted to my dad's yellow paint-covered hands. Seeing dad with paint stains or coated with wooden shavings wasn't unusual, but that would mean he didn't come from a store if his callous hands were already at work.

"Were you working on a project?" I asked.

"Yeah, I am," He admitted.

"Who is it for?"

"That's a surprise."

My ears perked up. There were only two people that he could surprise. If it was for mom, why keep it a secret from me? A million thoughts run through my head.

"You're not making a treehouse, are you?"

"Of course not! You're not a little kid anymore, remember?" he laughed.

"Then what is it?"

This day has been one mystery after another. My stomach twisted, not out of hunger but by worry. I couldn't help but wonder what this gift would be. But this one might not be so serious. Maybe it was a good surprise, but I couldn't help but feel bothered. I only hoped that it wasn't going to be embarrassing.

"You just have to wait and see."

~~~~~

I went to my room after I was done eating and fell on my bed, staring at the ceiling. The pain from that mock fight had healed, but my headache was still present. I silently groaned as I turned my head to the window shrouded by the thick curtains. I haven't touched them since I saw that Wraith, a shadowy phantom, glaring at me with its hallow eyes. Even if its cloak covered its face, I knew it was staring at me, watching me. I held my breath as the memory played in my mind.

You have such pretty eyes, it said.

I shook my head. There was no way it would be there, and what chances of another monster staring at my window? I would rather not think that. Best to keep the curtains closed for now.

If Mariel knew about the hidden world, I would talk about my near-death experience. She'll know what her brother had done to me, treating me like I was something they could dispose of. That was true, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. It would change anything as I was a stranger to her. Mariel would believe Mr.Ross over me.

I charged my phone and placed the other valuables on the nightstand near my sketch pad. When I turned off the lights, the golden ash tree pin glowed an icy blue. I stared at it in awe. It only did that once when the Wraith was about to snatch my eyes. And just as quickly as it started to flicker, it stopped.

I bit my lip and stared at the pin, pondering if I had hallucinated the glowing. It didn't do anything, so perhaps it was nothing. I hoped. I begged.

My dreams weren't going to comfort me, but I had to sleep. The images of those fiery eyes burned into my mind again. My body turned cold, and I threw a thick blanket over me. What was up with those eyes? They were terrifying but also luring—a dangerous combination, like Mariel's strange pull. 

I tried desperately to push those thoughts away, but they kept coming back, making me turn in bed, but soon I was asleep, knowing what awaited me.

During Christmas, I received a fanart from J. K Borealis. This one is three chibis of Ellis (Elliss?Ellises?). I put them on one piece of paper to show you guys

This one was a secret Santa gift from InsertKert. It shows Ellis and Mariel.

I also received fanart on my birthday, which was January 16. I'll show it in the next update.