Chapter 17 - NICOLE

A week passed since telling the truth to Ann. Ann, all of a sudden, changed from a very aggressive Ann to a very calm one. Now, she rarely minded of me being with Chris. She mostly smiled nowadays, but I knew...she was scared, deep inside her heart. That did make me shiver.

We could expect an attack anytime. Flores and Lavinia were turning more ignorant to our convincing words. None of my efforts seemed to convince them. Chris, however, was least bothered in their actions. The other day, she said.

"Sara, be practical. If they are to know this, only then they'll know this. Only then, they'll understand. When the time comes, they'll understand everything on their own. There is no point in simply wasting your energy."

After some time, even I felt it right. If there is time for everything, then there is no point in, me telling them the same thing over and over again.

As days passed, the weather seemed to be harsher, with more icy winds every day.

I was sitting on my study place, later the next day. It was midnight and, everyone except me was asleep. I chose to sit at my study place and complete my pending notes.

"Geometry sucks."- I muttered to myself. We were studying some stupid axioms and, seriously they were making my head spin. The amount of time I spent studying, for the past few weeks were too less and, now I felt the pressure. There were chapters that I didn't even find in my textbooks(Seriously? Na I'm joking, I don't check the books properly. That's the reason)

After a frustrating 15-minutes study of geometry. I slammed the book shut and walked towards the other table to get some water. The water was cold and, it washed down my throat like acid. The sting at first decreased to a pleasant feeling. I always preferred cold water over warm water. Though, drinking cold water, at first would be kinda very displeasing...later on it gives this cooling effect to your throat as much as it gives to your mind. Thinking more about this, I again walked back to my study place with a bottle of cold water. I placed it over and returned my gaze to the table. For a second, my mind stopped working and then all of a sudden, I came back to life.

'What's this?'- I thought as I took it. It was short, thin and brown coloured. To me, it looked more like a stick. A twig, maybe...no, it was thicker than a twig. Now, the question is...

'Where did this odd-looking stick come from?'

The windows were shut, the others were asleep, the doors were also shut and this was never there on my table before. I stared at for some time. After a few minutes of staring, I decided to throw it and come back to studying Math. I approached the dustbin and threw the stick into the basket. As soon as the stick hit the bin, there was a sudden hiss, followed by a bright flash of green light. I looked away, protecting my eyes. The atmosphere all of a sudden felt hot. When I felt, that the light had abated, I slowly looked at it. There was no more bright light. Instead, everything had returned to normal. I looked up...nothing. Then what was that all about?

'Leave it now. If you go on thinking, then you'll never stop thinking. Get back to Geometry.'- Said the voice in my head. I obeyed it and turned back when I heard a call from behind.

"Miss.Sara. Why don't you even talk to me?"- I kinda felt goosebumps over my body, as I turned behind. Wow, what a joke? A moment ago, I heard something and when I look back there's nothing. There was no one there. I pinched myself...Yeah, I wasn't dreaming, thank god! I looked around. Everything seemed to be alright. When suddenly, I heard the sound again.

"Down, Miss. Sara."- It said. My head obeyed the sound and looked down. There was something like a small barbie doll or what we call, a doll. It was standing on its feet. I peered down to see it looking back at me. Now, that gave me a shiver. I took two steps back.

"What was this creature?"

"Miss.Sara if you could help."- It raised its hand. I staggered backwards, falling with a thud.

"What are you?"- I asked, the whole of me, kinda seized up.....Yikes, what is this??

"Miss. I shall explain it to you, but please help me up onto some table."- The voice squeaked again. The more I witnessed, the more I felt, that I was dreaming. I throw a stick into the dustbin and, there is a flash of light and, then there comes this little person walking out of the light. I stared at it. I couldn't see much. It was small and there was no light. The creature was right. I will have to take it and place it on something. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to see it. Now, what? My hands trembled terribly. Ignoring the scream inside me 'Run, you fool'...I slightly placed my hand near the creature. It suddenly jumped onto my palm, making me jump slightly. I stood up with this weird thing on my hand. It wasn't heavy. I looked closely at it, as though examining something. It was a lady. I saw the hair. I walked more towards the light and placed her on my study table. I didn't sit down on the chair. I was scared. I expected it to be a trap. Of course, what if it's Belladonna, and once I place her on the study table, what if she grows huge and stamps me with her oversized foot.

"Miss. Sara."- Said the voice, bringing me back from thoughts.

"Don't call me, Miss. Sara. Sara is fine."- I said, still looking suspiciously at it. I could see her well-defined now. She was wearing a fading black frock. She wore no jewels, but there was one thing on her head, something like a black tiara. She looked more of a tired person. Before I could check on her more, she called me once again.

"Miss.Sara?"

"Ohh, I said to you...Don't call me Miss... Sara alone is fine."- I said again.

"Humble."- I heard her say. I looked at her.

"Why did you say 'humble'?"- I asked. This time she just smiled. Her smile was so sweet, that involuntarily, I too smiled.

"Tell me...Who are you? Why are you so small? And why do you look tired?"- I asked.

"Miss....(I rolled my eyes at her), umm...Sara. Sara, I'm Nicole."- She said.

"I've...I'm sorry. I have never heard about you. Well, where are you from? And what do you want from me?"

"I was trying to contact you and your people and ask for help."- she smiled. At first, I didn't understand. But, then suddenly it clicked.

"You, you are the one, aren't you? You were the one who tricked Father Candido Amantini. You were that person who wrote those words and all. You?"- I asked.

"Yes, Sara. I was the one. But my motive was just simple. Help us out, Sara. Help me and my friends. Only you can do it. I need you and your friend's help. This is my request."- she said and sobbed.

I sat down on the chair and touched her with my index finger, on her head. Trying to console, her.

"What is bothering, you and your friends? What can we do? Tell me, Nicole."- I asked.

"It is Belladonna."- She said through her sobs. My heart skipped a beat when I heard her name.

Belladonna?

"Tell me, Nicole. What has she done to you?"- I asked, more eager to know what was happening to Nicole and her friends.

"She..."