Mari quietly slipped into the front terrace, she was now in the house, the items for the spell inside her sling bag.
She turned the door knob to find it locked, she clicked her tongue and checked the other windows to find them all closed shut.
Mari was now behind the house, staring at the back door when an idea popped in her head. She walked away and looked up, she grinned when she saw the figure of the chimney above.
She ran towards the outer fence of the house, fortunately it faced towards the forest, where trees were growing. She looked around, finding no one, she waved her hand. The tree branch started growing until it was now over the fence.
Mari climbed on and the branch moved again, until it arrived at the chimney. She summoned a piece of vine up the branch and tied it to her waist, the vine proceeded to gently lower her down the chimney.
With a small thud she landed on the living room, she waved her fingers and the vines retracted back up. She observed the room, it looked normal, nothing to out of the ordinary.
Mari narrowed her eyes, she was now walking around the living room when she arrived at a wall, the wall had some sort of symbol carved onto it.
Mari exited the living room and explored the entire first floor. Nothing about the house screamed 'serial killer' to Mari, the furniture looked normal, the overall vibe felt normal.
Mari decided to venture upstairs, she climbed up the steps and arrived at a hallway. In the hallway only three doors could be seen, Mari checked the first door and it was a small room, probably a child's bedroom.
She checked the second one and it was a bathroom, the final was another room, this time it was bigger. It probably was the master, Mari walked around the room, feeling around the walls.
She took out the items in her bag, finally deciding to use the spell. She placed the crystal on the floor and took out the dust, she sprinkled it around the crystal forming a giant circle. She then grabbed the cloth and the matchstick, she sprinkled the dust on top of the cloth and folded it.
Mari stepped in the circle of dust, squatting in front of the crystal. She held the cloth and closed her eyes, Mari's body started to glow, giving off a faint light.
"Alum siga pa lah ohm"
Mari recited the chant, the crystal started glowing, along with the circle and the cloth. Mari touched the crystal in one hand and the cloth in the other.
"Alum siga pa lah ohm"
She grabbed the cloth and placed it on top of the crystal. She took the matchstick and lighted up the cloth.
As soon as the cloth made contact with the match, it immediately burst into flames. The cloth was now turning to ash as blue flames burned brightly.
The dust forming the circle was now levitating off the ground and merged with the flame, causing it to burn brighter.
The cloth was now completely gone, but instead of disappearing the flame continued to burn.
Mari watched in awe, the flame was now floating into the air, moving around.
Mari took the crystal and placed it in her bag, she stood up and stared at the fire. The fire died dowm until it was the size of a phone, Mari held out her hand and the flame flew above it, settling above her palm.
She stared at it for a while before telling it something.
"Show me any evidence for the murder of Elizabeth Denver"
Mari said sternly, the flame floated for a while until it moved. It was now dashing around the place, it flew around and then exited the room.
Mari followed and saw it flying down the stairs, she chased after it, and saw it was now flying around the house. Mari watched in confusion as the flame flew back and forth, maybe she did the spell wrong.
Mari was about to stop it, when it flew into the living room, not seeing it coming out she followed it. To her surprise the flame was standing still, facing the odd symbol on the wall.
Mari walked closer and observed the symbol. She stared at it, the symbol was a circle, with a weird rune inside it.
She walked forward and touched it, she caressed the surroundings, her fingers examining the symbol. When her fingers made it to the center, a sudden jolt surged through Mari's body.
Mari fell to the ground clutching her hand, she held back her scream and looked at her hand. Her finger was fine, no wound, but it still felt horrible.
Mari's face contorted at the pain, standing up she held her hand and hissed. She walked around when a sound caught her attention, keys jangling, and footsteps clacking.
Someone was coming inside.
Mari started panicking, she ran towards the kitchen, the flame following her closely. She looked at the flame and waved her hand.
"Esto hunona"
The flame disappeared, leaving Mari in the kitchen. She could hear the keys moving, so Mari looked around and ran towards the backdoor.
Without hesitating she opened it and went out, just as the door opened, revealing a woman wearing a black blouse and some white jeans.
Mari quietly walked towards the front door, hunching behind some bushes. She watched as the woman turned on the lights and was now walking around the house.
As the woman turned around and walked up the stairs, Mari made a run for it and left the the house.
______________________________________________
Mari was now right in front of her school, after last night she ran back home and went to sleep.
Mari couldn't help but grimaced at not being able to continue her search. She reviewed her memories, she remembered the symbol in the house, how it 'burned' her, but how?
Mari was now scratching her head, she looked around herself, she only has two more days to solve this and Lloyd is nowhere to be found.
Mari grumbled at her luck, she walked up the steps, without looking, she managed to bump into someone.
"Oh I'm so sorry" Mari said, rubbing her shoulder
"Watch it you freak!"
Bianca turn around to see Mari standing in front of her, her mouth immediately forming a frown.
"Oh it's you...." Bianca said, crossing her arms
"Yes it's me Bianca" Mari replied "I'm sorry for hitting you"
"Well you should be, next time watch out where your going" Bianca rolled her eyes and walked away
"I'm sorry about her, she's always been hot tempered"
Mari turned around to see a boy smiling at her, he was wearing a black hoodie with some grey jeans. He had messy brown hair, and bright green eyes.
"Oh! I know you, your Bianca's brother right?"
Mari asked excitedly
"Yup that's me" The boy chuckled, he held out his hand "I'm Peter, and I guess you must be Mari"
"Yeah that's me" Mari took his hand, and shook it "So....Bianca, your sister?"
"Yeah, having her as my sister can be quite frustrating, but she's not always the bad person everyone thinks she is"
"Oh really?" Mari questioned, raising a brow
Peter chuckled and checked his watch.
"Oh I should be going, I have to meet someone"
"Oh of course, bye Peter"
"Bye Mari"
Mari watched him disappear into the school building, the crowd of students covering his body. Mari sat on a bench, class won't start for a while, so might as well take in some fresh air.
Mari looked around and could see a figure behind the building. Mari stood up, getting a little bit curious, she walked towards it.
When she arrived she saw a girl sitting down, reading a book. The girl looked up at her, surprised, she closed her book and stood up, ready to leave.
"No, don't leave" Mari held her hand "Let's sit down"
Mari led her back to the chair, she sat down while the girl was a bit hesitant. After a couple of seconds she finally sat down, she lowered her head and kept quiet.
"Hey Chelsea, remember me?"
"Yeah, Mari right?"
"Yeah" Mari nodded "What are you doing here?"
"Oh just reading, I prefer this place since it's quiet and...."
"And away from Bianca"
Chelsea lowered her head, she held the book in her hands. The name causing her to remember hurtful memories.
"You must think I'm pathetic" Chelsea said, not making any eye contact "Hiding from her and everything"
"No! I don't think that" Mari assured her "I know you always have been their target, and I should be the one called pathetic"
Chelsea looked at her for the first time, her eyes were filled with sadness and Mari could feel it.
"After all those years, I never managed to stop her from bullying you. She's always managed to get away from everything because her dad practically owns the city"
"You don't have to feel that way" Chelsea was now assuring Mari "I know how hard it is to deal with Bianca, especially when she was younger"
Mari smiled, Chelsea returned it with her own and they both chuckled.
Mari and Chelsea started talking, surprisingly they had many things in common, from science to literature. Both of them were now lost in their conversation when the sound of the bell stopped them.
They both stood up and dusted their clothes, Chelsea was a bit sad to have her talk with Mari come to an end. Mari on the other hand felt nice, having to have talked to Chelsea.
"Thank you so much Mari" Chelsea said, showing her genuine smile "Everyone ignores me and hardly notices my presence"
"No need to thank me Chelsea, that's what friends are for right?"
Chelsea wanted to cry, no one ever wanted to be her friend in years. She smiled and nodded, keeping her tears from coming out.
"Well let's see each other at lunch ok?"
Chelsea nodded and Mari quickly left to her classroom. Chelsea watched as Mari left and entered the building.
"I just made a friend..."
The sudden realization made Chelsea smile, she lifted up her bags and soon entered the building, going to her first class.
______________________________________________
Mari was now sitting in second period, she just found out Angelo is absent, and will be gone for a while.
Mari asked why but no one knew, some say he was just sick, while others thought he might be dropping out. Mari started to get worried, she remembered that she just left him outside. If something happens to him because of her, she's never gonna forgive herself.
The teacher put up a symbol in front of the class, Mari looked at it and gasped, it was the symbol in the house. The other students stared at her, she smiled awkwardly and everyone turned away.
"Umm...Sir what's that symbol?"
"Oh that Mari is what we are gonna be learning about today, this is the symbol of 'The Watchers' an elite group founded by Alfred Hawthorne in 1921"
"And what is this group?"
"This group was founded by Alfred Hawthorne and the members were all hand-picked by him. It was a group for the elite, a club of sort"
"And what do they do?"
"Well they actually backed up the government in 1921, they say if you had the group in your favor then you would immediately be mayor. They held very strong political power within the city back then"
"Does this group still exist?"
"Actually they disbanded in 1985, due to political backlash"
Mari nodded, the teacher then started his lessons while she listened intently.
______________________________________________
Mari was now leaving the classroom, it was lunchtime and Mari couldn't help but think about what her teacher said.
'The Watchers' were very prominent, but disbanded when Martin Bent became mayor, he exposed all of their 'dirty deeds'.
Mari walked through the hallway, constantly thinking, what is she gonna do now? return to the house? Well the flame did point at the symbol and it burned her, meaning it's magical.
She entered the bathroom and walked into a stall. She took out the necklace, making sure to not touch it directly. She stared at it and breathed in, without waiting she touched it.
The same jolt coursed through her body, causing her to gasp. When she looked around she found herself to be in the forest.
"Hello little girl"
Mari flinched, that voice, she knew it all to well. She turned around to see the man and Izzy. He was wearing the same clothes, covering his face and body.
The man grabbed Izzy and began strangling her, Izzy pushed and fought back, but the man was way to strong. Mari watched in horror, without thinking she slapped the man, but her hand just went through.
Mari's jaw dropped, she watched helplessly as the man continued to tighten his grip.
"No! Stop it, let her go!" Mari screamed, but it was futile, she couldn't interfere.
The girl was fighting, hard to escape, she used all her power, but she just couldn't push him back. The man watched her struggle, a chuckle escaping his mouth. Mari wanted to yell but instead covered her mouth, she was helpless, she couldn't do anything.
"Your time is up little girl, it's time to go to sleep"
"N-n....N-n-oo" The girl struggled to speak, her vision was now getting blurrier, her limbs losing energy. The girl watched her life flash before her eyes, but something snapped inside her, she's not gonna let this man kill her.
"L-let m-me go...."
"Excuse me?"
Mari looked at Izzy, surprised she still hasn't fainted.
"I said, Let. Me. GOO!"
A burst of energy flowed out through the girls body, pushing the man away. Izzy fell to the ground clutching her neck, Mari stood there shocked at what happened.
The man stood up, he screamed and ran straight for the girl. The girl yelled and and an invisible force pushed the man back, causing him to hit a tree and fall unconscious.
Seeing this, Izzy ran and left the forest. Mari was now speechless she watched the entire event unfold, that girl....
The forest started glowing, causing Mari to cover her eyes. When she opened them she found herself back in the bathroom stall. Mari sat there her breathing heavy.
"That girl.....she has magic!"