I darted out of my room, the urgency of the situation propelling me forward. The night air was cool against my skin as I raced back to Fallmore school, where the principal had already begun to count the heads of the gathered students. My heart skipped a beat as I slipped into the crowd, hoping my absence hadn't been noticed.
I found Lila and Lydia, their faces etched with worry. "Aaliyah, where have you been? We thought something had happened to you," Lydia's voice trembled with relief and concern.
I forced a smile, "Well, I got carried away by the crowd who were fleeing, then it got complicated," I lied, knowing it was best to keep the truth hidden for now.
The principal's voice boomed through the magic microphone, "Everyone, I'm sorry for this incident, but everything should resume normally tomorrow morning. Please return to your hotel rooms." His words did little to soothe the unease that clung to me like a second skin.
