The bell of emergency rang all through the corners of S.U.M.S and all the students rushed to the selection hall wondering what possibly led to the emergency.
Cassie watched from the crowd, the principal looked really worried.
After taking a deep breath, the principal moved forward to address the students.
"I know you're all wondering why you're summoned by this time of the night but this is a matter of urgency. It is with great sadness that I say that one of us is missing".
The students began clamouring among themselves as they looked around.
"Ollie Anderson is missing. She is a newly admitted student, a descendant of the fox clan. While people say she got lost during a casual stroll around the school compound, her roommate says that Ollie was planning on running away. The world out there is cruel to ignorant students like you. I'd appreciate some volunteers to help search for her".
Linda nudged Cassie, "Why don't we volunteer?".
"Uh no? I can't deprive myself a good night sleep because of this" Cassie replied.
"Well, if you were the one missing, would you be happy to find out nobody volunteered to find you?"
"I don't care about others, I'll be fine knowing you'll volunteer".
"Well you don't have a choice" Linda said and raised Cassie's hand together with her's.
"I see we have volunteers,Cassandra Olsen and Melinda Stilton. Please come forward. Any other volunteers?". The entire crowd fell silent.
"You see Linda. We're the only volunteers" Cassie whispered to her.
"There's nothing bad about being the only volunteers. May the guardian spirits of the earth guide you two" principal Margaret said to them.
"That's it?" Cassie asked with disappointment, "you're leaving two teenagers in the dark in search for someone who probably left the school willingly?".
"You were the one who volunteered. Now here's a lantern to light your path. I trust that the both of you will return fine and unscathed with Ollie" principal Margaret said. The whole crowd clapped for them as they walked out the door in search for Ollie.
Into the night, the both of them walked, in search of Ollie. They looked around at every corner and hidden bushes, continuously shouting her name. They walked until they found themselves in front of a mysterious, dilapidated mansion. A once grand estate now stood abandoned, shrouded in impenetrable darkness.
"I think we should head back" Cassie said.
"We probably should" Linda concurred.
As they turned their backs to leave, they heard a faint voice coming from inside the building.
"I think there's someone in there, probably Ollie".
"I don't think it's a good idea Linda. Take a look at this place, it screams "come in and I'll take your soul". I really don't want to go in".
"Help me!" The voice screamed.
"Let's go in Cassie. No excuses. Ollie might be in danger, we can save her".
Cassie, after much hesitation agreed.
They entered it's eerie halls, looking around.
"Aaahhh!" Cassie screamed as she felt something pass through her leg.
"It's just a rat, no need to be scared".
"There's every need to be scared. The light on the lantern keeps on flickering and..."
"Don't worry, you have me" Linda cut in and summoned light all over the entire building.
"Wow Linda. You're really amazing" Cassie said keeping the lantern on top of a table.
"Ollie? Are you in here?" Linda asked.
"Ollie? Come out now, I F-ing need to sleep!" Cassie said in a raised voice.
Cassie sighted a painting and started looking at it.
"Linda over here. I think this is the owner of this house".
"Cassie, we didn't come here to look at paintings! I'll go check upstairs, you stay here and search well".
"Yes ma'am" Cassie said with sarcasm as Linda went up the stairs.
Cassie heaved a sigh and started moving around, picking up books and dropping them.
"Cassie help!" Linda screamed from upstairs. Cassie immediately rushed upstairs, into a room.
"Linda? Are you in here?".
"Cassie, help me, I'm trapped".
Cassie looked around but she couldn't see Linda.
"I'm behind the wall on your left, I didn't know it was a door to a secret passage, I don't think there's a way out for me in here".
"Hang on, I'll get you out" Cassie said and walked to the wall. She turned and started hitting and scratching the wall but to know avail.
"Cassie, I think you should step back".
"Why?".
"I'm about to blast my way out of here so you need to step back". Cassie obeyed and took a few steps back. From the other side, Linda channeled most of her powers at the door, causing a massive hole for her to pass through.
"Thank goodness you're okay. I don't think Ollie is here. Let's go back and tell principal Margaret that we couldn't find her" Cassie suggested.
"But what about the voice we heard earlier?".
"This house is obviously haunted. Maybe it might be a ghost or evil spirit or something worse..."
"Someone please help me!" The voice called again.
"You see, let's just go check it out. There's no harm in trying" Linda said getting ready to head towards the direction of the voice. Cassie having no choice followed her. They came across a door where the voice was coming from. Cassie tried opening the door but she couldn't, out of desperation, she kicked the door open. They saw a little girl sitting on the floor, blood dripping from her mouth.
"Ollie?" Linda asked and the girl stood up.
"Ollie, is that you?" Linda asked again. The little girl shook her head and pointed at a corpse lying at a distance.
"Oh my goodness!" Linda gasped in terror. Cassie looked at the little girl. She reminded her of herself when she was young, the confusion and fright she felt when she tore apart her parent's bodies.
"If you're not Ollie then who are you? What are you?" Linda asked the little girl.
"You should leave. My parents will be back any minute. You'll be in danger if they meet you" the girl said and walked to Ollie's corpse and started feeding on it.
Terrified, the both of them ran out and ran all the way back to the school.
"Where's Ollie?" Principal Margaret who was standing at the gate asked them. Linda shook her head.
"I don't understand, you couldn't find her or? Wait, is she?".
Cassie nodded. The principal's face turned blank. She turned her back and walked into the school, no saying a word to the two of them. They shrugged and walked in, heading to their room.