****
[WILLIAM DORM - NIGHT]
****
William trudged into his dorm room, exhausted, only to find clothes scattered everywhere and Ethan's bed empty. He collapsed onto his own bed, ready to surrender to sleep, but the image of the dead girl lingered, haunting him. Memories began to resurface, and he was transported back to that fateful night.
****
[FLASHBACK]
****
In the flashback, William trailed Lilly, Jasper, and Lucas across the woods until they entered the school compound, his curiosity piqued. Lilly had spotted a light at the monument, but William lagged behind, losing sight of them. When he finally arrived, he saw two robed figures, their faces obscured. He couldn't discern if they were witches or AOA members. Before he could investigate further, they vanished into thin air.
****
[FLASHBACK ENDS]
****
The flashback ended abruptly as the door to his dorm room swung open, and Ethan burst in, grinning. "What are you waiting for, William? Get ready, it's your initiation day! I'm dying to find out your first mission."
William's anxiety resurfaced. "Yeah, about that... What if I fail? They'll kick me out of the group, right?"
Ethan's expression turned reassuring. "You won't fail, William. Trust me."
William's doubts lingered. "But if I do? I'll be out, and... they might kill me to keep their secrets. Right?"
Ethan's tone turned firm. "That's not going to happen. Just come to the meeting, see how simple the initiation is. Trust me, William."
William reluctantly agreed, and Ethan's phone buzzed with a message from Lilly, summoning them to the chamber immediately.
As they hastened toward the chamber, Ethan turned to William with a curious expression. "How did you follow me the other night? How'd you get past the fence without getting hurt?"
William deflected, "Are you serious? I saw you phase right through it. Care to explain?"
Ethan smirked. "I'm phasing through the gate with you right now."
William's eyes widened in amazement as Ethan took his hand, the ring glowing brightly. They passed through the fence seamlessly, leaving the school compound behind.
As they walked, William exclaimed, "That was incredible! Can we do it again?"
Ethan's response was laced with impatience. "No, William, we're already late."
William's tone turned playful. "Okay, okay, we'll do it again when we get back, right?"
Ethan's expression turned puzzled. "Do what, man? That's disgusting, ew!"
William clarified, "No, not that kind of 'do it,' I mean 'do it' like...doing the phasing thing, you know?"
Their banter faded into the distance as they disappeared into the night, leaving the school compound behind.
****
[CHAMBER - MOMENTS LATER]
****
Ethan and William, now clad in red robes and hoodies, approached the chamber gate. With a flick of his hand, Ethan's ring glowed, and the gate swung open. William realized, "So that's why it didn't work when I tried it. I need a ring too, right?" Ethan nodded silently, his smirk hinting at secrets yet to be revealed.
As they entered the chamber, the door closed behind them, enveloping them in an ethereal glow. [NOW IN THE ALTER ROOM] The intricate crossing of ancient ley lines was revealed, and silence reigned supreme. Elian, the group's leader, commanded attention with an authoritative tone.
"Come forward, William," Elian urged. William hesitated, fear and uncertainty etched on his face. Ethan offered a reassuring nod, and William inched forward, his eyes fixed on Elian.
"We are gathered to welcome a new brother into our secret fold," Elian declared. "But first, William Grimes, you must understand the law of our magic." William listened intently as Elian explained the Law of Arcane Balance, how every spell cast demanded an equal and opposite reaction.
Elian revealed his own burden, the Weary Hand, a physical testament to the power wielded and the price paid. "Remember, every magic comes with a cost, and each of us must pay it. I have revealed mine; the others will reveal theirs in time. Will you proceed, William Grimes?"
William's resolve strengthened, and he declared, "Yes, I will." Elian signaled Jasper, who presented a flat, rune-etched artifact. Lilly approached with a chalice, smoke billowing from sacred herbs within, and circled William thrice, her voice weaving a cleansing incantation.
As Lilly concluded the rite, William closed his eyes. The group formed a circle around him, each member revealing a necklace that signified their mastered powers. They whispered their unique abilities, and a radiant light burst forth from each talisman, enveloping William as if he were absorbing their essence.
Elian directed his gaze towards William, whispering his mastered ability to him, "Master of deceit—What is your heart's deepest yearning? Come to me, and it shall be yours." The luminance persisted before fading, and William opened his eyes.
Elian commanded, "Now, William, recite the vow." The circle dissipated, each member stepping back, yet maintaining the sacred formation. William declared his allegiance to the balance of light and shade, vowing to harness the energies of the artifact with honor and integrity.
A single clap resonated from the assembly, marking the gravity of the moment. Elian commanded, "Now step forward to the altar and place your hand on the artifact." William's approach was tentative, and as he laid his hand upon the artifact's cold surface, a sharp pain caused him to flinch.
His palm, seemingly cut by the artifact, bled into it, yet upon withdrawal, not a mark remained. Elian declared, "Now the bond is completed; it's time to seal it." William resumed his original position, encircled by the members, as they anticipated the manifestation of his powers.
Jasper whispered anxiously to Lilly, "Why isn't he manifesting?" Lilly's irritated whisper replied, "Shut up, Jasper." Elian boomed, "Welcome, William. You are now officially a member of our secret group, bound by blood."
William's grin was enigmatic, hiding his true feelings. As Ethan approached him, engaging him in a hushed conversation, William's doubts surfaced. "Sure, it is... I don't know. Despite being successful, it all feels wrong. It's as if they were expecting something more at the last stage."
Ethan reassured him, "That's true. Normally, an initiate's powers would manifest on the spot. But yours didn't, which makes you special. Don't worry about it; it'll manifest soon enough, just get an artifact first, that's all It takes." William embraced Ethan, his uncertainty lingering, yet trusting in his friend's words.
****
[NOW IN A PRIVATE ROOM WITH LILLY AND ELIAN]
****
The door clicked shut, sealing Lilly and Elian inside the private room. Lilly's eyes blazed with demand. "What's hell, Elian? Care to explain why William's powers didn't manifest?"
Elian's whisper was fierce. "There are reasons, Lilly. He hasn't acquired an artifact yet. At least we can start from there."
Lilly's patience wore thin. "And your plan?"
"Sending him on his first mission, soon" Elian replied. "No, I mean what's your plan towards the girl's death?"
Elian's thoughts were calculating. "Still thinking... but we'll proceed, if you want to, it's totallyup to you."
Lilly's determination was unwavering. "Of course, I want to. But let's keep this between us, agreed?"
Elian nodded "yep, deal".
His eyes fixed on Lilly as she slowly remove her clothes, leaving her in only her panties and bra. She turned to face him, her gaze daring him to look away. "This is your moment, Elian."
"Oh, okay...okay" Elian quickly retrieved his phone phone from his pockets and tao on the play button, a high-pitched sound pierced the silence. Lilly's eyes turned white, and a primal scream erupted from her, silencing the phone sound. Flames engulfed her body as she screamed, her mind invaded by a cacophony of voices.
Elian edged closer, desperate. "Lilly, snap out of it!" But the inferno was too intense, the voices in her head growing louder, interspersed with flashes of the monument and the lifeless girl. Two distinct voices emerged, pleading and taunting, until Lilly snapped back to reality.
The fire inside her extinguished abruptly, and she collapsed, exposed. Elian swiftly shielded her naked form with his jacket, his eyes burning with a mix of concern and secrets unspoke.
****
[ELIAN'S ROOM IN THE CHAMBER - MOMENTS LATER]
****
The door swung open, and the group burst in, finding Lilly lying on Elian's bed, his jacket covering her naked form. Jasper's shock was palpable. "Dude, what did you do?" Lucas's grin was unsettling, and Ethan's eyes were fixed on Lilly with concern. William's gaze was torn between Lilly and Elian, his expression a mix of confusion and worry.
As Lilly awoke, her confusion turned to alarm. "What's going on? Why am I here in...(she looks around to observe) Elians room, why am I covered in his jacket? And why can't I feel my panties?" Jasper's somber tone filled the room. "Something bad happened, Lilly."
Lilly's gaze met Lucas's who was grinning, and she shuddered. "Ew." Elian's concern was genuine. "Are you okay, Lilly?" But before she could answer, visions flooded her mind, and she collapsed back onto the bed.
As she recovered, her determination was clear. "I saw her, but I don't know who's responsible for her death. But I have a lead. We need to find Ruby. She's one of the killers."
The room fell silent, the weight of Lilly's words hanging heavy. William's face was aghast, struggling to reconcile the image of Ruby with the innocent girl he thought he knew. Jasper's awestruck whisper broke the silence. "Oh! Ruby, that's right, Ruby..."
Jasper's eyes widened in awe. "Oh, Ruby... that's right, Ruby..." he trailed off, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lucas leaned in, his voice low and curious. "Did you know her, Jasper?"
Jasper shook his head, his expression puzzled. "Ac..actually, I don't know who she is."
William turned to Lilly, his eyes searching for answers. "Did you see her face? Or perhaps something that we can use to find her?"
Lilly's brow furrowed, her voice tinged with frustration. "That's not how my visions work, William. I can only sense the sounds of the event, not their faces."
Elian pressed on, his tone gentle. "But at least you have a clue how we can find her?"
Lilly nodded, her eyes clouding over. "Yes, I've told you already, it's her name is Ruby, that's all I got."
Jasper snorted, his teasing tone earning a glare from Lucas. "Like I said, classic vision."
Lucas's annoyance was palpable. "Shut up, Jasper."
Jasper defended himself, his voice rising. "I'm not wrong, tho."
Lilly's frustration boiled over. "This is why I wanted this to stay between just you and me, Elian. Jasper can be so annoying sometimes."
Elian's sympathetic tone soothed the tension. "You're right. But your scream might have alerted them."
Lilly's defensive stance softened, her voice laced with determination. "Okay, that... You know what? Let's just focus on finding Ruby. We need to keep a low profile because if she's guilty and we end her, it'll raise questions if people knew we were looking for her."
Elian's resolve was unwavering. "Right, we must do this secretly, as we've hidden our identities for years."
William's face fell, his expression a mix of sadness and concern. "What if we can't find her? Or what if we find the wrong Ruby? We don't even have a photo to go by."
Ethan's realistic tone added to the worry. "William has a point. This is a big school, and there's a high chance that more than one person goes by the name Ruby. What if we confront the wrong person and they discover our secrets? Then what? Do we kill them too?"
The group's silence was heavy with the weight of their mission and the risks that came with it. They knew that one misstep could have devastating consequences, and the pressure was mounting.
The group's conversation was a flurry of questions and concerns, but Elian's reassurance was steady. "I've got it covered. I have the Ring of Kaz'ka, the god of forgetfulness. It'll help us find Ruby without revealing our secrets."
Lilly's focus was unwavering. "Our objective is to find Ruby tomorrow." William's enthusiasm was feigned, masking his true feelings. Elian's mission for him was clear: acquire the Orb of Aethoria from the museum, a task William reluctantly accepted.
As the group dispersed, Elian's determination was evident. "I'll spend the night researching the ring's power." Lilly's exit was steady, her kiss on Elian's cheek a gentle goodbye. The silence of the room enveloped Elian, his thoughts consumed by the secrets and mysteries that lay ahead.
****
[BACK TO THE SCHOOL - ERICA'S DORM - NIGHT] ****
The night sky shrouded the school in darkness, the only sound being the hushed conversation between Theresa and Erica. As we drew closer, their words became clear.
"But how is this possible?" Theresa asked, confusion etched on her face. "If she doesn't know her name, then the sacrifice won't work, right?"
"Unless the girl gave her a fake name," Erica replied calmly, her eyes fixed on Ruby, who slept peacefully on her bed.
Theresa's worry was palpable. "So what do we do now? How are we going to stop her from haunting Ruby?"
Erica's determination was unwavering. "Ruby will uncover the girl's details tomorrow. She must do this alone."
Theresa's apology was hesitant. "I'm sorry, Mistress, but why must she go alone?"
Erica's response was shrouded in mystery. "You don't need to know."
Ruby's eyes fluttered open, and she sat up abruptly, disoriented. "What's going on? Why am I here?"
Erica's soothing tone calmed the air. "Calm down, Ruby. You're in my room. What do you remember?"
Theresa stood silently, giving them space as Ruby's confusion slowly gave way to realization. "I... I was at the temple, and we were performing the conjuring sacrifice so I could find out why I'm being haunted. Then... I passed out."
Erica nodded. "That's right. The little girl took over your body."
Ruby's eyes widened as understanding dawned. "The little girl, Joy—that's her name. She told me that when we first met."
Erica's headshake was gentle. "She lied. That's not her real name. That's why she can torment you. You need to find out her real name first thing tomorrow, Ruby."
Theresa's concern was palpable. "How will she manage that? If someone asked me for information about my late child, I wouldn't take it lightly."
Ruby's determination was resolute. "I know what I must do."
Erica's encouragement was warm. "That's the spirit. Now, go to sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day."
As Erica and Theresa settled into one bed, Ruby lay alone on the other, her mind racing with the challenges ahead. The darkness of the night seemed to closing in, and the weight of her task felt crushing. But Ruby's resolve remained unbroken, her determination to uncover the truth burning brighter with every passing moment.
****
[SCHOOL - MORNING]
****
The school compound bustled with students, their chatter and laughter filling the air. William and Ethan approached the gate, their conversation hushed but urgent.
"It'll be easy, William. Just take the artifact and sneak out. That's all," Ethan reassured him.
William chuckled, his eyes scanning the crowd. "I wish it were that easy."
Ethan clapped him on the back. "Come on, man. You've got this."
With a deep breath, William adjusted his backpack and headed toward the gate, leaving Ethan behind.
[SCHOOL HALLWAY - CONTNUE]
Inside the school, the hallway was a sea of students rushing to their next class. Erica stood with Ruby and Theresa, her expression serious.
"Be careful out there, Ruby. Don't draw unwanted attention to yourself, okay?"
Ruby nodded, her promise solemn. "I will. I promise."
Theresa hugged her tight. "Take care and stay safe, Ruby. I wish I could go with you on this mission."
Ruby reassured her with a smile. "It's okay, Tes. I'll be fine."
Erica pulled Theresa away, her urgency evident. "You need to go now, Ruby. And don't forget to carry your greatest weapon."
Ruby revealed a small knife, her confidence evident. "Yep, I've got it right here."
Theresa waved goodbye as Erica led her away. Ruby walked backward, watching them leave, until she collided with someone. Books scattered everywhere.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, Mrs. Penelope," Ruby apologized, quickly gathering the books.
Mrs. Penelope adjusted her glasses, her gaze stern. "And you must be Ruby Anderson."
Ruby handed her the books, her apology sincere. "Yes, that's me."
Mrs. Penelope's tone was earnest. "I've been looking for you. I need your help in the library later."
Ruby's eagerness was evident. "Okay, ma'am. I'm happy to help. I'll find you when I'm free."
As Ruby walked away, Jasper emerged from the crowd, his eyes fixed on her. He followed her discreetly, his footsteps silent.
Unbeknownst to Ruby, she was being trailed. Jasper's phone buzzed with an incoming message, and he stopped to check it, his eyes scanning the screen with a mixture of curiosity and concern as Ruby walks away.
****
[LOCKER BAY - CONTINUE]
****
Lilly hastily stuffed her books into her locker, her mind preoccupied with the day's events. Suddenly, a hand grasped her shoulder, and she spun around, startled. Jordan stood before her, his tall, athletic build and dark complexion a stark contrast to her petite frame.
"Oh, Jordan!" Lilly's voice trembled, her eyes wide with surprise.
Jordan's smile was warm, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hi, Lilly. It's been a while."
Lilly's words tumbled out in a nervous rush. "Yeah, it's been a while. You look... good. I mean, strong arms, handsome—oh my god, why am I saying all this?"
Jordan chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Umm, anyway, it's really nice seeing you, Lilly. How about we hang out later?"
Lilly's face lit up, her smile radiant. "That's a great idea, I'm free later."
Jordan nodded, his pleasure evident, and turned to leave. But Lilly impulsively threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly "It's nice to meet have you back jor]. Elian watched from a distance, his face a mask of jealousy and sadness, his eyes fixed on the pair with a mixture of longing and regret.
The locker bay, once a hub of chaos, seemed to fade into the background as the ex-partners embraced, their reunion a poignant moment in the midst of a chaotic day.