"So Principal Weems thinks Rowan ran away?" Lunette said as she and Wednesday walked through the forest.
"You are correct," Wednesday replied.
"That's some bullshit. I know what we saw," Lunette said, frustration evident in her voice.
"We know what we saw, but they don't," Wednesday said, her tone unwavering.
"Have they even tried to call his parents to tell them their son is presumed dead?" Lunette asked, a hint of anger creeping into her voice.
"Dead people don't pick up or call phones," Wednesday responded dryly.
"No need to be sarcastic, asshole," Lunette snapped back, feeling her irritation grow.
"How can we be sure that wasn't something else?" Lunette asked, a note of uncertainty in her voice as they walked through the forest.
"I've hibernated with bears. I know that wasn't a bear," Wednesday replied, her tone cold and unwavering.
Lunette hesitated a moment before speaking again. "What did it feel like?" she asked, her curiosity barely masking the apprehension in her voice.
"It felt like death," Wednesday answered, her gaze fixed ahead.
"Is that a good thing?" Lunette asked, her voice tinged with a mix of sarcasm and genuine curiosity.
"Yes," Wednesday replied, her tone flat.
"Holy sh*t," Lunette muttered, staring at her phone.
"What?" Wednesday asked, her tone still calm and detached.
"Rowan doesn't look dead to me," Lunette replied, showing Wednesday the screen, where a recent photo of Rowan, very much alive, had just appeared.
"That's at the drive of the school," Lunette said, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Come on, slowpoke!" She added, grabbing Wednesday by the wrist and pulling her along as she ran towards the school's entrance.
"Rowan, wait!" Wednesday called out, her voice cutting through the crisp morning air.
"Wednesday, I'm not allowed to talk to anyone," Rowan replied, hastily putting his suitcases into the back of the car.
"Really? You're the one that tried to kill us, so you have some explaining to do," Lunette shot back, her eyes narrowed.
"Your mother told you that I was destined to destroy the school," Wednesday added, her voice cold and steady.
"You came after me. I went into the woods to clear my head," Rowan defended himself, frustration seeping into his tone.
"Wednesday, Lunette!" A scolding voice rang out, making the three students turn their heads to see Ms. Thornhill approaching.
"You girls know you shouldn't be near him," the redheadedcher said, shaking her head in disapproval.
"Yeah, back off and leave me alone," Rowan said, exasperation in his voice. before spinning around and getting in the car
"I hope something bites you in the ass," Lunette muttered under her breath as they stepped away. As the car drove out of the gates,
"What the fuck?" Lunette muttered, her eyes wide with shock.
"That's Thing," Wednesday said, her voice as calm as ever.
"So I'm not crazy? I've been seeing that thing at night," Lunette responded, her voice a mix of relief and confusion.
"Yeah," Wednesday confirmed, her tone steady and matter-of-fact.
"Got to go," Lunette said, glancing down at her phone.
"Where?" Wednesday asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Therapy. I'm considered crazy," Lunette replied with a smile, turning to walk away.
Lunette stood outside the big, imposing structure, her hands deep in the pockets of her jacket. She moved her weight from one foot to the other, gazing at the opening like it was the mouth of a cave.
"Just go in," she said to herself, looking down at her phone for the hundredth time. The notification from the school counselor reminded her of her appointment in large, unmistakable lettering. She sighed and kicked a small rock with the toe of her shoe."Just go in," she said to herself, looking down at her phone for the hundredth time. The notification from the school counselor reminded her of her appointment in large, unmistakable lettering. She sighed and kicked a small rock with the toe of her shoe.
The door creaked open, and she stepped inside, the frigid air of the structure standing out against the warmth of the afternoon sun. The receptionist looked up and smiled.
Hello, you must be Lunette. Welcome. Dr. Harper is expecting you. "You can walk right in," the receptionist responded, referring to a door at the end of the hallway.
Lunette nodded, forcing a feeble grin in response, but her feet felt like lead as she proceeded down the corridor. Her mind raced with ideas of how worthless this was and how talking about her feelings would not erase what she'd seen or experienced.
She stopped in front of the door, her fingers hanging over the handle. "I don't want to do this," she said softly, swallowing hard. The hallway's silence seemed to press in on her, adding to her worry.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to turn the handle and go inside. The workplace was pleasant, with warm lighting and shelves stocked with books and plants. Dr. Harper, a middle-aged woman with nice eyes and a soft attitude, looked up from her desk and smiled.
"Hello, Lunette. It's nice to meet you. Please, have a seat," Dr. Harper said, gesturing to a comfortable chair opposite her.
Lunette hesitated for a moment before sitting down, her posture stiff and her gaze fixed on the floor. She fiddled with the hem of her sleeve, her thoughts a jumble of resistance and resignation.
"I understand this might be difficult for you," Dr. Harper began, her voice soothing. "It's okay to feel uncertain about therapy. We can take things at your pace."
Lunette gave a tiny nod, not quite confident enough to speak at this point. She surveyed the space, taking in the serene ambiance and the thoughtful details designed to put patients at rest. She felt a tiny bit of tension escape, despite herself. "Why don't we begin with something straightforward?" Dr. Harper recommended. "You can share with me as much information as you feel comfortable sharing about yourself." Lunette inhaled deeply as she stopped the twitchy movements of her fingers. "I'm not sure if this will be helpful," she said, her voice almost audible above a whisper. "It's alright," Dr. Harper comfortingly smiled in response. "Starting with just talking is a wonderful idea. The important thing is that you are here.'' Lunette gave another nod.
Dr. Harper adjusted her glasses, glancing at her notes before looking back at Lunette. "So, Lunette," she began gently, "I understand that you recently had some issues with your coven. Would you like to talk about why you were outcasted?"
Lunette's breath hitched, her fingers clenching the armrest of the chair. "I... I don't really want to talk about that," she said, her voice strained.
Dr. Harper nodded, maintaining her calm demeanor. "It's okay, take your time. We can discuss it when you feel ready."
Lunette's eyes darted around the room, her discomfort palpable. "Actually, I need to go to the bathroom," she blurted out, standing up abruptly.
"Of course," Dr. Harper replied, gesturing to the door. "The bathroom is just down the hall on your left."
Lunette nodded quickly, almost bolting from the room. She made her way down the hall, her heart pounding in her chest. Entering the bathroom, she locked the door behind her and leaned against it, trying to calm her racing thoughts. The room was quiet, save for the distant hum of the building's ventilation system.
Minutes ticked by, and Lunette stayed frozen in place, her mind whirling with panic. Back in her office, Dr. Harper glanced at the clock, her brow furrowing with concern. After several more minutes passed with no sign of Lunette, she stood and made her way to the bathroom.
"Lunette?" Dr. Harper called gently, knocking on the door. "Are you alright in there?"
There was no response. Dr. Harper knocked again, a bit more firmly. "Lunette, please answer me."
Silence.
Growing increasingly worried, Dr. Harper tried the door handle, finding it locked. She hurried back to the main office, her heart racing with concern. Spotting Ms. Thornhill down the hall, she ran over.
" Ms. Thornhill , I need your help," Dr. Harper said, breathless. "Lunette has run off. I can't find her."
Ms. Thornhill's eyes widened. "What do you mean she's run off? Where is she?"
"I don't know. She went to the bathroom and didn't come back. I knocked, but there was no answer."
While Dr. Harper and Ms. Ms.thornhill were raising the alarm, Lunette was far from the bathroom. She had pried open a small window, slipping through and landing on the roof with a soft thud. The cold air hit her face as she carefully shimmied down a drainpipe, her hands gripping tightly to avoid falling. Once she reached the ground, she took off running, her feet pounding against the pavement.
Breathing heavily, Lunette didn't stop until she was a good distance away from the building. She leaned against a tree, trying to catch her breath, her heart still racing. She knew she couldn't avoid her problems forever, but for now, she needed to escape, to be anywhere but there.