[https://img.wattpad.com/story_parts/1256499687/images/1709b2c1b7ce2433953545524931.png]

Sophie had to run to keep up with Sir James, who was swiftly striding down the hallway.

"Make haste, before the sounding of the bell!" Sir James said.

Everyone seemed very determined that she had to get to her class before recess began.

They ran through several hallways and past hundreds of doors.

"A few more steps and I declare: Arrival!"

Suddenly the bell rang, signaling that recess had begun. All the doors in the hallway flung open, and a flood of students came bursting out. There were even more students at the school than Sophie had imagined, and suddenly they were all around her. She could barely take another step through the suddenly crowded halls.

"But quick! Now grab my hand, I will thee carry! Thy class should be 'round yonder corner there!" [https://img.wattpad.com/9c28f44b8ccb7739b0cbb6cb30c1ac505a779a73/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f42774755314a61347365735541673d3d2d313235363439393638372e313730396262353663333434356332393134353731353237313134322e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

"But quick! Now grab my hand, I will thee carry! Thy class should be 'round yonder corner there!"

Sir James extended his hand and Sophie grabbed it. He easily lifted her up and placed her on his shoulders, then started pushing his way past the waves of students.

But when they turned the corner, they saw nothing but an empty hallway. Sir James quickly spun on his heel, turning to look after the last few students who were disappearing out towards the main hallway.

"I call to Class 3-7-9! O, hear me! If but a single one remains, come forth! Abandon not this classmate who has sought you!"

The last few students disappeared. Sir James and Sophie stood back, waiting to see if anyone was going to respond.

No one did. Sir James lifted Sophie off his shoulders and put her down.

"A failure's what I am, my goal was thwarted. I swore that I would bring thee to thy class." The knight deflated, sinking to his knees. "This shameful act shall not soon be forgot!"

"It's okay! You did the best you could!" Sophie said, trying to reassure the knight.

"Alas! The failure stings me to the core!" he continued, almost wailing as he hit his fist against the floor in frustration.

"Who's a failure?" asked a determined voice coming from behind them. "And what did you do to make that knight bawl his eyes out?"

Sophie and Sir James turned around to look. Standing in front of them was a girl with green skin and snakes for hair. She was wearing a pair of yellow sunglasses, a leather jacket, and a white t-shirt. Her pants were brown, she was wearing long boots, and in her arm, she was carrying what looked like a big stone statue.

Wasn't she one of the kids Sophie had seen on the bus that morning? There was something familiar about the statue as well, but with the way the girl was holding it, Sophie couldn't really make out what it was supposed to be.

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[https://img.wattpad.com/b8b8ca0489a7460541f3f82dc30030e414dca3af/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f52774d4978616f387648745531673d3d2d313235363439393638372e313733353834636431666661616465323635323033393137393436372e706e67]

"If you're one of those bullies who keep bothering the knights, you better stop right now!" the girl said, looking menacingly at Sophie.

The snake-haired girl was at least half a head taller than Sophie and she seemed kinda scary. The girl put down the statue and raised her hand to her glasses in a way that made it seem very threatening. But now Sophie recognized the stone statue.

[https://img.wattpad.com/a6f1eff368509c0a8f988e6ec0ebd70a7a3ab70a/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f2d666647564342794b6d576c77513d3d2d313235363439393638372e313733353834663738353830323834613632353630333035383938382e706e67]

"Vix!?" Sophie exclaimed.

The stone "statue" looked exactly like Vix the skeleton. He stood frozen in a position like he was in the middle of dropping something from his still comically long arms. The snake-haired girl looked at her with surprise.

"You know Vix?"

"Yeah, I met him at the library and helped him out with some books."

"Ah, so you're the one that did that thing with his arms and legs." The girl moved her hand away from her glasses. "Not a bad idea, actually... Too bad it ended with him getting petrified."

Sophie looked back at the stone statue of Vix.

"So that is Vix? How did he get petrified?!"

The snake-haired girl looked away, embarrassed.

"That's my fault, unfortunately. But don't worry, it's not permanent. It all happened because Elva started freaking out about him extending his arms like that, and that startled Vix so much that he dropped the library books onto me. And then one of the books pushed my glasses off my face, and since I was looking at him... well... I petrified him." The girl shrugged, a bit embarrassed. "... It's not always easy being a Gorgon."

A Gorgon? Sophie thought back to when her dad would read her stories from Greek mythology. She remembered that there had been a woman with snakes in her hair called Medusa who could turn people to stone just by looking at them. It seemed like this girl could do something similar.

"Well, what's the knight wailing about, then?" the snake-haired girl asked. She still sounded suspicious.

"We sought the class 3-7-9, but missed them," Sir James said sadly.

The girl gave them a puzzled look.

"Vix and I are in Class 3-7-9. What's going on?"

In an instant Sir James was back on his feet, saluting the girl.

"Our quest for glory, then, was not in vain! Young Gorgon, I entrust this truth to thee: I bring with me a wise and fearless maiden – young Sophie who'll now join thee on thy path!" Sir James gestured towards Sophie dramatically and then bowed to the snake-haired girl.

The girl looked surprised. Sophie had no idea what to say next.

"Um, yeah. So, I'm Sophie."

"So, you're the human that's joining our class," the snake-haired girl said. She shook Sophie's hand firmly. "Varis and Beto did say that there had been a human on one of the buses this morning."

Varis and Beto? Sophie thought.

She knew she'd heard those names before, but it was getting hard to keep track of with all the other stuff that had happened.

"Well, welcome Sophie. I'm Mek, and I guess you've met Vix," the girl said.

"How long is Vix going to be like that?" Sophie asked.

"It should only last another five minutes or so. That's why I'm dragging him down for recess."

"The deed is done – I'll make my long trek back! I wish you all a merry, happy day." Sir James turned on his heel and started walking down the hallway.

"Thanks for the help!" Sophie yelled after him.

Sir James turned back around and bowed.

"Whatever tort and trouble thou may face; just know that I, Sir James, am always ready!" And then he disappeared around the corner.

"All right, Sophie. Do you wanna join us for recess so you can meet the rest of the class?" Mek asked.

Sophie was lying in her bed with the duvet pulled up over her head [https://img.wattpad.com/8c8906bfb2eff326a3f9cd52b86ce8ec6d8acc52/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f767862706948304a73664a7570673d3d2d313235333934313835302e313733663230616534623765333861363936343636313337343032322e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

- Next chapter Monday the 9th of January