Maya stood in the middle of the chaos, her eyes wide with shock. Ambulances blared in the distance, a constant reminder of the pandemonium that had overtaken the school. The air was thick with the stench of burning flesh and desperation. Whatever was causing this devastation wasn’t affecting everyone—just a small fraction of the student body—but the sheer randomness of it made it even more terrifying. It wasn’t airborne; that much was clear, but Maya couldn’t fathom any natural or magical phenomenon that could cause such destruction.
All around her, students lay on the ground, writhing in agony. Their skin was flushed red, as if they were being consumed from within by an invisible fire. Their screams pierced the air, a haunting soundtrack to the scene unfolding before her. The school had been put on lockdown as a precaution, but Maya couldn’t see any clear connection between those who were affected. There was no pattern she could discern.
Inside the infirmary, the situation was just as grim. The nurse, usually calm and collected, was now in a state of frantic disarray. Her magazine lay forgotten on the desk as she tried in vain to cool the patients with cafeteria ice—an effort that seemed increasingly futile. The ice was evaporating almost instantly from their scorching skin, leaving a trail of steam in its wake.
Maya’s friends Harper and Angelo were among those affected, and the sight of them in such pain was almost more than she could bear. She longed to be by their side, to offer whatever support she could, but she knew her presence wouldn’t change the dire situation. Some students were losing their sight, their hearing, their ability to move. The disease—or whatever it was—was paralyzing them, and Maya couldn’t even guess where the rest of her friends were. They could be fine, or they might be somewhere in the school, lost and in danger.
Driven by terror and desperation, Maya sprinted through the hallways, her heart pounding. She needed to find her friends, to make sure they were safe. Her fear was a driving force, pushing her to move faster, to search every corner of the school.
-----
In another part of the school, Casandra struggled with her dark magic. Her attempts to breach the barrier were fruitless; every push against it seemed to drain her strength without making a dent. Nearby, Andrew’s cries of pain were a constant, grating reminder of her failures. The intensity of her dark magic had been a source of pride for Casandra, a sign of her power, but now it seemed woefully inadequate.
“My dark magic isn’t strong enough!” Casandra’s voice trembled with frustration and defeat.
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Austen, her father, was using his own magic to inflict further pain on Andrew, lifting him harshly against the ceiling as if trying to accelerate his suffering. The brutality of his actions left Casandra feeling sickened and helpless.
“What do we do?” Eliane’s voice was choked with fear as she stood behind Casandra, her eyes wide with concern.
Casandra’s mind raced as she realized what was needed. “I need your power,” she whispered urgently, turning to her sister. Eliane’s magic was still untapped, sealed deep within her. Casandra knew this request would come at a high personal cost, but desperation drove her forward.
Eliane’s eyes widened in shock. “What—what are you doing?” she gasped as Casandra’s dark magic wrapped around her, constricting her throat and choking off her air.
“I’m taking your power,” Casandra said calmly, her voice betraying none of the inner turmoil she felt. “I need it to fix this.”
Eliane’s face contorted in pain as she fell to her knees, gasping for breath. “Casandra... Why?”
Casandra’s gaze remained fixed, her determination unshaken. “I need it to save everyone. I’m sorry.”
-----
Maya’s search led her to the teachers' lounge. Principal Kwan and Mr. Hanson were dragging a man who looked like he belonged in a high-end magazine rather than a school. His designer suit, drenched in sweat and burning, marked him as Howard Allen.
“You!” Principal Kwan’s voice cut through the din. “Go with the others! We’ll get back to him later!” With that, they hurried away, leaving Maya torn between her duty and her friends.
Jason appeared around the corner, struggling to support Dawson, who was crying out in agony. “Maya!”
Maya rushed to them, her heart aching. “Have you seen Sam?”
“Steve’s taking him to the infirmary,” Jason replied. “Angelo and Harper—?”
“They’re already there,” Maya said quietly, her voice strained with relief.
Jason’s face was a mask of confusion. “What’s happening?”
“I don’t know,” Maya admitted, her gaze shifting to Dawson as he cried out again. “Just take him to the infirmary. I need to—”
Jason nodded, carefully adjusting Dawson before heading toward the infirmary.
Maya entered the teachers' lounge and followed the agonized sounds coming from the kitchen area. Her gaze landed on the handsome man in distress, his once-immaculate appearance now marred by pain. Instinctively, she grabbed a towel, wet it, and filled it with ice cubes from the fridge. Rushing back, she pressed the cold towel against his face.
“It’s going to be okay,” Maya murmured, though she wasn’t sure if he could hear her through the haze of agony. “You’re going to be alright.”
The man’s green eyes, now clouded with pain, locked onto her. He reached out, clutching her arm tightly, his grip both painful and desperate.
Maya winced but continued her work, soothing him as best as she could. “Just hang on,” she whispered, her voice soft but resolute as she pressed the wet towel against his burning skin. “We’re going to get through this.”
As she worked, Maya couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness. She was doing everything she could, but the reality of the situation pressed heavily on her shoulders. The pain and suffering around her seemed insurmountable, but she held onto the hope that somehow, they would find a way to fight back and save everyone.