READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED - This Chapter contains some uncomfortable topics even though they have been toned down from the original/uncensored version. (CHECK MY PATREON FOR UNCENSORED VERSION)
Jonna and Joanne scoured the halls, their footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls as they searched for any sign of Habondia, their missing friend. The flickering torches cast dancing shadows around them, adding an eerie quality to their already tense search.
"She must be kissing him somewhere," Joanne's words floated through the air, filled with a mischievousness that sent a chill down Jonna's spine.
"Don’t say that!" Jonna's voice wavered with fear, her eyes darting nervously around the corridor. "Let's look for her!" Determination laced her words, a fierce resolve to find their friend and bring her back safely.
As they ventured deeper into the labyrinthine corridors of the school, the whispers of the other students followed them like a haunting melody. The disdain and mistrust directed towards Habondia hung heavy in the air, a palpable sense of animosity that seemed to seep into every corner of the building. To most, she was nothing more than a ghost, a shadowy figure that lurked in the corners of the library, unseen and unacknowledged.
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"Damn!" Joanne's voice trembled with a cold sweat, a sheen of fear glistening on her brow. "I should never have left her alone." Regret colored her words, a sense of guilt that gnawed at her conscience.
"You always bully her; you're too rough with her. I've come to think she's afraid of you," Jonna's accusation cut through the tension like a blade, her voice tinged with anger and concern. The weight of their actions hung heavy between them, a rift that threatened to tear their friendship apart.
The two girls came to a halt in the dimly lit hallway that led to the dungeons, the air heavy with the scent of must and decay. Joanne's eyes brimmed with unshed tears, her emotions raw and exposed. "Do you think I don't like her? Do you think I'm a bad influence on her?" Joanne's voice cracked with emotion, the words tumbling out in a rush of desperation.
"You can’t replace your dead sister... Damn it, don't you still understand that Bondy isn't Elis?" Jonna's words were a harsh reality check, a stark reminder of the painful truth that lingered between them. The sound of Joanne's slap on Jonna’s cheek echoed through the corridor, a sharp crack that shattered the fragile peace between them.
"Don't you dare to talk about her that way! Don't you dare say her name in front of me!" Joanne's voice was a mixture of anger and anguish, her hands trembling with emotion.
"Damn Joanne, wake up! You can’t live with the memory of Elis that way forever." Jonna's voice was a plea, a desperate attempt to reach through the walls that Joanne had built around herself. A sob escaped Joanne's lips as she sank to her knees, the weight of her grief crushing her spirit.
"Promise me you'll help me be a better person," Joanne said.
“I will,” Jonna's words were a lifeline. With a nod, she helped Joanne to her feet, a silent promise passing between them.
Together, they continued their search for Habondia, their footsteps echoing through the empty halls.