The bus!

Purple cloak streaming, Elvie tore through the foyer of the Court and out into the pick-up bays. That was what she called them, while other students spoke of the ‘designated waiting area’ in very serious times.

When she arrived, the bus had already departed with its students.

‘Ah!’ She stomped her foot in frustration. ‘It’s not my day...’

It wasn’t far to walk back to Elder House, but in the back of her mind, the warnings from the Masters resonated. Don’t walk alone, make sure you are inside your house one hour before dusk.

It wasn’t far, she reasoned.

But there was a risk.

It wasn’t like anyone would come after one girl.

But there was a risk.

‘If I run, I’ll be super quick,’ she told herself.

The Great Hall did have beds in an overnight chamber, but if she slept there, she’d have none of her belongings, her clothing, and she’d miss dinner. Thinking of Goodwin’s cooking triggered a growl in her stomach. She wanted the creature comforts that her new house offered.

Decision made, she slung her pack across her back and set off.

A few minutes down the road, Elvie resolved she may have made the wrong choice.

A wind rose to whip around her face, lashing the swirling curls of her hair into her eyes. The dark had closed in swiftly as the sun dropped behind thick clouds on the horizon, and despite the road’s smoothness, every small bump became a perilous snag for her feet.

‘I’m an idiot,’ she said aloud and turned to make her way back to the Court to find a bed.

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‘Beware!’ clamoured the voice in her mind.

Elvie’s ears pricked like a startled doe, and her eyes boggled as she desperately sought something – anything – threatening her.

She caught it, barely above the breeze and crash of waves in the distance. A soft rumble along the ground, with a recurring thud and vibration. What on earth made a sound like that?

Fear coursed through Elvie’s body. How stupid and reckless; to think she was more intelligent than the Masters.

The lights of the Court were far in the distance, beckoning her to return, but that would be straight towards the sound and straight towards danger.

Panicked, Elvie continued her run for Elder House, but the rumble increased its frequency with her steps. Whatever pursued was far enough away not to be seen, particularly as the moon had ducked behind the clouds. It cast a gloomy pall over the land, forcing her to look forward as much as backwards. Trees arched across to cast threatening and intimidating shadows.

The thump and grind were a constant companion to her flight.

Think, Elvie! Focus! What could she do – fight? No, that was not likely to go well. Run? Yes, running seemed like the best idea, but what if she was caught?

Fear coursed through her legs as they shook. She was alone and without protection.

The grinding thuds gathered momentum.

Elvie whirled as terror blasted a path to her heart. Where was it? It had to be close!

The moon peeked from behind a cloud and flashed its light across the road – there, in the distance, twenty metres away, Elvie could make out shadowy figures. Something large – a pile of rocks? – careened across the road into another shadow. With a flash of light and a sudden hiss, a battle erupted on the loose gravel.

Elvie fled.

Her heart thumped wildly as adrenaline coursed through her legs. She had no idea what was happening – didn’t care – as she flew across the ground like a gazelle in the wild.

In the distance, cresting a hill, twin lights flashed. A car!

Her adrenaline locked to her new purpose, the headlights breaking over her as the tyres screeched to a stop on the road. There, pushing open the car doors, were Alistar and Rilla.

Alistar was halfway out of the car door when Elvie staggered him with a hug. Was it too familiar? She didn’t care. He’d come for her, with Rilla! Perhaps he did care after all.

‘Elv – Ah. What’s happening? It’s all right, everything is okay, calm down!’

‘We need to go. Something is on the road. Something followed me!’ Her voice had the high pitch of hysterics.

Rilla was instantly in the car, but Alistar peered down the road like he wanted to continue. However, he thought better of the idea as he lifted Elvie into the back seat and spun the car around in a spray of dirt and loose rock.

Whatever dangers lurked on the Island were enough to make a trained magician wary.