Deadly Secret

The Truth

The last candle flickered and died.

"Luna," Esther began, "I think they deserve the truth. Yeah, I know, it'll make us— okay, me— more suspicious, but... I don't know what else to do. Morning is almost here. I'll go to Elwin and confess,"

She was huddled in a closet with her stuffed alicorn, trying to hide from the crazy cafeteria elves. It was risky to speak aloud, but she needed to hear something,

"I'll confess, and then I'll solve the pathfinder mystery. Oh Luna, I'm so sick of the word pathfinder. Pathfinder, pathfinder, pathfinder..." she trailed off.

A lazy yawn escaped her lips, and Esther suddenly realised just how tired she was. Her eyelids slid shut, and she snuggled into a curled up position on the cold floor, "You know, Luna, I don't know what I would do without you. Well, no need to brag, dear. Hey! I could totally survive if you were gone. Excuse me? That's a little presumptuous, don't you think?" she mumbled. Her words slurred together, and the next thing she knew, a blinding beam of morning sunlight tumbled through a crack in the doorway.

Frenzied knocks attacked the closet door, and Esther blearily stood. Her feet wobbled, and half her legs were numb. She turned the handle and fell into a stranger's arms.

The dark haired man thankfully steadied her before letting go. Around him, students and teachers stared at Esther, no doubt wondering why she had tumbled from a closet.

"I can explain," she rasped. Her throat ached from lack of water, "Just take me to Elwin,"

The crowd complied, and Beren stepped out from among them. He took her hand, and they strolled through the pristine, swarming halls.

"So," he whispered, "What's happening?"

"I'll explain inside," she muttered. Despite his attention, no blush rose to grace her cheeks. All she felt was sick dread and despair. It gnawed at her, poisoned her thoughts, and Bramble's twisted, bloody body stained her mind.

Breathe. Just breathe.

Tears pricked her eyes, but Esther brushed them aside.

Now is not the time.

She inhaled deeply. Everything in her trembled and shook. Her hands grew sweaty, and she released Beren's hand.

What are you doing?

Esther dug her shaking fingernails into the palm of her hand. The pain briefly distracted her from the intense anxiety plaguing her.

It's now or never.

Esther stormed into the healing center, sparkly hair flying behind her like a banner, "I have something to say,"

A feeling of pride welled up in her at the small victory. She tried to ignore the curious and suspicious glances targeted at her and focused on speaking clearly. Esther hesitated before plunging on.

Sophie POV

Sophie sharply glanced up at the newcomer Ro dubbed "Sparkly Hair". The girl seemed anxious, and Sophie felt a twinge of sympathy.

"I..." Esther dragged out the word, and her listeners leaned forward in anticipation. Sophie could taste the tension buzzing in the air. The girl shut her eyes, exhaled, and blurted out, "I'mLadyGisela'sdaughterandKeefe'stwinsister,"

The words jumbled together quickly, and a moment of silence passed as everyone processed Esther's words. Lady... Gisela's daughter. Keefe's twin sister.

Sophie's face paled, and her fingers trembled. It couldn't be. But the chillingly familiar ice blue eyes and sparkly blonde roots were proof enough.

Keefe's twin sister.

"Where is he?" Sophie's quiet, hopeful voice shattered the silence.

"I don't know,"

Her spirits sank, but a thousand unanswered questions still crowded her mind. Sophie numbly observed as Esther was pummeled and attacked with a million shouted fragments and interrogations and assumptions.

She tried to garner answers from the mess of conversation that followed, but everyone was talking at once. Screams and chatter mingled nightmarishly, and Sophie retreated farther into her blankets and cushions.

"Locked in a tower,"

"Hidden experiment,"

"Bramble,"

"Pathfinder,"

And finally, eerily, "Dead,"

The few fractured pieces of conversation that reached Sophie's ears told a mysterious, dreadful story.

Suddenly, accusations were hurled at Esther. The people called her a murderer, a thief. Sophie studied the girl's face. She looked terrified.

"She killed Bramble," one woman yelled, "She's part of the Neverseen!"

"She can't be trusted!"

And one word repeated over and over.

Exile.

 Esther POV

The cries and shouts blurred together, growing louder and louder until the crowd seemed to be one living, breathing, deafening thing. Esther's shallow, panicked breaths eventually calmed, and her voice suddenly pierced the noise,

"STOP!" she screamed. The word was torn from her throat and hurled like a weapon, rippling across the mass.

And they did.

Every elf in the room froze.

No one breathed.

No one moved.

Esther reached out to touch one of her perfect statues. Her fingers grazed their skin, but the elf did not flinch. The horror and dread set in, overtaking any relief.

"Wake up!" she cried, "GO!"

A terrifying memory flashed through her mind.

Lady Gisela poking an immobile gnome. Static figures frozen in strange poses around the room, "Interesting. Powers malfunctioning. Cannot undo. Repeat process,"

"WAKE UP!" Esther howled. When the figures did not stir she screamed again, repeating the words until they became a hoarse rasp, "Wake up. Wake up. Wake up,"

She wept and screamed, but no one heard. 

Enjoy the cliffhanger!! I'll try to update soon!