Dysnomia Academy [ONC 2021]

Chapter Fifteen

"Who's up for seconds?"

Fritz was already slapping another tortilla onto the comal. Zach and I raised our hands. I brought my plate to Fritz, who served me one more. I sat back down to eat. A few bites into my burrito, I heard Fritz sharply inhale. Luna was immediately rushed out of her seat to go check on him. 

"What happened?"

"I burned my finger on the comal."

Luna took his hand and used her ice magic to cool his finger. A frosty cloud surrounded Fritz's burn. Fritz smiled at Luna, who was focused on carefully managing her magic. Did I look this goofy when I was around Nora?

Harlow quickly picked up what was happening and raised an eyebrow at the two. 

"How's your hand, Fritz?"

He snapped out of his little trance and scratched at the side of his face.

"I feel a lot better now. Thanks for asking."

Fritz gave her a bright smile. The hair on my arms raised. I could tell he wasn't very happy with Harlow's fake concern. However, she didn't back down from his threatening aura.

"No problem. I know my best friend is really attentive when it comes to her teammates."

It was so quiet in the room that you could hear your own heart beat pounding in your ears. I stood up, breaking the tension between them. I took off my coat and rolled up my sleeves.

"I'm going to start cleaning up. Zach, how about you finish making your own burrito."

Luna let go of Fritz's hand.

"I'll help with the dishes."

"Okay. I'll pass you the washed dishes so you can dry them."

We started our work at the sink while Fritz and Harlow took silent stabs at each other. Luna didn't seem bothered by their fighting. I wonder if she's oblivious or just doesn't mind.

It didn't take long for us to finish cleaning the empty dishes. The last plate had an unclaimed slice of cantaloupe. 

"Does anyone want the last slice?"

"I will."

Harlow walked over and took the slice back to her seat, continuing her glare-off with Fritz. I washed the plate and handed it to Luna. 

We collected our belongings and left the kitchen. I led the way back through the teleportation door. The students in the hall were eating in complete silence. Not even the sound of their chewing was loud enough for me to hear. I wish there was another way from the dormitory to the classrooms.

The five of us passed several of our classmates. Some of them were hyperaware of their surroundings. Our moving presence attracted the attention of several cautious eyes. 

We continued walking towards the classroom. On the way there, a pink light leaked through the crack of an open door. I felt the compelling urge to run, but I didn't understand why until it was too late. As soon as my bare hand touched the light, my vision shut off. 

The current world was replaced with another. The wind ran its fingers through the hanging branches of a weeping willow, but I felt nothing. Am I dreaming? 

I saw an awfully familiar scene. Two children staring at the small pond before them. One of them had bright red hair just like my own. I wanted to approach them, but my legs froze in place. His mother stood next to me, crossing her arms as she looked at the children. She snapped a twig with one of her heels, causing a family of ducks to fly away.

The little one with red hair turned around, petrified by the appearance of his mother. I wanted to scream at him to run but no voice came from my throat. The mother wiggled her finger at me before she started approaching the children.

I pulled at my legs, trying to pry them from the grass, but there was a strong force holding me in place. I watched as the mother pointed a gun at the boy. I shut my eyes and covered my ears.

When I opened them, Zach was holding me in his arms. I looked over his shoulder to see Harlow and Luna dragging an unconscious Fritz. 

"You can put me down, Zach."

He was startled by my voice and dropped me. I crashed onto the hard flooring. Zach quickly realized what he did.

"I'm sorry!"

"It's alright. I'm fine. Did Fritz touch the light too?"

"Yeah...what happened?"

"It was Nightmare's magic. Those who are exposed to her magic are sent into a nightmare."

The girls set Fritz down on the floor. I used a little spark to shock his hand. His fingers twitched, but he didn't open his eyes. I turned to Zach.

"I don't think we can slap him awake. He needs to slip out of her range. Can you carry him further away from here?"

"Sure."

Zach carefully picked up Fritz and walked away from us. About five feet away, Fritz woke up in tears. I rushed over to check on him. Luna and Harlow followed. Fritz buried his face into Zach's sweater.

"What the hell was that?"

It was the first time I'd heard Fritz say a curse word. I put a hand on his shaking shoulder.

"You're fine. It was just a nightmare."

"It...it looked so real..."