Mystic Academy: Accepted

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"Aline, I don't have much time," Liam said, now even more desperate than before. "Flee! Run!"

Without hesitation I did as he said. I ran.
With my breath in my throat, I stopped in the doorway, hid in the corner.
The sound of the dog barking echoed through the corridors.

I didn't have time to reflect much on how they got in through the school's guarded doors before I saw them. Creatures as black as shadows swept past me. Luckily, I was hidden enough for them to miss me completely. But they were heading towards Liam. He was their target.
I had nothing to do with this thing. I was just there, a witness. No one you noticed.

Inside the Hall, they had now started playing the Closing game, which was carried out every year. Everyone was completely unaware of the horrible scene that was unfolding just a few minutes' trip away. If only they had decided to go outside to use the bathroom... Then I wouldn't have been so alone.
I realized that would not be the case. No one would come to either my or Liam's rescue.

I peeked in through the doorway. The dogs circled around Liam, forming a wall. He couldn't possibly get out of the battle alive. They were too numerous, too targeted. Their mission was simple. He had been served in front of them on a platter, ready to dig into. He was the delicious chicken that everyone had been looking forward to throughout the dinner. The perfect dessert.

The biggest dog was the one that attacked first. The leader.
Liam yelped from the bite.

When the Leader dog had taken the first initiative, it was free for the remaining, the smaller, lackeys. They attacked at regular intervals. Everyone would get equal satisfaction from the exchange.
Liam continued to scream, moan in pain.

I wanted to look away, didn't want to see him torn into a thousand pieces. But I could not. It felt like I was giving up if that was the case. And I certainly didn't want to do that.

After what felt like several minutes the barking subsided and all was quiet.
As soon as I had established that the dogs were gone, that I neither saw nor heard them, I ran back the way I had come, back to Liam.

I hurried up to him.
He was stranded where he sat in the corner.
I experienced the worst vision of my life. Liam, torn apart. His otherwise neat clothes had turned into bloody rags.
I crouched in front of him, grabbed his lifeless hand. It got filled with fresh blood.

"I told you to run," he said, smiling, despite the pain. He hugged my hand as hard as he could.

"I thought you knew I don't follow orders by now," I laughed, tears streaming down my face. I didn't want to show my feelings.

"You're right," he said. "I know."

There was a short break. "How bad is it?" he then asked.

I couldn't answer, had lost the ability to speak from shock.

"Aline," he said again. "How bad is it?"

I shook my head. "There's no danger. Everything will be fine."

But it wouldn't.
Liam's body took a beating, it couldn't take any more, and he had realized that.

"Don't leave me," I said instead.

"Aline..." he said. "My time has come."

Now the tears really flowed.

"I just... wish I could... make it up to you," he continued when I didn't answer.
He stopped breathing. The heart stopped. His soul faded away, disappeared into whatever place you came to when you died.

I kissed him on the forehead with tears running down my cheeks. "You already did," I replied. "You already did."