The Curse ✔️

Chapter 35: Second Chances

Professor Darth said nothing as he paced back and forth in the hallway; pale complexion accentuated by moonlight and silver hair almost sparkling. His icy eyes held a deep disappointment, and his mouth tightened, then opened, then tightened again, as if he couldn't quite form words.

He'd scanned the crime scene beforehand, and he knew upon one glance exactly what we were doing.

"Professor Darth, we're so sorry!" Amma was trembling behind me, both hands gripping my upper arm. "We didn't mean to! We're drunk! Yes, we're high and drunk!"

"Let me go." I shook her off, hating the feel of rubber on my naked skin. "We're not drunk."

"Yeah, I mean, I've never been more sober." Leon murmured.

"Shut up." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Professor Darth." Eugene cleared his throat. "We were just curious, we know it's stupid-"

Professor Darth finally stopped in place, "Names."

Ah, fuck. Eugene turned around, face pale, eyes asking me what to do.

"Professor Darth, please." I hated the sound my voice made when it begged. "We're the guilty ones, there's no need to implicate anyone who isn't here."

"Names." He repeated, eyes now on me.

Goddess, why couldn't have Professor Lorenia found us?

"Are you going to expel us?" Leon jumped in, no fear in his voice. "Because, in all honesty, I'd prefer that to cleaning the backyard for two weeks."

"Goddess, Leon!" Amma shouted, still hanging by my side. "Do you ever shut up?"

"You are going to be expelled." Professor Darth said, not even a hint of emotion in his eyes. "You four and everyone else that's in on it. And trust me, I will find out who else is in on this."

Amma grabbed my hand, and I felt her panic through the thug, "No, no, please. We didn't even do anything! Look, the ooze is still inside, nothing happened. I'll happily clean the backyards for the rest of my time at the Academy!"

"I'll happily accept expulsion." Leon's voice was even.

Eugene glanced at me, his eyes wide with panic, but also lots of questions. He was waiting for me to decide what to do.

"Alright." I nodded, remembering what Leon had said a day before, how getting expelled might be in our best interest, "We'll accept expulsion."

"Jade!" Amma shouted.

"But, please." I put all my strength and desperation into the word, searching for sympathy in the hard man's piercing gaze. "Please, don't tell my father we were here."

"Jade Montgomery." Professor Darth began to pace again. "I didn't think you'd be causing this much trouble, considering you must know the gravity of our situation."

"I do." I buried my feet into the tiled floor. "Which is why I'm telling you that you should expel us."

"Jade." Amma said under her breath. "What are you doing?"

"I agree." Eugene said quickly. "I'm also willing to be expelled."

Professor Darth's eyes jumped to his protégé, and brief confusion passed over his face. My heart thudded rhythmically, pumping hope through my body.

"Expelled is better than dead." Leon added, putting a nail into that coffin.

Professor Darth glanced at him. This was it, this was the moment.

"Morta, Bella and Dean were in on it." I said, words bitter like poison on my tongue. "Expel them, too."

"Jade!" Amma hissed, her fingers, covered in rubber, digging into my skin.