ANIMA

28. Pampered

Kenzie

For our last day here we agreed on a day of relaxation so after a light breakfast we head to the wellness center.

After we are sign in and bundle up in plush robes, we get our treatments. First we had a dip in various pools, none of which I know the purpose of.

Outside of the weekend we spent at Mason's house I had never been to a spa before. I remember when I was 12 Serena invited me and Cassie for a spa day, I was so excited. Cassie sat me down and told me to tell Serena I didn't want to go.

When I asked why she said that was their mother-daughter bonding time and didn't make sense for me to be there since I am not really Serena's daughter.

I told Serena I couldn't go because I wasn't feeling well. I made up an excuse the few times she asked after that as well. Then she stopped inviting me.

After a dip in the pools we get hot stone massages and then spend some time in the steam room. They made sure to keep us hydrated with water with lemon slices and an assortment of fruits then it was time for our facials. I don't know the ingredients they use but my face was glowing afterwards.

We passed the rest of the day in a relaxed and pampered haze.

Until our phones collectively went off as we left the wellness center.

There is a collective sigh as we retrieve our phones.

"New couple alert! Seems one half, or should I say the best half, of CASSON has moved on. With lacrosse captain Brad. The best part? It all happened at a party the criminal half of CASSON hosted. BTW what are we calling the new couple? - ANIMA"

Attached is a picture of Cassie and Brad making out.

"Please tell me that's not my bed" Mason says looking a little green.

"It's definitely your bed bro" Aiden says.

"Aren't you mad she moved on so fast?" Sierra asks.

"We broke up months ago and I was the one that did the breaking up. Cassie can do whatever and whoever she wants. But...did it have to be my bed?" Mason says.

"That's probably why she did it." I say.

Cassie is very vindictive.

"I am going to have to order deep cleaning services for the whole house and burn all the bedding." Mason says with a heavy sigh.

"So who do you guys think is behind ANIMA?" Sierra asks.

"We think it's someone or a group of someones that probably go to Wellies" Aiden says.

"Aiden and I have been working on trying to identify them. We were able to find out some things. With the change of venue and everything I forgot about it." Ava says.

"Let's talk in the suite, you never know who could be listening" Tomas says.

We gather in the common area of the suite while Ava grabs her iPad.

"So the word anima itself is used in mythology describing ideas of the soul, spirit or vital force. In psychology it refers to the unconscious feminine side of a man transcending the personal psyche. I guess they see themselves as some force for truth or something." Ava says.

"I was also able to find out where the texts are sent from, Café Trin. Most students go to Rina's because it's nearer to campus. All the text where sent from there, scheduled at least a day before except the last one about Quinn and the one sent only to Tom. Those two were the only ones sent from campus." Ava adds.

"Café Trin is near Wellington High School. Do you think they go to school there?" Sierra asks.

"I would have thought so if not for the two texts sent from our campus. If ANIMA really is a group and not one person then maybe some members go to Wellington High or maybe they are just trying to divert attention. One thing is clear though, Wellington Academy students are involved." Ava says.

"It's definitely a group. I found a local website mentioning anima, on the surface it just details the Jungian theory on the anima and the animus but at the bottom of page is a link that leads to a private chatroom. I was able to sneak in and spy on their chats. There are close to ten members and they mainly talk about unmasking liars and revealing secrets. But they are not specific enough to guess who they are or who they are talking about, they don't even mention the school. Their online activity started right before summer break." Aiden says.

"So they are well organized and tech-savvy." Tomas says.

"How do we find out who they are?" Mason asks.

"I think the best way would be getting video footage of them at the café during the time the texts where scheduled or catching them talking about ANIMA out in the open somehow" Aiden says.

"Also catching them red-handed stalking one of their targets" Ava adds.

"Neither of those seem easy" Sierra says.

"I will try and find a way to get my hands on the footage" Aiden says.

"Let's try and be more observant on campus maybe we will hear or see something we would usually miss." I say.

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