You can't find me

Chapter 17

A week goes by and everything slowly starts to go back to normal. Our classes continue as they did before all of this happened. The chattering comes back.. But the only thing that is in the back of our heads is all the friends of ours who never returned from the academy. 

None of us had any clue on what happened to them. Estel on the first few days was continuously crying in class with the disappearance of Lav. While the guys didn't show they were worried but we could all tell they were worrying about Luca. 

As for the others, people thought they probably died. 

"One of the teachers should travel up to the academy and demand answers." Kyle says. 

We are all on our lunch break at school and no topic other than what happened a week ago is ever brought up when we talk. 

"No for real though. I know they all hate our guts. But doing this? This is heartless." Tara says wrapping her arms around Estel who bursts into tears again. 

"What if some of us go instead? I know the teachers will strictly be against it but we can't just sit around and do nothing!" Ashley tells us. 

A few people start to agree with her. 

I immediately jump on that response. "No way! That's way too dangerous. What if they all won't let you guys go either?" 

"I mean they let you go so what's stopping them from not doing the same to us?" Kyle questions with his eyebrows raised. 

I guess I would have to break it to them that this never happened.. 

"Yeah about that.. I actually ran from there?" 

Well that didn't sound as confident as I wanted to. 

"No way! That's so cool Ari! You escaped their security?" Ryker shouts. 

"Yeah, no clue how but I did. So uh kinda want to be low on the radar for a while because I have heard they are going to drag me back when they find me." 

Everyone starts to ramble with a bunch of follow up questions and with that our lunch ends and we head back to class. 

I wait outside the school for Ry to show up so we can head back but yelp when an unfamiliar cold hand grabs my arm. 

"What the heck!" I scream. 

"Shhh. It's just me. Lav!" 

I turn around to face her and do a very bad job of covering my anguish in seeing her face. 

Her once clear skin is now marred with scars n bruises, her cheeks hollowed out, there's a cut in her lip and she's still in the uniform they gave us, only it looks like rags now. 

"What the hell did they do to you!" I whisper shout seeing students from other classes leaving the school. 

"They did a lot! But first let's go somewhere where people won't recognize me." 

I wrap my arm around her back and help her walk outside the gates. 

"Ari!!"

I look back to see Ry waving her hands above her head. 

"Yeah?!" I shout from my place. 

"My parents are coming to pick me up! You okay going home on your own?!" she shouts. 

"Yeah! I'm fine!" I shout back. 

We wave to each other and then I get my attention back to Lav. 

"Did they release you or did you come here on your own?" I ask her. 

She hesitates before answering. "I tricked one of the guards outside of my door that I was going to throw up all over the expensive floor and he wasn't a magic guard, so he ran to get help and I escaped. How did they let you go?"

Her hand clutches my shoulder before she turns the other way to cough up blood. 

What sort of academy training was this?!!

"Should I get a healer from the school? They can help you Lav. Or should I call Sera?" 

I didn't want her dying on me!

"Nono I don't want to attract any attention. I can heal myself, it will just take some time. And my sister would be happier if she didn't hear back from me. There's already too much going on back at home. How are you here?"

"What do you mean you can heal yourself? Omg is that what they were testing? If you were a healer? I escaped as well so I guess in that aspect we are both similar."

I whistle at my horse and it walks towards me. 

"Mhm! The only good out of that entire trip was finding out that I am indeed gifted with the power to heal. Those monsters just wanted to see to what extent I could go to before I passed out on the floor." 

"And congrats on escaping from there too! That place is hell."

"Damn them and their entire academy. Are you okay with getting on Luna? She can ride the both of us home." 

"What about your family won't they mind? I don't want to cause any trouble." she hesitantly says. 

"Of course not! And their gone with my sister for a couple of months for some business in another place. It's just me at home." 

"Oh great! Could you help me up? I'm a fricken old lady in my current state." 

I help her up and we head towards my home.