The Soul Searchers [EN]

Chapter 4

"Auria?" The voice sounds so far away, yet so close. "Auria?"

My heart starts to beat faster. In years I hadn't so much hope as I have now. "Mom?" I mumble. I would love to scream that I'm here, that I love, that I miss her, but my voice isn't cooperating. I start to wonder if there was even any sound that left my lips, since I don't get answer back. "Mom." It feels like a scream. I try to open my eyes, but my muscles aren't moving forward.

"She doesn't hear us."

I feel tears welling up. My whole life I've been afraid of ending up alone and I have this feeling that that moment is awfully close. Maybe it even already started. Maybe this is the moment where my biggest nightmare becomes reality. I squeeze my eyes shut even tighter and force the single tears back to the enormous ocean of sadness, helplessness and frustration that are always hidden behind my smile. I am to tired for anxiety and to strong for sadness right now. But how long will it take before I break? How long will it take before I overflow?

Someone dabs my burning cheeks with a cold, wet towel. If I break, will that towel be just as soaked by my tears.

Stop it! Deep inside a little flame starts to burn. A little flame, feeding with hope and combativeness. No more self-pity. You want to get out of here? Then do something!

I blink with my eyes against the bright sunlight shining into the room of the infirmary. Normally, the warmth of the sun rays does me good, but now they seem to burn me alive. I grab the wet towel and place it in my neck.

When my eyes are used to the light, I see that my mother isn't here at all. It was Mrs. Milligan who had softly spoken my name. How could I confuse her with my mother? How could I mistake the headmistress' shrill voice with the soft, warm voice of my mom?

Mrs. Milligan puts a fake smile on her face. As a child, I fell for it so many times. Now I'm too old to mistake that forced smile with sincerity. "Auria, you're awake." The slightly chubby woman gets up from the plastic chair and walks towards me. For a while, I look at the varicose vein on her calf. When I realize I'm staring, I force myself to look at her eyes. Those are neutral. Of course. Why did I expect to see a little bit love or pity in her eyes? "You had a little accident."

A little accident? "No, you are lying!" I already regret speaking those words as soon as I hear how childish it sounds.

"No, I'm not, Auria. You became a victim of a demon."

"No, I didn't. My soul almost slipped away and when I managed to get it back into my body, it almost felt alienated." And Mr. Schmidt didn't make any effort to help me... I swallow those words. Teachers will always have each others back. Mrs. Milligan isn't interested in hearing my side of the story.

"That's because a demon took over your body during the time you were gone. It's nothing you can do about it, Auria. You did an amazingly good job."

I look at her in surprise. "I did?" Mrs. Milligan rarely gives compliments. In the nine years I've lived here, I received exactly zero.

The headmistress nods. Her glasses slide down to the tip of her nose, but she makes no effort to put them back on. "We don't see this often. Do you know what that means, Auria? That means you are a Chosen One."

My heart takes a leap and I'm with my head in the clouds. "Does that mean I will be standing on the list with the Selected next time?"

"No." With that simple word she knocks the cloud out from under my feet. "That means you'll receive separate training from now on. You're special. Auria Hope. You're not a normal Soul Searcher who entangles her soul with a Lost Soul. You are someone who entangles her soul with that of demons in order to destroy their black, poisoned soul. You will play an important role in eradicating the evil."