Maiden Grim | A Pjo Fanfic

Chapter 2: We Get Kidnapped

Isra knew going to this school dance was a bad idea. Granted, at the time she just wanted to avoid the dreadful boredom of being a wallflower at a social event inflicted. But if she was being honest, Isra had been paranoid all day for entirely different reasons.

The time has come, the woman in the mist had said. I can no longer shield you from the world. Your path lies before you—be brave and choose wisely.

Her dreams were always weird and nonsensical. Most of them, she couldn't even remember after waking. This one was stuck with her. It annoyingly nagged at the back of her mind. It shouldn't have. Dreams were just dreams...right? But Isra couldn't deny the woman was eerily familiar.

In her brief introspection, Isra had lagged behind. Dr. Thorn snarled impatiently and shoved her forward. "Move it. Quickly!"

"Don't push her!" Nico protested; his voice fearful.

The man sneered at the boy. Isra and Bianca inched toward him. In case Dr. Thorn lost his temper again.

Isra clenched her jaw. She was itching to give this jerk a taste of his own medicine, but their vice principal huffed and hurried them along again. Like he was trying to meet some sort of schedule.

"There's been a problem with your tuition payment," he said. His accent was especially thick. "I'm afraid we'll have to discuss a...transfer from Westover immediately."

Dr. Thorn said "transfer" like he was going to introduce them to the nearest trash compactor.

"What?" Bianca squeaked. "No, there must be some mistake—"

"Oh but I'm afraid it is too late," Dr. Thorn said in a sorry tone made her think he wasn't sorry at all. "We'll have to move you out of your dorms immediately."

Isra scowled. "I don't believe you. Where is Principal Gottschalk? I wanna talk with her."

"That won't be possible, girl." Dr. Thorn dropped all pretenses. The hidden animosity in his eyes was on full display. His face was cold. "You brats are coming with me, whether you like it or not."

A shiver ran down her spine. Isra and Bianca met eyes.

This guy is a psycho, she communicated. We're running, right?

Definitely, Bianca's look said. She grabbed her little brother's hand, I've got Nico.

I've got Thorn.

Isra whirled around and kicked her vice principal where the sun didn't shine. She made sure it was her right leg with the prosthetic. That way it really hurt.

Thorn grunted in pain.

"Run!" she shouted.

She grabbed Nico's shoulder and urged him along as they ran down the main hall.

Behind them, an animal let out an angry snarl. Isra heard a sound like a projectile sailing through the air and half a second later, a burning pain pierced her shoulder. She screamed and fell to the floor, clutching the wound. Whatever shot her had only grazed her and ripped up her cardigan, but damn did it hurt. Isra could practically taste the metallic smell of her blood, but also something else. It was acrid and rotten like spoiled meat.

She heard Bianca and Nico cry: "Iz!"

Her vision blurred and Isra forcibly blinked it away. Dr. Thorn prowled into the hall. His features were changed. He still looked the same, but the angles of his face were too sharp, his skin too pale and ghoulish. And he was furious.

She scrambled up to her feet with the help of her friends. Isra clutched her gash, trying to stop the bleeding.

Thorn sniffed the air like a hound on the hunt. "Ah...now I see," he smiled wickedly. "When my master called about a high-priority package, I had my doubts when he said it'd be you. Little doubts, of course. But you do smell like a half-blood, however faint. Someone must've gone through a lot of trouble to hide you, brat."