Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Fifty

*Warning: This chapter contains scenes of violence, bloodshed and dark magic.*

I ate breakfast with Seb and my schoolmates. Feeling so incredibly nervous, I could only swallow a few bites. Sebastian's reassuring hand on my thigh was helping me to at least keep a calm face on.

Everyone was speculating what was going to happen during the task. It's all they could talk about. I wanted to focus on anything else. But they just didn't allow it. I swallowed the last of the sausage feeling like it was stuck in my throat still. I missed eggs. And pancakes. And FRUIT! They never had fruit here.

"You feeling ok, love?" Seb asked putting a huge bite of food in his mouth, chewing happily.

"Yes. I mean no, not really. I just wish they'd all talk about something else... but I guess it's to be expected." I sighed. "What I signed up for, right?"

He smiled encouragingly. "You're gong to kill it! No one is as capable as you, darling. Be strong. Be brave. Be SMART. You can do it."

"Sure. As long they don't throw a dementor at me, I'll be fine, right?!" I scoffed into my tea. His face fell and he squeezed my thigh trying to comfort me.

"Rachel. It's time." Professor Sharp arrived in the usual task day routine. I sighed heavily and put my tea down, rising from the bench.

I held Seb's face tightly and kissed him deeply for a few seconds. I turned away quickly without speaking and left before our goodbyes could choke me up.

"Follow me." Professor Sharp instructed. "Are you feeling ready for today?"

"No, of course not, Professor. But it's what I'm here for."

"You've done so well. You're making Hogwarts proud, Rachel. This is seriously hard but also supposed to be fun. I think with your special circumstances, it has become more serious than it was originally meant to be. I just want to make sure you're doing ok."

"Yes, Professor. I'm fine."

"I... had heard that you've recently discovered that Mr. Avery is relation to you."

"Um, yes, Professor. We were born together. What I mean is, he's my twin. Brother. He's my twin brother." I didn't know why I struggled to get the words out. "He was adopted when our parents died and I stayed at the orphanage. We didn't know until just this school year that the other existed, let alone that we would find each other this way."

"That is incredible news, Rachel! And it explains how you're both so incredibly talented. Hmmm."

"What, Sir?"

"It's just remarkably interesting. But a topic for another time, I think, yes? You have a task to focus on."

"Yes, Sir." I said resigned to my fate.

"Today, you will all three exit the Champions' tent together and enter a maze but obviously compete on your own. There will be obstacles within. Once you make it through, you will follow your colored flags to a new obstacle. Hogwarts' flags will be green for you. Durmstrang's red and Beauxbaton's blue. Once you reach your new obstacle, you must solve a puzzle of sorts. It's tricky and dangerous simultaneously. Be prepared. You will then enter the final stage of the task. You must... subdue a creature. And then... I believe you will know what to do. After that, follow your flags to the finish line. Cross first and you win. Is all of that understood?"

"Wow. Yes, Professor. It sounds... complicated."

"It is. It is designed to test your endurance. Your ability to keep going no matter how tired or hurt you may become. And to use all the parts of your brain and magic without depleting yourself to nothing. But you remember our deal, correct?" he asked, stopping to look me in the face.