Echoes of Betrayal

Chapter Thirty Karyna

The chaos of the ongoing battle was overwhelming as we ran through the crumbling halls of the academy. Explosions and screams echoed around us, creating a cacophony of terror. We skidded around a corner and collided with Professor Blackwood, who was urgently directing students to a safer part of the building.

"This way!" he shouted over the noise, his face etched with determination. "Everyone, follow me!"

We followed him through the mayhem, down narrow staircases and winding passages, until we reached an underground chamber. It was dimly lit and crowded with frightened students. The stone walls seemed to offer a semblance of safety from the destruction above.

"How did the mer-folk get here?" I demanded, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger.

Professor Blackwood shook his head. "It's not the mer-folk," he said grimly. "This is something different, something much worse."

We huddled together in the dark chamber, listening to the distant sounds of battle. The screams of our friends and classmates echoed through the stone walls, each one a dagger to my heart. I couldn't sit still. Every fiber of my being screamed to join the fight, to do something to help.

"I can't just sit here!" I yelled, trying to push past Alexander and Lyra. "We need to fight! People are dying!"

"Stay here," Professor Blackwood ordered, his voice firm. "Stormwood, Nightshade, keep her here. We can't afford to lose anyone else."

Desperate and frustrated, I sank to the floor and pulled out the journal Alexander had given me. If I couldn't fight, I could at least document what was happening. My hands trembled as I wrote, trying to capture every detail of the nightmare unfolding around us.

The hours dragged on, filled with the horrifying sounds of war. The screams eventually faded into a haunting silence. We waited, hearts pounding, until we felt it might be safe to emerge.

When we finally stepped out, the academy was unrecognizable. Smoke filled the air, and the once proud halls were now a battlefield littered with the bodies of fallen students. My stomach churned as I spotted a familiar face among the dead. Amelia Green, the girl I had been paired with for the ceremony months ago, lay lifeless on the ground.

I covered my mouth, trying to stifle the sob that threatened to escape. Lyra's hand on my shoulder brought me back to the present. I looked at her, seeing the same mix of fear and determination in her eyes.

"We need to keep moving," she said softly. "There's nothing we can do for them now."

Professor Blackwood led us through the devastation, stopping at a hidden storeroom filled with spare uniforms and supplies. "Get dressed," he instructed. "We need to regroup and figure out our next steps."

We quickly changed into the fresh uniforms, feeling a semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos. Professor Blackwood then instructed us to gather as much as we could for the next week: food, water, and any necessary supplies. We moved swiftly, filling our bags with essentials, our movements mechanical and efficient despite the fear gnawing at us.

Once we were ready, we set off, with no clear destination in mind but a shared goal of survival. The academy, now in ruins, faded behind us as we ventured into the unknown. The path ahead was uncertain, but we had no choice but to move forward.

As we walked, Professor Blackwood filled us in on what had happened. "Most of the teachers tried to save as many students as possible," he said, his voice heavy with grief. "We had a plan to meet up at a safe location miles away from the academy. I stayed behind to make sure everyone had a chance to escape."