Jill Brooks and The Three Runes

A Small Matter

Jill's stomach churned the rest of the lunch period. She barely touched her food, picking at the crust of her sandwich as Maria chattered nervously beside her. Her mind raced, running over every possible reason why Mr. Thorne would want to speak with her. It was like a heavy cloud hanging over her, suffocating her thoughts.

Maria gave her a sympathetic look as the bell rang. "Do you want me to stay after with you?"

Jill shook her head. "No, it's fine. I'll be okay."

But deep down, she wasn't so sure.

She walked back into the classroom alone, the sounds of chattering students fading behind her as the door closed. The room felt different now—quieter, colder. Mr. Thorne was sitting at his desk, shuffling through papers, but his movements were slow, deliberate, like he was waiting for something.

"Ah, Jill," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "Come in."

She stepped cautiously forward, her heart pounding in her chest.

Mr. Thorne gestured to the chair in front of his desk. "Please, sit."

She sat down, feeling small under his gaze. He didn't speak right away, just watched her for a moment, as if studying her. The silence stretched on, thick and uncomfortable.

Finally, he spoke. "You're a bright student, Jill."

Jill blinked, unsure where this was going. "Um... thank you?"

Mr. Thorne smiled, but there was something off about it, like the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "I've been keeping an eye on you since I arrived. You've shown... promise. More than the others."

Jill's skin prickled. "What do you mean?"

He leaned forward slightly, folding his hands on the desk. "Let's just say that I have a particular interest in students who are... open-minded. Students who are curious about things that most people don't notice."

Jill's heart raced. Did he know about the book? About Miss Nettleberry? She couldn't help but feel like there was something more to his words—something hidden beneath the surface.

"You're not like the others," he continued, his voice almost a whisper now. "I see it in the way you observe things. You're not easily distracted by the ordinary."

Jill felt a shiver run down her spine. What was he getting at?

"And that's why," Mr. Thorne said, his eyes locking onto hers, "I believe you're the perfect candidate to help me with a... special task."

Jill's throat went dry. "A task?"

He nodded slowly. "There are certain... things at this school. Things that have been hidden for a long time. I believe you've already stumbled upon one of them."

Her heart skipped a beat. He knew. He knew about the book, about the package from Miss Nettleberry. She could feel it in his words, in the way his eyes seemed to pierce right through her.

"I—" Jill started, but her voice caught in her throat.

Mr. Thorne leaned back in his chair, his smile widening. "It's nothing to be afraid of, Jill. In fact, you should consider it an honor. Not many students are chosen for such... important work."

Jill swallowed hard. "What kind of work?"

He tapped his fingers on the desk, his eyes never leaving hers. "Let's call it a... scavenger hunt of sorts. You see, there are certain items hidden within the school—relics, if you will. Objects that contain... power. And I believe that with your keen eye and sharp mind, you might just be able to help me find them."

Jill stared at him, her thoughts swirling in confusion and fear. Relics? Power? What was he talking about? And why her? Why now?

She shook her head slightly. "I don't understand. Why me?"

Mr. Thorne's smile faded slightly, his expression growing more serious. "Because you've already been marked, Jill. Whether you realize it or not, you're part of this now. And I can either help you navigate what's to come... or you can face it alone."

The room seemed to close in on her. The weight of his words pressed down on her, suffocating her thoughts. She had been marked? By whom? And for what?

She thought about the book under her pillow at home, about the cryptic message inside, about Miss Nettleberry's sudden disappearance. It all seemed connected, but how? And what did Mr. Thorne have to do with it?

Jill's voice was barely a whisper when she finally spoke. "What happens if I say no?"

Mr. Thorne's eyes darkened, and for the first time, there was no trace of a smile on his face. "That would be... unfortunate."

The way he said it made Jill's skin crawl. She had the distinct feeling that saying no wasn't really an option.

She felt trapped, caught in something she didn't fully understand. But what choice did she have? If Mr. Thorne was right, and she was already "marked," then maybe the only way to figure out what was going on was to play along.

Jill took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Okay," she said finally. "What do you want me to do?"

Mr. Thorne's smile returned, cold and calculating. "Excellent. I knew you'd make the right choice."

He stood up from his desk and walked over to a locked cabinet in the corner of the room. Jill watched as he pulled out a small, ornate key from his pocket and unlocked the door. Inside, she could see a collection of strange objects—old, dusty books, odd trinkets, and what looked like an ancient map rolled up at the back.

Mr. Thorne took out the map and unrolled it on the desk in front of Jill. It was old, the paper yellowed with age and the edges frayed. The lines were faint, but she could make out the familiar layout of the school.

"There are three items," Mr. Thorne said, his finger tracing over the map. "Hidden in three different places within this school. Each one holds a key to unlocking a very old, very powerful spell."

Jill's pulse quickened. A spell? This was getting stranger by the second.

"You'll start here," he said, pointing to a spot on the map. It was the library. "The first item is hidden somewhere among the stacks. But be careful, Jill. There are... obstacles."

Jill's throat tightened. "Obstacles?"

Mr. Thorne's smile returned, though this time it looked more like a smirk. "Let's just say that the relics are well protected. But I have confidence in you. You'll figure it out."

Jill felt a cold knot form in her stomach. She didn't want to be part of this. She didn't want to search for magical relics or get involved in whatever strange game Mr. Thorne was playing. But what choice did she have? She was already in too deep.

She nodded, though her mind was racing with doubt.

"Good," Mr. Thorne said, folding the map and handing it to her. "You may go now. But remember, Jill, you must not speak of this to anyone. Not even your closest friends."

Jill took the map with trembling hands and quickly stood up, eager to leave the room. As she turned to go, Mr. Thorne's voice stopped her.

"One last thing," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "You have until the end of the week to find the first item. If you fail..." His eyes narrowed, and Jill felt a chill run down her spine. "Well, let's just hope you don't fail."

Jill hurried out of the room, her heart pounding in her chest. As she walked down the empty hallway, the weight of the map in her hand felt heavier than ever. What had she just agreed to?