The Black Raven

The Darkness Within

I try to sleep that night but I can only hear Izzy's screaming, as more of my memories resurface worse than when I lived through them. 

Her scream echoes across the walls as I watch through the window as the people dig their long blades into Izzy's skin. She bleeds over the table coating the peoples blades and white coats in dark red. 

"I can't do this," I turn and walk out of the room into the hallways outside. I can still hear her screaming but the walls dampen the sound slightly. I hear the door open to my left and turn to face the person that comes out.

"Raven, you don't need to be here for this if you don't want to." Alwood calmly says.

"No, she's innocent and I'll be there when you prove it." I say look at her in her grey eyes.

Alwood hesitates for a moment, she doesnt want to hurt me, ever since they brought me in she's made sure I always stayed focused. And telling me the truth would jeapordize that.

"She's innocent." I insist, "She would never turn against us."

"A guard saw her meet with Jessie, he bit her."

I shake my head and close my eyes, "I just can't believe it she-"

I'm cut off by the door opening behind Alwood.

"She's ready." The person says,"We'll take her to the courtyard now."

Alwood nods her head once and the person disappears back inside, a faint whimpering that must have been Izzy's audible for just a second.

"Headmistress." I bend my head down and turn to walk to the courtyard to watch Izzy and perhaps talk to her when they're not around.

"Raven." Alwood calls out but I just keep walking. 

* 

I wait around the corner of the courtyard until everyone has gone to class. I quickly sprint around the corner and duck into the shadows where Izzy is stretched out on a giant steel pole her hands tied above her head and her ankles attached below her. The shadows just covering her. Her head is lying limp against her chest and she is covered in white bandages soaked in blood. 

"Izzy," I whisper, I run towards her and tilt her head up.

"Raven," she replies. She looks at the ground and sees the nearing sunlight. "Raven you need to listen to me very carefully,"

I look at her with a puzzled expression then nod my head.

"Go to 29 Evergreen lane, don't knock just go inside."

She looks me dead in the eyes, and then I can't look away.

"Jessie's there he's waiting for you. Ask him to turn you, tell him you need it, you want it."

Her eyes are so strange I could look at them forever, their red upon red but they're not harsh. Welcoming, thats what I'd call it, like I'd do anything she asked me to.

"Don't tell anyone where you're going, sneak out, use magic if you have to. Just get to him."

Suddenly she starts screaming and I snap my gaze away from hers. Her feet are in the sun and I realise the truth. I start to back away.

"Raven." She calls to me then screams again as her toes turn a bright red like hot coals on a fire.

"It's true." I say stumbling backwards. She keeps screaming my name as I run backwards. I swing myself around and run away from her, her message forgotten for the time being, as she burns in the sun for betraying her home.