(x) Irregular Magic

chapter 19 - what happened, Tara?

"If you're not Tara Somerhall, you should not be using this memory-prism," said Tara's distinct voice. "You should stop and walk away before you get hurt." This statement was followed by a stifled giggle.

What would usually make her roll her eyes squeezed her chest. Swallowing the giant lump in her throat, Mattie tapped through the different recordings, listening for a couple seconds before moving to a different one. Usually, people organized their files by date or name or category, but it seemed Tara adhered to her own system. Each file was labeled after a Yum-Chip flavor, and at some point, Mattie was sure she had made up flavors to keep the system going. Maybe Banana Bonanzarama was a flavor but Dragonsunrise definitely wasn't.

One file stood out among the rest. It wasn't labeled anything but was dated four days ago. That would have been the most recent one, from just after Mattie had been arrested. Her finger hovered over the file. What exactly would be on this unmarked file?

Tara's voice was much more panicked than the rest of her recordings.

"Um, I hope you find this. I watched you get dragged off by those DOS goons. I got there too late. I didn't realize what was happening. I'm so sorry, sis. I tried to go to the DOS and figure out why you were taken but they wouldn't tell me anything. Inness isn't responding to my comms spells, and I'm having trouble contacting Mom and Dad. I don't get it. It's been a day and you're not back yet, and no one knows anything.

"A couple of your friends came by, but I just stayed inside like Mom told me to. I didn't want to make it worse than it already was. I wish I hadn't. Then I would know what was wrong. But then again, it would probably make more problems for you than anything. That seems to be the trend with me. I always make trouble for you.

"I... I saw the boy you were with. He was taken, too. The normie you like. I know you kept him a secret from us, but I'm more observant than you think. You spend a lot of time with him, don't you? Why did they take you? Why did they take him? Does it have something to do with Neo-Tarajen? I hope everything's al—"

Suddenly an earsplitting crack ruptured, causing her to drop the prism in an effort to shield her ears. The file ended.

"What—"

"Replay that last bit," Luke interrupted, leaning in closer. "I might be able to figure out what it was."

She did so, tears slipping down her cheeks as Tara's voice was cut off.

"That might be the magic they used to get inside," Luke suggested, finger tapping his temple. "That cracking sound may be the spells placed around the door and entryway."

"Why is this happening?" Mattie breathed, her hands shaking. "Why me? What did I do?"

Luke ignored this and held the prism to his eyes, scrutinizing it. "There's something else on here."

Mattie turned to him. "What is it?"

"Another file. It looks like she turned the prism back on not long after this place was broken into. Maybe she turned it on and then threw it into that hole in the wall. That's fast thinking, especially since she hid it with some pretty powerful magic."

"What?" Mattie took the prism from him and scrolled through the files with jittery fingers. "I don't see it here."

"She hid the file," Luke said, leaning in and pointed. "It's between the one you just listened to and the one that's called 'Chocolate Parade.'" He waved his hand over the prism and the file popped up. It was dated just after the first one.

"How did you know it was there?" Mattie asked in amazement.

Luke shrugged, evading her gaze. He shifted uncomfortably, like he was sitting on a cushion of needles. "I guess I have a knack for secrets."