"These Are Dark Times, Indeed."

Chapter Four: Settling In? Not Everyone (by Alex)

Alex awoke to a loud, obnoxious sound of fluttering wings. He scowled. Dismissing the sound, he opened the tent flap and looked around at the camp.

 Although the sun was not yet up, Alex could see around the camp. The ashes from the previous night's fires still smoked with hot embers. Alex's heart sank when he remembered it was Halloween day; there would most likely be no Halloween feast because of what Tyde, the Nyaa-Sahule wolf, had called the 'Hooded Ones'.

 Seeing no one was awake, Alex stepped out.

 The moment his left foot touched the ground, something- many things- were lifting him up by his arms and legs. A swarm of doxies, magical fairy-like creatures with a venomous bite. Alex tried to call out, but his voice was no longer present. The harder he kicked, the more faster the doxies carried him away and toward the sky.

 The doxies, still holding their much larger prey, hovered toward a hill. As they got closer (and faster), Alex could make out a tall, thin hooded figure with almost perfect black hair seemingly oozing from their hood.

 Helaina Brindley.

 The doxies discarded Alex before her. The swarm disappeared into the large trees. Alex's torso was covered in bites.

 Alex sprang to his feet, withdrawing his wand from his pocket.

 "What was that all about?!" he asked angrily.

 Without looking at Alex, Helaina stared strangely into the distance, a combination of bewilderment and sorrow off into the distance. "I honestly don't know why the doxies brought you to me... I don't even have my wand... but regardless, I wanted to thank you FOR SIGNING MY DEATH SENTENCE!"

 Helaina shoved Alex against a tree. With clenched fists, he grasped his wand more tightly than ever. He struggled, but it was no use. Helaina was strong despite her thin build.

 "What do you mean?" Alex asked.

"Yeh washed off my Mark with that What's-It-Called Solution! THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME ALIVE! Now my friends will HAVE ME KILLED!"

"Some friends, then, aren't they-"

"What are you two shouting so loudly about?" asked Jazz. Helaina spun around and Alex let out a sigh of relief.

 "Pfft. Forget it," Helaina spat, walking away in the direction of the camp.

 Jazz, instantly noticing the bites that covered Alex's torso, gasped so loudly that it sounded like she hiccupped. "What happened?!"

 "Doxies," Alex said. Jazz gasped strangely again and put an arm around him. He grimaced but didn't try to move her away. "She sent them after me."

 "How could she? I'm sure she didn't send them after you, but regardless, Alex, that's horrible! We need to get you treated! After all, we learned in Care of Magical Creatures that-"

 "Jazz, in case you haven't noticed, we're all kids here," Alex cut her off. "There's no Madam Pomfrey here. The only one nearest to adulthood is that Helen or whoever, but she won't help me. I'm gonna have to live with these bites!"

 Jazz quieted herself. Why is he suddenly so harsh? she thought.

 When they reached the camp, several more people were awake, restarting the extinguished fires and gathering wood. One first year boy, still in his Ravenclaw uniform, sat on the ground, not helping. He sat on the ground crying, probably for his parents.

 "Haven't you got something better to do?!" Alex shouted at the boy. The boy sobbed even harder. Jazz put an affectionate arm around the boy, but Alex pushed her away with two waves of his wand.

 "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Jazz shouted at Alex. She ushered the young boy into his tent. Almost everyone, including their friend Sapphire, had stopped in their tracks, staring. Some had been awoken by the drama and were now peering out of their tents.

 Alex glared at everyone. "Stay away from me!"

 With that, he stomped off into the woods and out of sight.