The Secrets of Zodiac Academy ✔

Epilogue

It was a quiet day, the late fall breeze pulling ever so slightly through the trees, the sun cascading onto everything, blanketing the green hills with golden warmth. Tiny little flowers sprung up from the earth, sending little bursts of color onto the grass. The scene could only be described as serene, which was perfect for the event taking place.

"Are you sure you're ready to do this?"

Taurus escaped from her trance to look at her mother, who sat in the front seat of the car. Taurus pursed her lips, nodding slightly. "Yeah..." she trailed off, diverting her attention to the soft seat, running her finger through the little pieces.

Her mom smiled softly. "I know this might be hard for you. It's been 4 months, and seeing..."

Taurus' head snapped up instinctively. "Right." She bit her lip slightly, a habit that had formed in these past months. "I guess... I guess it'll be hard. But... I can cope, I think. The others, though, it's been... harder for them, since it's been, y'know, longer, for them that they've known..." Taurus trailed off awkwardly.

Taurus' mom looked back again, her eyes comforting. "I'm proud of you, honey. I mean it." She put her hand over Taurus', squeezing slightly. Taurus smiled once before turning back to the window to continue sightseeing.

After that fateful day when the school blew up and Mr. Stern - as called by his former name - had been stopped, the cops had come and evacuated everyone. About a dozen flashing lights atop sleek black-and-white cars stood in the parking lots. Worried parents had been parked around the cars, their faces wet from tears. They ran to their kids, a mix of hugging and crying, nobody bothering about the event that had led the kids to that state just yet. All the kids went home, and all the teachers went with the cops to the station.

Since Zodiac Academy had faced so much damage, all the kids were 'suspended' from the school until the school was fixed up. Most everyone went to the local public school, but Taurus decided against it. She wasn't ready to see those people who would remind her of the incidents she desperately wanted to forget. Not to mention, she wanted to cope with what Mr. Stern had done to....

Taurus shook the thought away.

The car veered left, turning into a road lined with more brightly colored trees. Taurus looked out the window, tapping slightly on the base of the transparent screen. An opening came into view, the car rolled into it. A wood sign was stuck into the ground, words scrawled onto it.

"Fallcrest Pointe. Daddy, are we at the place?"

Taurus' father nodded wordlessly from the driver's seat. Taurus gulped, biting her lower lip again.

The dirt road rolled on, leading into a miniature parking lot filled with other cars around her. They parked the car hastily, Taurus' father commenting about the hastily marked spot under his breath. The doors swung open as four people walked out into the cool air.

Taurus ran her hands down her dress consciously, the nerves scattered in her stomach feeling heavy. Taurus fingered the tail of her French braid, her pointer and thumb shifting to the golden hoops hanging from her ears.

"Don't be so conscious!"

Taurus' mom appeared from behind the van, a pumpkin pie in her hands. "I understand you're emotional, but you're a lovely, strong, young lady. You've already been through so much. This is the easy part. Trust me, Tau." She smiled a smile so warm, Taurus couldn't help but drop her hands, breathe in, and grin, giving her mom a brisk nod.

The family walked toward a large barn just feet away from the vehicles. The large door was cranked open, a man and woman standing at the side of the expansive entrance. As they approached the couple, they smiled, offering a warm greeting.