𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐓 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐍𝐄𝐘'𝐒 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐘

𝟏.𝟑 | 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬

ALTHOUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR HAD JUST BEGUN, FAITH DETESTED EVERYTHING ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY WORLD ACADEMY. The world was too bright and fragrant for her liking as vivid flowers spanned the grounds as far as the eye could see. Her nose wrinkled and her lips twitched as she raised a hand to keep herself from going blind while she sought refuge beneath the shade of the bloomed cherry blossoms that lined the academy paths.

She preferred the shadows and the safety their darkness ensured. She possessed more secrets than fingers on her hand— not all of which necessarily belonged to her—and the darkness helped keep things hidden. She wasn't prepared to have her personal confidence unveiled to the public, but didn't fall under the disillusion that her presence at the school would eventually bring those secrets to light.

While the student body mingled and meshed like a living organism as they cluelessly navigated around the campus, whispers clawed at Faith's ear. These whispers gradually increased like the trickle of a faucet to the roar of a fountain. Eventually, her own inner voice was lost to the dozens that chattered and vibrated within her mind.

"Kill that one... his father destroyed me."

"That one deserves a fate crueler than death."

"No, not that one, the child beside her."

"No! My desire for vengeance should be quenched first."

Listening to the banter between each voice was like enduring the wrath of nails against a chalkboard. Faith pressed a palm against her forehead to calm the sensory overload, yet her efforts were fruitless. She internally chastised and scolded the voices—crying out for them to shut up in muttered gasps under her breath—but they only drowned her out with their own complaints and demands. She buried her face into her knees, begging for silence. Only once the moment of anticipated bliss came, she almost wished it hadn't. For Faith knew it wasn't her own doing that quieted the voices, but the chilling presence of someone far less welcome.

"Je ne t'ai pas vu depuis un bon moment, moi petite Foi." The figure was but a silhouette as the sun created an ironic halo effect around them.

Faith had no doubts about the identity of the girl before her as familiar knots twisted in her stomach. "Bonjou, Desirée."

"What?" Desirée scoffed, rolling her eyes while her lips remained curled back in a smile too wide to be deemed natural. "No love for your big sister?"

"For the time being I'll tolerate your voice over those of our friends." Faith's eyes slowly adjusted, allowing her to focus the details of her sister that she'd practically forgotten. Her dark hair that was slicked back to perfection. The charms and carved figurines that clacked with every step she took. Anyone else might have looked tacky, but Desirée instilled fear.

Desirée clicked her tongue while her expression turned smug. "Having some issues?"

"Annoyed," Faith corrected, brushing away the blades of grass that stuck to her black jeans. "How do you deal with them?"

"The voices?" Desirée asked, almost like the thought had never occurred. As if she were just naturally talented when it came to the dark arts and had no problems taking the dark spirits that came with those gifts. "Try listening. The other side can be quite helpful if you understand how to interpret their advice."

Faith crossed her arms, nodding her head while she frowned. "So then what are you doing here?"

"Someone's in a bad mood," Desirée commented.

"It's not like you have anything to learn," Faith reiterated, unease creeping into her tone. "So why here and why now?"

Desirée's intentions had always been complicated. She was insensitive and malicious, only ever looking out for herself. Any moments in between were rare, but all the more off putting. She was the type of person who looked at others like business transactions. If you didn't have anything to offer, you weren't worth her time.