The Hale Pack

Shattered Dreams

"I'm sorry Lyra, I still haven't figured it out" Laura looked sadly at her sister, who silently sighed on the edge of Laura's bed.

Laura still had no luck with releasing her sister's voice back into her larynx; it had been more than a week. Whenever they had been at school, Lyra had to pretend that she had a sore throat and wouldn't speak (much to her friends' disappointment). Lyra bounced up onto the bed and walked up to the orb and mimed smashing it.

"No Lyra, it's too risky" Laura told her, "I don't know what would happen".

Lyra just nodded and walked out of the room. Laura had been trying so hard to release Lyra's voice that she had even begun taking the orb to school, hoping it would just magically come out at one point.

Derek's voice boomed from the lower floor "Alright pack! Time for school!".

There was the sound of shuffling feet, bags being dragged, and doors shutting resonating throughout the house; followed by Laura's door opening and her siblings walking into her room.

With a sigh, Laura stuffed the orb and her spell book into her bag and slung it over her shoulder. Without a word, the pack walked through the mirror in the corner one by one, each appearing out of a different reflective surface at the school (it had proven more effective than running). They all had to make sure they exited where there were never any people around (it would be hard to explain walking out of a mirror and bumping into someone). The moment Laura walked out of the girls change room; the bell sounded for the start of her music class.

Laura had grown to like music, Lydia had taught her how to play the piano properly, so now she could at least play it a bit, but magic was still involved just for some extra support. Lyra was normally top of the class, but given her recent...disability...she had been sitting at the back and not fully participating.

"Hey freak!" the shrill voice of Betty shrieked behind Laura.

Laura turned around to respond, but realised that Lyra was the one being addressed.

"Yeah you heard me, where is your perfect voice?" Betty teased, "Did someone take it from you?"

Betty and her followers laughed. Lyra just went red-faced and turned away.

"Shut it Betty!" Laura snapped.

"Oh look at this! It's the wicked witch herself!" Betty mused back, "Gonna fly away on your broomstick are you".

If only she knew, Laura thought to herself.

"How about you just enjoy the fact that she can't speak for the moment" Laura smiled, "Because it's the only time she won't be overshadowing you!"

Laura saw the smile appear on Lyra's face.

Betty's face flushed a deep tomato red against her freckled skin.

"Think you're funny do you?" one of Betty's friends said, "Just because you and your little freak family think you're perfect, you can just go around acting all untouchable? Well I've got a newsflash for you! One day someone's going to come along and put down your mongrel family members like the dogs they are!"

That was all it took, Laura jumped out of her seat and punched the girl square in the jaw. The whole class went silent and just stared.

"How dare you!" Laura screamed, swinging punches over and over. She knew it wasn't a fair fight but she didn't care, she just kept swinging.

The fight halted when a sharp "Stop this at once!" rang out from behind them, "Laura! I don't believe this! Go to the headmaster's office at once!"