The Flame

CHAPTER 27

It's been exactly forty minutes since I have arrived here. I know exactly because I had nothing else to do ever since but watch at the digital display on the wall of Olivia's office that kept me updated with time. She dropped me at her office, instructing me to wait for her there and immediately set off out to mind some other business.

I had no clue, what brought me here, but every anxious look of hers made my heart skip a few beats. The minutes which passed by alone sitting in her office without any explanation were merciless. I couldn't stop thinking about all the ill things that could've happened to Katy. I honestly couldn't think of any other reason that would've made Olivia get me back here so urgently.

Finally, my time in distress passed away when Olivia came back. She was looking tired, and I could see dark circles under her eye.

"Is everything fine?" I asked her anxiously.

"Rose, please forgive me, for I couldn't keep up with the promise I made to you", she said looking down, which puzzled me even more.

"What are you talking about?" I asked her vexed.

"Catherine is missing Rose, and we think someone kidnapped her, and I couldn't do anything", she said looking remorseful.

I lost my voice. It was my nightmare finally coming true. I was waiting for a small hint, for her to say that, this was all a sick joke and that she came for me only because Katy wanted to see me. But no! what she said was true I understood by her expressions, and my own denial to the truth was giving me such ideas.

"How... How did you allow something like that to happen in your own school? I finally found my voice to ask her.

"It didn't happen inside the school Rose, Catherine left the school premises", she replied back.

"But, how come you let this happen to one of your students?" I fired back, I was furious about the thought that she couldn't stop it. "Didn't you? Didn't you say that this was the only place safe for her when you brought her here?" I asked her enraged.

She was stunned by my outburst, but all the while remained silent and allowed me to speak.

"Didn't you say that she was safe here?" I repeated "I trusted you with her" I screamed, hot tears were rolling down my cheeks. I was shaking with all the anger. I sat on the chair, to support myself. There was a long silence which followed, which she didn't care to fill. But I forgot that this woman was the one in charge, not me, and so she spoke to me again in a calm voice this time.

"I'm sorry Rose for what happened; I couldn't do anything at that time, but I assure you that we will find her soon. I have informed the guards and they will locate her soon", she said.

It took me a few minutes to really calm down, until which Olivia didn't say anything further. When I regained myself, I asked her when did this happen.

"Yesterday night, she went to the nearby bus stop to get down at Nerisho after that we lost track of her. I think it was Serena again but I assure you, Rose, the guards have means we don't, and so will locate her soon" she reassured me. "I have taken it to the notice of the king, that finding her was quite important", she continued.

When I didn't reply back, she told me to go back to Kat's room and take some rest. When I wouldn't go, she insisted that I needed some sleep and that she would soon inform me of any updates.

Disheartened I walked back on the empty hallway alone. I reached the podium and intended on reaching the dorm floor. Darkness wrapped me, I was followed by nausea just like my first day and then I reached the dorm floor. I automatically walked up to her room and started banging the door harshly.