Fowler School of Magic's

They ate her

They got back late that night. The sun had set a long time ago. The two entered and Calla got her first look at the new boy. He wore thin glasses that made his dark face look small, made to look even smaller by his even darker curly hair. It fell in his face as he bounced on his heels.

"That was so cool! When's the next one?"
They all stared at him before Max cleared their throat and spoke. "Let's hope there isn't another one. Now Rin said there was going to be a surprise check of dorms, likely ours so go there and hide what you need. Be casual and be careful. Goodnight guys."

Calla swung the bat in the hallway, Francine watched. They'd parted ways with Cash once they got to their floor but she'd already explained he'd made it for her.

It felt good in her hands. She felt powerful. She swung it back and forth, nearly knocking herself over once or twice before she swung again and scraped her knuckle on the wall. She looked at it, watching the blood run down her finger. The bat hit the ground with a clang that echoed down the hall. Francine picked it up as she moved to her side, a drop of blood hitting the floor.

She remembered Emily. Remembered the sound of a knife breaking skin and her body hitting the floor and- "They ate her." She gagged, memories she didn't remember having coming back to her, "What the fuck they ate her." "Who? Ate her? What are you talking about?"

She pushed past Francine and forced their door open. She fell to her knees and vomited in the trash can, feeling her hair pulled out of her face by Hugo. Francine quietly shut the door behind and waited until she was done to speak again.

"Please tell me you aren't talking about-"
"Emily. Francine I- I can't do this tonight. I want to go to sleep."
"Alright. I get it, it's okay. Just, we'll deal with this tomorrow or-"
"Yes."

She climbed into bed and Rhiannon appeared beside her, "I'll be back alright...?" Calla gave her a nod and waited for the door to shut before she pointed to bat on the floor. Rhiannon picked it up and froze. "Woah." "Full of energy." Calla said quietly, scooting against the wall to make room for her. "So I don't wake up tired." She looked up from the bat and smiled, laying it on the bed before she climbed up too. Calla lifted up the blankets and they both climbed under. She couldn't be alone right now. Rhiannon knew better than anyone what she was feeling and what had happened.

She kept the bat between them as Rhiannon entangled their legs. She looked alive right now. Solid. Calla reached out and touched her forehead, it was warm. Like she had never been dead at all. She knew it was only the properties of the bat but if she could have it for only one night that was enough. She needed the comfort. The warmth. She tucked her head against her chest and went to sleep.

Rhiannon had her arms around her when she woke up, she was still tucked into her chest. It felt good. She decided she wouldn't go to class today. Francine was already getting dressed but Calla didn't move to get up. When Calla finished dressing and finally realized she was awake she didn't acknowledge her not getting ready. She only grabbed her bag and adjusted her skirt, refusing to look at her again even as she spoke.

"I can only keep the others away until after classes. Nathan and Max want to meet you by the pond half an hour after our last class." Calla only nodded, silently debating whether she actually wanted to show up. Francine left without another word and Rhiannon touched her face, tracing her cheekbone with her thumb.

"You aren't going to class?" She asked quietly, Calla merely nodded. She took in the room. The light from the window cast a nice glow over the room, the quiet hum of students outside was muffled through the glass as well as the sound of the birds. One of which had made a nest on their windowsill seeing as they hadn't opened it much.

She looked back at Rhiannon. She looked at her lips. Felt her legs against hers still. Imagine her touch. Her fingers moving across her skin. Lips on her lips, on her neck, these thoughts were forbidden.

She mentally scolded herself. She'd been through enough near-death experiences to deserve this.

"Have you ever kissed anyone?" Rhiannon was quiet for a moment, searching her face. Her gaze stopped on her lips.

"No. Have you?"
"No."
"Do you want to kiss?"
"I would like to."

So they sat up. The bat rested between them, keeping Calla energized and Rhiannon solid. She took her face in her hands and Rhiannon did the same. Neither of them turned their heads so their noses smushed together and they barely touched before they broke out in laughter.

"They make it look so easy on tv!"
"Again!"

So they practiced. Soon Calla found herself beneath her, arms on her waist as Rhiannon kissed her collar bones. She looked up at her, or was a weird angle but Rhiannon never looked anything less than perfect. She hooked two fingers in her shirt.

"Have you ever...?"
"You're dead Rhi, how would that even work?"
"True, true."

She rolled off her in favor of lying beside her. Calla let herself take in the room again. It was till light out but with the afternoon beginning more people found themselves outside. Rhiannon was warm against her. She imagined her lips on her again. She wanted to replay the moment forever.

So she did.

Soon the door opened. Rhiannon sat up as Francine entered, Calla shifted in response, head in her lap. She didn't want to get up. She didn't want to talk to Max or Nathan. She just wanted to be with Rhiannon.

But Francine was insistent. "They want to what it from you. I told you that you don't remember anything else but you know how they are." So she went, throwing on a jacket and slipping her hand in Rhiannon's. She took the long way to the pond. Anything to delay this meeting.

"Are you sure you don't remember anything else?" Max asked, leaning in closer to her. Nathan pushed them back. "Woke up in the room, tried to trick them, failed, she did it and then they killed her. Then they dropped to the floor and..."

They'd tore open her throat like it was a cake. Blood covered their hands, dropped from their mouth, glittering purple.

"...they ate her."
"I told you Max." Nathan hissed, offering her a hand. "That's awful. I'm just glad you're still with us."
"Yeah," Max added, mind somewhere else. Nathan sighed and ran and hand through his partner's hair as he motioned Calla up. "Care for a walk?"

She did but Nathan was hard to say no too. He had been too nice. So, she followed him, swinging her bat back and forth as they walked. She'd have to get Cash something in return soon.

They walked for a while until Nathan stopped. She put a hand out and looked at the ground. The ground hummed with life. A bzzzz that shook her to the bone. "What the-"

There she was, standing in the clearing. Blood soaked her left side including her once bright blonde hair and her clothes. She looked up, eyes sunken as she shook. Calla felt nauseous. She grabbed Nathan's hand and watching the sight tear him apart from the inside out.