Fowler School of Magic's

Emily's Return

Mid-March came and went. Calla finally left the base to go look at the gate. Rhiannon refused to let go of her hand as Nathan walked them to the gate.

Two kids were already there. "Any more progress?" They shook their heads and pointed a ways away, "They filled in our tunnel. We almost got all the dirt cleared out but it was like it just kept coming. Now it looks like we never did anything."
"And the gate, the last boy who touched it is still out cold. No magic works on it."

Nathan looked at it a moment, picked up some dirt and tossed it at the gate. It disappeared on impact. "Can we go over do you think?" They were only here because Cash worked himself too hard trying to accommodate everyone and Max was helping him recover. "It can't touch the gate or the fence, but I don't see why not."

He turned to them, "We should see if Max is awake and then see what he can whip up. Like a jungle gym sort of contraption? Or maybe..." he trailed off into a one-man conversation. Calla stared at the gate, remembering the first time she touched it. Where she'd woke up. A shiver raced up her back. She squeezed Rhiannon's hand tight and then pulled it from her as she moved toward the gate.

"Hugo," she asked quietly. He appeared beside her, step falling in time with hers. He looked at the gate and flinched. "Any ideas?" He looked it up and down, reaching his hand in between the bars.

"They said magic wouldn't work on it." She didn't care how the other two looked at her, talking to no one. Rhiannon and Nathan knew. Hugo practically squealed.

"Remember those demolation shows? Where they used fireworks?"
"Demolition. And those were explosives."
"Gee sorry. What about those? Like a big boom."
"Are you going to pitch it to him or do you want me t-"

"An explosive." Nathan started, interrupting her. They turned to look at him again, watching him look at the gate as if it were the first time. "We could try and blow the gate up. Or blow a hole in the ground for a tunnel. That's perfect Calla." Hugo scoffed but Calla hurried away before he could complain, picking a few of the new flowers before they went back to the house.

Nathan pitched it to the original team. Cash, recently recovered, agreed. He, Rhiannon, and a student who could manipulate technology worked together to begin making a bomb.

Calla taped the flowers on her wall. Rhiannon smiled when she saw them, having helped her paint stars on the ceiling a week or so before. She was allowed to do these things. Allowed to change her room and do whatever her mind suggested. Her suggestions led her to Rhiannon's embrace, kissing her carefully as they fell onto the bed. She felt her stomach, hand beneath her sweater. She left it there, the feeling of warmth beneath her hand reminded her she was there.

"I love you." She whispered quietly, kissing her again. Rhiannon laughed and kissed her neck, then her collar bone before moving down to her stomach. She looked up, "Can I?" Calla nodded, she'd gained back most of the weight she'd lost. The bruises had all faded by now too. All that was left under her shirt were scars from the past. Then Rhiannon was under her shirt and her free hand playing with her waistband. This was as far as they'd gotten before. Now Calla lifted her waistband, Rhiannon quietly accepted and slide her hand further.

"Happy birthday to me," Rhiannon stopped changing her clothes, "It's your birthday?" Calla stopped, lifting her head up with a quick nod. "March seventeenth." She discarded her shirt again and fell back onto the bed, kissing her again. "Well now I gotta do it better! Happy birthday baby." Baby. Her stomach fluttered as she nodded again, letting Rhiannon have her way with her.

Seventeen years old.

Francine dropped an envelope that she'd found slid under the door of their dorm. Calla took it, carefully undoing it and setting on the table. Rhiannon wrapped her hands around her waist, reading it over her shoulder quietly.

Happy 17th Calliope.
Where have you been?
- Lane

She tore it in two. Rhiannon held out her finger, a small flame coming from it. Calla held the pieces over it until the caught fire and then dumped it in the trash, kicking the door open and pushing it into the hall.

"Fuck him." She grumbled, slipping away from Rhiannon as she flopped into bed. The sheets smelled. She didn't bother getting up to ask for new ones. Rhiannon climbed into bed beside her, sliding under the blankets as she turned off the sun lamp. It was already late but the reminder of Lane made her skin crawl as she was reminded of everything he'd done. She would graduate in a little over two months. If they didn't find a way out by then...

She pushed the thought from her mind. Emily appeared, phasing through the door as she looked at the trash behind her. "Lane," she said quietly. Calla's eyes searched for the gold chain. It was thin and hard to see sometimes but the more she looked, the more she realized who she was. She grinned, sick and twisted, and moved forward. Calla backed up, bringing Rhiannon with her, forcing them into a corner.

"Calla what are you? It just Emily it's-" She reaches for the bat leaning against the bedside table, holding it unsteadily, "It's not Emily."

"Pity, I thought my acting was good. Where are we Calla? I know this isn't your dorm. Emily is quite the fighter too. Maybe I'll have a look around and-" she swung the bat, it passed through her head and she disappeared.

"Blindfold me." She ordered, turning to Rhiannon. She shook her head, taking her by the shoulder.

"No, no, they're separate but, but, but,"
"Ghosts can only see what the person sees." Hugo finished for her. She gave him a quick smile before Rhiannon nodded and searched for something to blindfold her with.

"I don't think I worked the same. Then I again I wouldn't know. I could always see the pond when I was alone. I do-"
"Ghost abilities are never set in stone. Trust me. But Emily is attached to Calla in a similar way that I am and once Calla had surprised me with something by blindfolding herself so I couldn't see."
"Here."

Rhiannon held up a piece of cloth. Calla didn't know where she got it but not-Emily was back now. She pulled it over her eyes and Rhiannon hesitantly tied it. She backed away but Calla grabbed her hand, pulling her back in. "Don't leave me." It sounded so much more desperate than she'd meant it to.

"I need, I need my bat." She felt the cold metal in her hands as Emily's voice came. "You can't make me leave that easily." She pushed. Calla gripped Rhiannon's hand even tighter.

"Calla I can still see. Calla you need to let go."
"What?"
"I can see through her, through Rhiannon."

Rhiannon gave her hand another squeeze before she dropped it again. She felt alone despite knowing she was right there.

It made her chest ache.