A Brand New Beginning

Split

Night covered Appleton Academy like a dark veil. Every hall, every corner, and every corridor of the campus was under high surveillance. Andrew lurked silently in the shadows, cautiously avoiding being spotted by a security guard. He also tried to avoid any security cameras as he made his way to the exit, which was also heavily guarded. Andrew reached for a coin from his pocket and made it roll on the floor, distracting the security guard that was surveilling the corridor. Once it was clear, Andrew sneaked silently towards the exit. "Andrew..." A voice made his heart shrink. Andrew turned around to see Frank walking towards him. "What are you doing up this late?" he asked. "Why are you here?" asked Frank, "You aren't going to Luna Nova, are you?"

--"I must," Andrew replied, "I have to turn things back to how they were. I made a terrible wish and it came true. This is just not right."

--"I don't know you anymore, Andrew," Frank sighed. "Trust me," Andrew replied, "I do not know myself anymore either. Farewell, friend," he then walked towards the gate while the guard was deeply asleep. Frank observed quietly as Andrew opened the gate, making the security guard wake up. He gasped as he reached for the intercom, making Andrew sprint as fast as he could. "This is Main Entrance calling all units," the guard said, "Andrew Hanbridge has escaped! I repeat, Andrew Hanbridge has escaped!" Anxiously, Frank ran back to his dormitory as every security guard flooded the entrance. "What do you mean he has escaped?!" Chairman Blackwell bellowed. "I tried to stop him," Frank answered, "but he didn't listen!"

--"I'll call his father right now!" Blackwell growled, "In the meantime, I want all security guards to bring back that brat before he can make it further away!"

The moon was at its highest point as Andrew ran as fast as his legs could go, panting loudly as he slowly lost energy. He knew he had a long way to go, and knowing that his mother was not in Luna Nova but rather back at the Evermoore mansion, the simple thought of how long the road seemed made him exhausted. "I do not care if I must walk a thousand miles," Andrew said, "I will make it to my mother's arms. I know it!" he then slowed down his pace as he tried to catch his breath, "I must make it back to her..." he muttered. The road he was walking down was dead silent--he could only hear the chimes of the crickets and the soft hoots of an owl that flew above him. Fatigued, Andrew fell to his knees. He could not take another step, and he knew it would take him hours to get to the Evermoore mansion. "Why did I have to make that wish?" he asked as he laid down on the ground. Should he go back to Appleton or should he stay there? He knew he would rather die than go back to Appleton. His eyes then closed as he began to fall unconscious. "I wish to be myself!" Andrea's cry resonated in his head, "I wish to be Andrew only!" he could see a green glow and moon-shaped leaves. He also heard a voice other than Andrea's plea, one he could not recognize. His eyes then flew wide open. His heart fell to the bottom of his chest when the first thing he saw was a pale female figure next to him. "Andrew!" a voice called, it was Ophelia Oxford. "Mother!" Andrew gasped happily, "I'm so glad to see you!" he threw himself towards her. "Why are you not in school?" Ophelia gasped, "Where is your father? Why are you out here all by yourself?!"

--"It is a long story," Andrew replied. "I am taking you to your father," Ophelia said, "you cannot be here--"

--"Mother, wait!" Andrew exclaimed, "Please, I'm begging you! I do not want to go with my father, I want to be with you!"

--"If your father discovers you ran out of school, you will be in big trouble!" Ophelia protested. "Mother, I made a wish and I do not know how to revert it!" Andrew cried, "I do not know who I am! You were right, I had too much on my plate! I feel so incomplete!" he sobbed. "Now, now, dear," Ophelia said as she pulled him closer, "I am here. Let's go to my home, okay?" she wiped a couple of tears from Andrew's face. They both mounted Ophelia's broom. "Tia Freyre!" she chanted. "Mother? May I ask how did you find me?" Andrew asked curiously. "My familiar," Ophelia replied. "Mitchie?" Andrew gasped. "How do you know about her?" Ophelia asked confused. "Long story," Andrew answered. "Well, Mitchie was out hunting for mice when she found you," Ophelia said, "she then went back to me and told me where you were."