Demigods at Rookwood

Chapter 14

Annabeth

"Miss Finch?" exclaimed Scarlet.
A younger looking woman, with red hair appeared in the doorway. She seemed to be limping on one of her legs.

"Oh"

"I can explain" said Scarlet, as Miss Finch said the exact same thing.

"Uh.. who is this?" Asked Thalia.

"Oh" said Ivy. "This is our ballet teacher, Miss Finch."

"The person who helped Scarlet out of the Asylum?" I asked.

"Yep" said Ariadne.

"Hello Miss" said Rose.

"Right," said Scarlet, getting confused. "What exactly is going on here?"

Miss Finch leant against the doorframe. She sighed. "I presume you've found out about Rose, then?" She sounded weary.

Scarlet made gesture that said, yes that is quiet apparent.

"I got them both out," said Miss Finch, indicating Violet and Rose. "Since Scarlet was there under a false name, I thought it was possible that Violet was in there somewhere too. I suppose Miss- my mother had inside knowledge from her time there. And my hunch was right - Violet was being kept there too."

"Hold on a minute!" Said Thalia. "Miss Fox, the woman responsible for Scarlet and Violet's time in the asylum, who stole the school fees to fund her lifestyle, who forced Ivy to pretend to be Scarlet...... is your mother?"

Miss Finch nodded.

"Admittedly, I was not expecting that"

"Didn't we tell you?" Ariadne asked.

Thalia shook her head. "Nope"

"Well now you know" said Scarlet, getting impatient

Miss Finch continued. "I proved that Violet wasn't supposed to be there, and she was allowed to leave with me. But when she told me that Rose had been wrongfully imprisoned as well....."

Violet held her chin high and nodded. Rose still tugged at her sleeve.

"I shouldn't have done it, I know, and I'm afraid Rose is now rather on the run. Violet snuck her out of the back entrance, by the fountain. I knew the guard, so I was able to distract him while they-"

"So you were both in the same place," Ivy said, looking back and forth between Scarlet and Violet.

Rose seemed to've stopped listening, and she was staring at the writing covered wall.

Miss Finch nodded.
"My mother had some influence there, it seems. She said they needed to be kept apart. After we rescued Scarlet, they moved the 2 girls back into the main ward."

I could've sworn I heard Rose mumble "It's better here."
What depressing place was the asylum that a creaky secret room was a better alternative? Much less being on the run?

"So why is Rose down here in the cold, Miss?" Ariadne asked, her face showcasing worry for Rose and her situation.

"We needed to keep her safe until I could find somewhere better for her. I was afraid that the asylum would come looking. Or that I would be fired if she was discovered. She's vulnerable."

"You were going to tell me" said Scarlet, "the other day in the ballet studio. Weren't you? I knew there was something you were holding back, Miss."

I glanced at Scarlet, not knowing what she was talking about. Then again, it wasn't like I knew everything that happened in Scarlet's life.
That would be weird.

"I decided you had enough to cope with in here," Miss Finch said gently. "I just wanted to make up for what my mother had done. Somehow"

I was quite surprised Miss Finch was even related to Miss Fox. Both of them seemed like polar opposites of each other, with only similar features or similar responses to things.

She shook herself. "Girls, you shouldn't be down here." Scarlet and Thalia both raised a finger, most likely about to argue or point something out, but Miss Finch silenced them. "I know, I know I shouldn't, either. But it might not be safe, in more ways than one. You need to stay out of trouble."

"We will Miss" Ivy promised.

"