“Okay, wait a second. What did you do?” Jack asked, trying not to laugh. “It wasn’t my fault! My mom put the idea in my head. I mean it was practically a dare!” Alicia exclaimed. Her face had turned pink and she was staring at the table. Bethany had brought up an embarrassing moment of Alicia’s. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sQ0RvWWnm
“If it makes you feel any better I’ve never seen three quarters of the food that is in front of us right now.” Jack told her, changing the subject. Alicia looked at him and silently thanked him.
“That is really sad, Jack.” Bethany teased. “It is though!” Luke said with his mouth full. “No, what’s sad is that Luke probably doesn’t even taste it because he eats so fast.” Jack said with a grin. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmIqLUFtOR
“How dare you!” Luke exclaimed dramatically. They all laughed. “Luke said you used to tell jokes all the time. Is that true?” Alicia asked. “Not all the time but yeah I guess I did.” Jack replied with a shrug. “What did you guys do? When you were younger I mean.” Bethany asked.
“What all the kids our age did. Be outside all day dueling, rolling around, and goofing off.” Luke told them. All of them had finished eating so now they were just talking. Jack was quiet now. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Py9GibhES
“Jack?” Alicia asked, hesitantly. “Hm?” he replied, looking over at her. “What’s wrong?” Bethany asked. “Oh nothing. I was just thinking about what we used to do….but I don’t know. In some areas it was just...blank.” he said. “It happens to me too. Must be a thing.” Luke stated.
“Hey, Jack!” a voice said from behind him. He knew the voice. He’d barely been here and he had already memorized this voice. However he remembered that she’d wanted to start over so there was no need to be impolite. He turned to look at her. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGZueMBS2w
“Hi, Raven.” he said. She wasn’t surrounded by her usual entourage. “What are all of you new kids talking about?” she asked, sitting in between Jack and Alicia. “Nothing much.” Bethany replied. “What brings you over here?” Luke asked, saving them from awkward silence. “Just checking in. How did your classes go, Jack? I heard there was some kind of mishap.” Raven replied, barely acknowledging Luke.
“They were fine and I’m sorry to inform you that you heard incorrectly. Everything was fine.” Jack told her. He didn’t like this and he could feel people staring. “Well, I don’t mean to be rude but you’re lying. I mean the classroom below Professor Amora’s saw the light flash through the floor. Others said that you passed out or something like that.” Raven murmured, putting a hand on his shoulder. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSlSVIlbKV
Jack could feel the others’ eyes on him. He just wanted to disappear right now. He didn’t like everyone staring at him. “Um….it’s not a big deal. It happens.” he said, lamely. “Were you hurt? Are you alright?” Raven asked, concerned. “I’m perfectly fine. I wasn’t seriously hurt.” Jack murmured. Raven embraced him and Jack reluctantly put one arm around her for a moment before pulling away.
His face was red from embarrassment as Raven got up. “See you later.” she said, smiling at him. Then she turned and headed back to her table. Jack looked down with his face burning. “You’re dying right now, aren’t you?” Luke asked. “You have no idea.” Jack whispered. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFFuSL8nw2
“She completely ignored us.” Bethany stated. Jack could tell by her tone she didn’t really care but Alicia had yet to say anything. However Jack felt her hand hesitantly touch his. He opened his hand so he could hold hers. Her touch was comforting. It almost made him forget that a lot of people were still looking at him. Almost.
“Your face is incredibly red.” Luke commented. “Shut up.” Jack retorted. “You don’t act this way when we talk to you.” Bethany stated. At those words Alicia pulled her hand away. Jack looked at her, hiding the hurt in his gaze. He didn’t understand. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96aXOsBHjt
“It wasn’t really because of her. I can feel people staring at me.” Jack muttered, looking down at the table once again. “Were you…..fine with her being here then?” Alicia asked. Jack couldn’t place the emotion in her voice. “No, not really.” he replied, quietly.
“You aren’t saying everything.” Bethany pointed out. Jack looked up so he could look her in the eyes. “Why are you doing this to me? What does it matter?” he asked. “Well if you’d rather go hang out with them then you can go.” Alicia said unexpectedly. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYkmGfTlk6
Jack looked at her. She was….mad or upset. Maybe both. “Why would I do that?” he asked. “Come on, Jack. She is literally offering you popularity and acceptance.” Alicia muttered. “First of all, I won’t be accepted by any of them no matter what she says and two I could care less about popularity, Alicia.” Jack retorted.
“You are so ridiculous. You don’t have to hang out with us. You literally have the opportunity to have all the friends you want and all that.” Alicia snapped. Jack didn’t understand why she was angry at him. What had he done? “I don’t want to be friends with them.” he muttered. “Do you even know what you want, Jack?” Alicia retorted. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hj5qXOVLC
“Not that it matters to you but yes, Alicia. I know exactly what I want and I’m never going to get it. Even the things I could have, I’m never going to be able to reach.” he whispered. Then he got to his feet and followed some others who were leaving the room as well.
He started to walk back up to his room. Why was Alicia angry with him? Why was it upsetting him so much? Well he did know the answer to that. She was his...friend...wasn’t she? As he continued to get absorbed in his thoughts he accidentally bumped into Martin. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WdHwtjHDt
“Oh, sorry.” Jack mumbled. “It’s fine. You alright? You seem upset about something.” Martin commented. “I don’t know. Just thinking, I guess.” Jack replied. Martin smiled slightly. “The first day is always the hardest. I’d recommend getting a good night’s sleep and trying to relax. It’ll get it better.” Martin assured him. “Thanks, Martin.” Jack said with a small smile of thanks. “Of course.” Martin replied with a smile of his own.
Jack continued on his way then when he finally reached his room he went in and flopped down on the bed. It didn’t take long for exhaustion to hit and his eyes to close. He didn’t hear Luke come in but he did hear a noise in the middle of the night. He awoke quickly. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR3KjopuYM
The lanterns had dimmed barely giving off any light. Jack could barely see but he heard the noise again. It was a strange scratching sound. He looked over at Luke who was snoring and still fast asleep.
As the noise came again Jack slipped out of the room. The corridor was dimly lit so he could see better than he had in his and Luke’s room. He heard the noise again and it was coming from the hallway.321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLd4WRYcSq
He followed it until he reached the darker part of the hallway. There weren’t any other rooms nearby. Jack felt uneasy but then suddenly something slammed into his chest. It knocked him off the ground and into the wall. He collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath.
Then he felt it the same feeling he’d had when he’d seen the shadowy figure in the woods. He concentrated for a moment and got it out of his mind. He’d barely managed to do it before another blow hit his stomach. He couldn’t breathe. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEIgxQF8LI
A cold hand grabbed his neck and lifted him from the floor and pinned him against the wall. “H-” Jack started but another hand covered his mouth. He heard a quick flow of words then suddenly stone emerged from the wall, forming restraints over his wrists and ankles. Then the hand moved for just a moment and a stone gag formed over his mouth.
“I expected that to be much harder, you know.” It was the voice. The same voice from his house. He struggled against the restraints, trying in vain to get free. All he could see was a silhouette towering over him. “I know what you are, Jack Larmen. I know so much.” he told him. Jack felt energy surge through him. It must have been out of fear but he hoped it would work. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMJOaPWDxN
A wave of energy rang out, knocking the silhouette back. Then he felt the burning and he cried out into the gag. After a moment there was a laugh and that laugh chilled Jack to his core. “There will be none of that.” the voice chuckled and Jack felt searing pain in his shoulder. He screamed but the gag muffled it.
He felt something warm running down his shoulder. Blood. He could barely see it but there was a dagger stabbed deep into his shoulder. The figure didn’t pull it out. Jack still fought but it hurt immensely to move his shoulder.321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuFLo1HDeX
His eyes glistened from fear and pain. “Oh, this is so much fun. You don’t know a thing, Jack. Don’t worry though. I’m not going to kill you.” he said. Jack felt his hand touch his face. Near his right eye. “So blue. Haven’t you ever wondered why?” he taunted.
Jack made muffled noises as he flinched away, but he couldn’t get away. The restraints tightened painfully. Jack fought hard. He tried to focus through the pain and another wave shot out. “Enough.” the shadow hissed. He rushed back and Jack felt searing pain spread throughout his body. He screamed into the gag and struggled harder. His shoulder was bursting with pain but he didn’t stop jerking even though he could now feel blood running down his hands. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlnKP8PFup
He felt the dagger twist painfully. “I suggest you behave yourself.” he hissed, twisting the dagger deeper. Jack felt tears fall. “So weak. That’s exactly how it’s supposed to be.” the shadow murmured, touching Jack’s face again. It was almost like Jack was some sort of trophy of his. He just wanted it to be over. He wanted the shadow to stop touching him. Then soft footsteps could be heard.
“I suppose there will be a change in plans.” he muttered then put a hand on Jack’s chest. A series of long complicated words were said then all of the sudden painful searing cold spread through his body. It was spreading from where the shadow was touching Jack’s chest. He screamed in agony as someone said a spell. 321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGU8vc7J6V
The cold was spreading through his body and his vision was starting to blur. He could still feel the dagger in his shoulder and the restraints digging deeply into his wrists. The last thing he saw was Martin aiming a spell then everything went black.
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