Tenebres

I took a deep breath. The taxi that dropped me off was now gone and I was standing in front of my home for the next three years. Tenebres Academy. A boarding school situated in the secluded town of Riverview. I picked up my suitcases and was about to open the door when it opened in front of me, standing before me was one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. She had sleek chocolate brown hair that went down to the small of her back, and emerald green eyes. “You must be Alena Crowford, I’m headmistress Ambrose” she stated with a smile. Before I even had a chance to reply she told me to leave my bags and follow her. Not wanting to get in trouble already I did as I was told. We came to an office, much more extravagant than the office my old headteacher had, and headmistress Ambrose began asking me questions.

“So, your sister will be joining us in the upcoming months am I correct.”

“Yes” I replied making sure to keep a blank face.

“Classes start on Monday, as I’m sure you’re aware” she said point blankly. She then continued by saying “You’re in room 26, obviously in the girls’ corridor. I assume you can find it yourself”.

“Of course I can” I say taking the key from her open hand and with a smile I walked out of her office.

The stairs are made of a beautiful dark oak, I bet Ray would love it. The decorations though could do with a change. The hallway walls were covered with old portraits, I assume that they are from the family who lived here when this was a manor house. When I finally came to the girls’ corridor I take a moment to consider how quiet it is. It’s probably because all the students are going to be coming tomorrow instead of today; unlike me they probably have lives.

Once I was standing in front of my room, the key suddenly felt extremely heavy in the palm of my hand. I cautiously place the key into the lock and turned it. I don’t know exactly what I was expecting, maybe something like the room Ray and I used to share in the orphanage. Instead it was the complete opposite, the window had beautiful velvet beige curtains, two extravagantly detailed mahogany four poster beds. Actually, all the furniture is made of the most extravagant looking mahogany, I have ever seen. Sitting on the bed to the left, are my suitcases, as I take in the wonderful view from the window of the school grounds, I start to unpack my suitcases, into my dresser as the wardrobe is full of school uniform. Unfortunately, at this school phones and laptops are banned, which is completely absurd. I may not be as sneaky or rebellious as Ray, but fortunately I still know how to sneak a mobile phone into the school grounds.

I threw my favourite light blue jumper on and decided to go and explore the school grounds, because if I’m honest moving here was such a dramatic change, and I miss my sister even though she’s not gone for long this time. She is my best friend and my only family, I don’t think I would be able to survive in this would without her.

After walking down a few corridors I came across the common room. Inside sitting all by herself on a table in the right-hand corner of the room was a girl with light chestnut wavy hair that fell just below her chest bone, she had chocolate brown eyes a light dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose, and wore a pair of black glasses. Even though she looked like she was really into the book she was reading, I still sat down opposite because I am determined to have at least one friend while I am here other than Ray.

I gathered that she was probably the shy type, so instead of trying to start a conversation I pulled my sketch book out of my backpack and carried on with my latest sketch which was of the park where Ray and I found , Crowford Park, that’s where we got our last name from ; they had no idea what our last name was because Ray and I were found all alone In two separate baskets both wrapped in identical blankets the only difference being mine said Alena, whereas hers said Rayann, the only other things where our lockets which we both wear all the time, hers has a purple gem on it, and mine has a pink gem. I was so engrossed in my sketch that I had no idea that she had started talking to me.

“um, hi” she spoke rather shyly I suppose. I put my sketchbook down beside me. I replied, “my name is Alena.” She stuck her hand out “my name is Briar”. “Like sleeping beauty” I replied smiling. Suddenly she started to giggle “I guess you’re right nobody’s said that to me before”. “well now someone has” I replied as the smile on my face became even bigger. “you’re new here, right” she said, “we don’t really get people new people that often”. I looked around the room and noticed that we were the only people in the room. “Briar, are there any cool stories about the school”. I asked with a slight smile.

I noticed she glanced around the room subtly before answering my question. “there is one story that everyone, knows and I don’t have my own theories about the school”. This peaked my interest. “Last year, this girl disappeared. She was called Jessyka, Jessyka Jameson. She had some much ahead of her, she never would have run away so that was ruled out almost immediately. She was in nearly every club in the school, captain of the rounders team and was predicted nearly all A*s with the ability to get into any university she wanted to. The case was closed pretty much as soon as it opened because there was absolutely no evidence. It was like one minuet she was here and the next she was just gone, poof, into thin air.” She said rather quickly like she was afraid someone would walk in and punish her for telling me about it.

Once she had finished telling me the story, I decided that I should tell her somethings about me. “thanks for telling me, I think I should tell you a little bit about myself.” I took a deep breath. “I have a twin sister called Rayann. She’s the only family I have we were both found as babies in separate baskets, with blankets with our names on and note. we grew up in foster care, never adopted. We got our last name, Crowford, for the park we were found in.” I could tell she was about to ask were Ray was but stopped herself. “at the moment Ray’s is in a juvenile detention centre, because she smashed up our old headmaster’s office.” I spoke with a slight chuckle.

I thought I had completely lost her at that but instead of her getting up and leaving she spoke. “Do you want to hear my theories” she said rather quietly. “yes” I almost shouted, which I could tell really startled her. She took a deep breath before continuing. “Okay, before I start remember this is not fact but just my own theories that I have come up with” I quickly nodded my head wanting her to get on with the theories. “Well, you may think it’s crazy but I believe that the majority of teachers and maybe even some students are vampires. Maybe werewolves but I’m not completely sure.” Inside I suddenly felt rather worried about how she would react to my secret.

Later on, after we had, had dinner, Briar told me she wanted to show me around the school grounds. I couldn’t possibly tell my first ever friend no, could I. The grounds were spectacular. There was flowers and trees everywhere. I have never seen something like this before. We went deep into a group of trees, almost like a forest surrounding the building. We sat down under an extremely tall oak tree. I had just got out my sketch book and started drawing when I heard a scream. Briar’s scream.

There was a group of five boys who had to have to go to the school, because I thought I had seen that earlier at dinner. The first boy had grabbed a fist-full of Briars hair, dragging her towards his friends. “Oi” I shouted. Quickly regretting it. I’m not Ray. I couldn’t stand up against them. Another one of the boys then grabbed a hold of my wrist. I could barely contain the screech that threatened to come out my mouth. By the way they smelled they had obviously been drinking, a lot.

One minute I was just standing there watching Briar shake on the floor. Shake on the floor while the group of boys laughed. The next thing I knew the first boy yanked her up by her hair. The sound she made. I cannot begin to explain how angry it made me feel. I was too focused on what they were doing to her. I didn’t notice, I didn’t notice the entire area surrounding us caught on fire. The fire spread quickly.

The boys ran off rather quickly. I couldn’t tell if they were more frightened of the fact that there was a fire, or the fact that there was no reason a fire should have started.

In my head I picture the fire going out, and I was not surprised to find out that when my eyes opened the fire had vanished. I took a breath and stepped towards her. “Briar, are you okay” I said rather shakily. “Stay away” she muttered taking a step back. “Briar, please just let me explain.” She didn’t respond, but she didn’t run away either. I took that as a good sign. “My sister and I, have powers. I guess you could call us witches, but whatever” I said. “Have you always been able to do that.” She asked meekly. “yes, I guess we got it from whomever our parents are. We hardly ever use them. I would never hurt you Briar.” I took a breath, quietly laughing to myself. “I didn’t even mean to use them then, I just saw you getting hurt and it was an instinct to react to try and save you. Anything could have happened but I had control over it. With a weak smile she replied “I won’t tell anyone. I promise.” She stuck her hand out. “still friends.” “Absolutely” I replied with a smile adorning my face.