of the Academy, we all came to a screeching halt. Slumping over, we all struggled to catch our breaths, but that only lasted a moment. When we all looked up, we noticed all the lights were glowing from the Academy. The warning from the Trackers hung heavy over us, and I wasn’t sure what we were going to do. They stood like menacing soldiers just outside the Academy grounds. They were waiting and watching. They had caught us again and, now, I didn’t think they would retreat this time. For whatever reason, they wanted us all dead and I knew now more than ever, they wouldn’t play by the rules.
It was way past midnight; everyone should be sleeping. The Academy should be dark, not fully alert. This wasn’t good.
“Oh no,” Ace said, reflecting the thoughts of the rest of us. “We have to make sure Electra and the guards know the Trackers are out here.”
As we opened the iron gate leading to the stone path of the Academy, I held my breath. My stomach was churning and my arms and legs shook with anxiety. Loud voices chattered through the halls and open windows.
We stepped inside the building, and that is when the true chaos ensued. People were running around, screaming and calling out orders. Security guards dashed past us, guns drawn, and grave looks on their faces.
I spotted a girl named Gina running past me frantically. I reached out and grabbed her arm, causing her to yelp in surprise.
“Gina, what is going on?” I asked.
When she turned, I saw the look of absolute fear in her eyes; it startled me so much, I jumped back.
“It’s happened again,” she cried out. She held her hands to her face and sobbed, her body shaking with the violent thrusts.
“What?” I ask, leaning into Ace for support.
“The Trackers struck again. This time…” her words trailed off as tears began to race down her cheeks.
I shook my head. That couldn’t be true. We just escaped the Trackers. They were all standing outside the Academy.
“Where is Electra?” Ace asked, his eyes searching through the mass hysteria taking place.
I placed my hands on Gina’s shoulders, urging her to talk to me. “Gina, tell me what happened,” I pleaded.
She sucked in a deep breath before continuing. “Earlier this evening, a human body had been placed just outside the entrance gates to the Academy. It had been burned beyond recognition and we have no identification for them. The Trackers are getting closer and closer to us,” she said.
Acid raced up my throat and I feared I may vomit right here in the middle of the hallway. Ace stopped looking around and snapped his head toward Gina. “Wait, what did you say?” he asked.
Gina tried to repeat herself, but her sobs were growing deeper and she couldn’t talk. I offered her a hug and then let her leave. She was so upset; I could tell it would only take time to calm her down.
There were people rushing to the front of the Academy and we all followed suit. It was like a car wreck; you know you shouldn’t look, but the curiosity building inside forces you to want to see anyway. And, that’s exactly what it felt like as we shoved our way through the crowd that had gathered outside. The front door was wide open and the cool night air was sweeping into the Academy like a silent intruder. As we made our way to the stone porch, I let out a tiny cry as my eyes landed on what everyone had come out here to see.
There, just outside the gates on the gravel driveway, lay what was left of a human body. Charred beyond recognition. Lisa grabbed her stomach, almost like she was going to be sick. Ace wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into him, so that my face was in his chest and no longer looking at the travesty in front of me. Visions of my parents swirled through my mind again and this time, I didn’t cry. Anger took hold of me and I knew my heart was growing cold. I needed revenge. I needed to get justice. Now.
Ace pulled me with him and started walking away. “Everyone come with me,” he said, as he nodded toward the others. We all listened and followed Ace as he led us down a long and winding hallway I had never been down before. Gold sconces lined the walls, with lit candles providing a soft glow for us to follow. None of us said a word, but as the voices faded behind us, I could hear my own heart beating like a drum inside my chest.
Finally, Ace slowed his pace and stopped in front of a door. He pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door, pushing it open and waving for the rest of us to go inside. As I skeptically entered the room, I realized we were stepping inside the guards quarters. Ace shut the door behind him and began to pace the small pace. I watched as he ran his hands nervously through his hair. “This isn’t good,” he said.
“What is going on?” I asked, breaking the awkward tension floating around us.
Stopping, Ace faced all of us. “The other Trackers got to a human. I don’t know how I didn’t see this before. It was a trick; it was all a ruse to throw us off their game. They used one Tracker to lure us into the woods, while the others captured and killed a human.”
We looked around at one another in shock. We had fallen right into their trap, just like they had wanted us to. It was perfect really.
“So, what does this mean now?” I asked.
Ace gritted his teeth as he balled his fists to his side. “This means the Woodsong Academy is under war; if we don’t stop the Trackers now, they could find a way to break our barriers and kill us all. The lives of all Supernaturals are in danger.”
And with that, my world slipped into a dark and cold oblivion that I was afraid no amount of fire or light could bring us back from.