The principal's office was cold -- not physically , but in the way a room feels when it holds too many Secrets.
Gemma sat, unmoving, across from principal Morgan . Her fingers drummed softly on the desk, the only sound in the room.
"Gemma" she began , tone stiff, " I have tried to give you a benefit of doubt . I know.... Your history . But this --- she paused sliding a manila file across the desk. " This is the second incident involving you . Two staff members down. One hospitalized. One dead. The police are investigating I know they won't find anything .
Gemma didn't react, she didn't even blink.
She sighed, leaning forward, " say something for once".
She only stared , her face unreadable behind the soft layers of her hair and the silence she wore like armour.
"You've been quiet for eight years, but that doesn't means you are invisible ", am letting you slide cause of your parents, your mom is to troublesome, she pointed at the intercom speaker . "you can't avoid this forever gemma this time she said calmly you must speak and stop all this".
Gemma finally moved, she stood up, slowly, with a calm that unnerved her, picked up her bag, as she headed towards the door she stopped turned to look at the painting on the wall , same one her mom looked at when they first came here, and walked out without saying anything.
_____________________________________________"
Back at home , the tension was thicker than the fog has been that morning.
"You need to talk to that girl" her mother, Lucy snapped , pacing in the living room.
"Two incident in two days, George ! Two! This isn't some minor tantrum -- this is dangerous ".
George sat across her, hands folded , jaw tense. "You think she planned this? She barely goes near people . Lucy, she didn't kill anyone".
"Of course she didn't ", Lucy hissed .
"But she's inviting it. Bringing attention . Don't you see it ? Ever since the incident eight years ago , things started happening . And now ____
"And now what?" Gabriel Interrupted Ashe stepped into the room . "You're blaming her for someone dying?"
"You might not want to see it, but I do ..... She's a magnet for darkness ". She said exhausted
Gabriel stood abruptly . " And whose fault is it?" , she's our daughter, she's traumatized not cursed. You just hate the fact you might get blamed , so don't down it on my little girl she isn't eighteen yet".
" She will be in few months" Lucy interrupted.
Gabriel looked between them, jaw clenched , heart pounding , "I don't know what to believe, anymore".
From upstairs , gemma sat on her bed , staring at the wall. She could hear them . Every word . But she remained still -- motionless , except for the way her thumb gently brushed over a small scratch on the headboard.
________________________________________
Meanwhile in Zoë house...
She hasn't slept properly. Her room was a mess ---- drawing of circles , eyes, and candles littered on her desk, she hadn't drawn them intentionally. They just..... Showed up. In her notebooks. In her dreams.
That night as she tried to sleep , the dream returned.
The chamber again. The flickering candles. The antlered figure now closer ---- it's voice clearer.
"She remembers, so do you".
She awoke. Drenched in sweat, the air felt thick. Her curtains were gently swaying, even though the windows were shut.
A knock at her door.
Three slow, deliberate knocks.
She froze scared. "M-mom?" She whispered.
Silence.
She got up, crept to the door , opened it.
Nothing.
But as she turned back to her room -- something on the floor . A single red string. Just like the one's tied to the circle in her dreams .
_________________________________________
The next day at school was unnervingly quite.
Even the gossip has dulled into a heavy hush.
Gabriel watched gemma from a distance during lunch. She was at her usual corner table, untouched food, unmoving eye's , mia talking as usual but she isn't responding . But there was something.... A shift. He couldn't place it, but it unsettled him.
The loudspeaker crackled again.
"Students , please welcome your new substitute teacher for advanced literature. Miss Aveline.
Back in the classroom . The door creaked open.
A woman stepped in. Pale skin, long gray coat, hair tied in loose braid. She was too young to be teaching , maybe mid-twenties. But her presence..... It was commanding. Almost magnetic.
Her eyes scanned the room and landed on gemma.
She smiled.
Gemma didn't move.
"Hello, class", miss Aveline said smoothly, placing a strange old book on the desk. " I look forward in teaching you.. very closely".
Gabriel felt it instantly, something was wrong.