Before you read:

This chapter takes place in the past, before what you have read in the first chapter if you are unable to figure it out on your own, but not by a lot. Also, Alfea isn't a school for fairies. It's just an average collage, and Magix is just an average city.

This chapter is not beta read yet, but will be eventually, so do excuse anything that may seem wrong, it will be fixed.

In the Shadows

Chapter Two

In life we see things that we don't want to see, and we hear things that we don't want to hear. Despite the fact that we clearly do not want something, doesn't mean we won't get it. It doesn't matter how much you refuse it, it still arrives on a shiny platter. We don't like to receive punishments, even if we deserve them or not, they still come to us, good or bad. It doesn't matter who you are, things will always come and find you.

Things will always come and find you if you are expecting them or not, if you see can see them or can't. They will find you.

Stella ran the hair brush through her yellow hair, pulling it through over and over again. Tonight was a big night, she wanted to look her best. As she put her brush down, she noticed something on the counter. She brushed her make-up supplies and pulled out a cream colored envelope. Stella gazed around the room before tearing the envelope opened.

The door creaked opened suddenly and Stella shoved the paper make into the envelope and hid it behind her back, Flora's face looked concerned and nervous. Stella sighed in relief once she noticed it was just Flora.

"Did you get it too?" Flora whispered, slowly shutting the door behind her and turning the lock shut. Stella held up the cream paper in her hands.

"This?"

Flora nodded, eyes suspiciously looking everywhere, searching, looking for evidence.

Stella slid the thin paper out of the envelope and scanned the paper, shaking her head as she read it. "But-"

"I know. Bloom and Tecna went out to look for her. They got the same letter."

"Where's Layla?"

Flora shrugged. "I don't know, but she needs to be warned before it happens again. We're being targeted and that's the last thing we need."

Stella shook her head, throwing the cream paper in to the trash bin. It was no surprise this happened, but Stella couldn't help but find herself in disbelief. Dozens of females from mid teens to early twenties have been disappearing over the past month nothing but a note left, not from the missing person, but from someone else. It wasn't just runaway disappearances, it was kidnaps, perhaps murder. No one knew exactly unless you were a victim or the suspect or suspects. No one knew who was behind this, but the town was getting desperate to find whoever is responsible.

Now Musa was gone.

"When was the last time you saw her?" Stella asked, vaguely trying to remember the last time she talked to Musa, that was two days ago, too long ago.

"Same as you. You all got drunk over the drinks the waiter gave to us. I didn't drink anyway of it."

"You think it happened that night? Have the others seen her since?"

Flora shook her head. "No, but they barely remember what happened that night."

"What about you?"

"I told you, you guys got drunk then we all went our separate ways after you guys had an argument about the disappearances."

Stella rubbed her temples, feeling the headache come before it even started. "I can't believe this is happening. This can't be happening. What are we going to do now? Just pretend Musa isn't gone?"

"We have to stop searching. That's why he's after us no. He knows we're on to him and he doesn't like that, he wants us to know that, it's part of his game."

"Well it's some sick game and no one but him is enjoying this. Terrorizing people is just wrong. Someone needs to end this."

Flora nodded, closing her eyes for a moment, thinking silently. She looked at Stella in reassurance. "We will. We will. But now's not the time. We can't just jump into this. That's what we've been doing and it's definitely what he's been wanting from us."

The blonde crossed her arms. The room fell silent for a moment. It was deadly and unbearable. "I gotta finish getting ready," Stella said, looking at the vanity table, where she found the envelope moments before Flora first entered.

oOoOo

Flora carefully shut Stella's bedroom door behind her and scanned the room before walking across the room to grab her coat. She too had to get ready for the event that night, but that wasn't what was on her mind. Layla was somewhere, perhaps unaware of what happened with Musa and Flora didn't like that.

Flora thought about that night. She remembered the argument. It was completely stupid and it never would have happened if Bloom never suggested they'd go to that bar. She didn't even know what the girls were drinking, but it obviously was strong enough that caused a fight that made them all split up. Bloom left with Musa that night though, but she said nothing happened one their way out. Nothing she remembered anyway, afterall she was a little wasted.

Or perhaps, very wasted.

Flora shook her head again. She had to take her mind off of the last time she saw Musa, Musa couldn't be dead and it wasn't a game of Clue to where she can play detective to find out who, where, and what. This wasn't a game to anybody but the master behind all this. They'd find out what happened when it was a good time, but right now, it was just a matter of staying safe.

"Even though I'm walking all alone," the brunette mumbled to herself. No one was around, or at least that's what Flora had hoped.

Exiting the doors and stepping onto the campus, Floa inhaled the fresh, moist air. Forgetting everything that was last on her mind only for that one moment.

For one moment, it was peaceful, and relaxing. For one moment, it was quiet, and what Flora didn't know at the time, it was the last time she'd have before paranoia would take over.

And that's exactly what happened. Across the campus, sitting on the edge of a turned off fountain was the brunette Flora was searching for. She smiled in relief, it didn't take her as long as she thought it'd take to find her. Flora rushed over to her, immediately wiping the smile off her face.

"You know, don't you?" Flora asked, and Layla nodded, playing with the hem of her old t-shirt. "Aw, honey. Everything will be okay. She'll be back here before you know it."

Layla shook her head. "I'm not sure about that." Layla dropped the shirt and pushed her hair back behind her shoulders. "Why do you think he went after her first?"

"I honestly thought he'd either go after you or Stella first if we were ever to be targeted. Musa, I always thought she'd be the last."

Layla shook her head again. "You don't think…" she hesitated. "That… that she knew something?"

"It's possible. Tecna probably would say it's a very logical explanation, but we would never know."

"I do."

Flora looked up at the heartbroken girl immediately cut off guard. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know…. I'm not sure… we were drunk, all of us. She said she found a clue, something huge and one of us maybe be in grave danger. I don't know if it was the alcohol talking or if she actually knew this huge breaking point in the case."

"You think she got to close."

"And she was taken down before she could open her mouth and spill."

Flora shook her head. "This is crazy. I don't know if I should be scared, sad, or whatever. Whoever is doing this is going too extreme."

"He's been over the top since the first victim, Flora. We're useless, it's like we're pieces to a board game and he's moving us. For all we know, he could be right under our noses, perhaps even one of us."

Flora sat on the edge of the fountain for a moment as an awkward silence seemed to fill the air around the two. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply, her mouth searching for words to say. After that moment, she opened her eyes.

"Layla, I know this may sound completely absurd and impossible, but we'll stop this. If the police can't figure it out, we will. I thought you'd have a little faith."

Layla shook her head and stood up. "When your best friend goes missing, perhaps taken by a serial killer who's still roaming the streets freely after hundreds of victims, you lose faith Flora. I have a chemistry test to study for."

Layla turned around, stuffing her hands into her pockets as she began to walk off.

"Layla, wait!" The dark brunette stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoulder. "Just… just be careful, alright?"

"I'll be fine."

oOoOo

"Thanks Stella," Bloom said, handing her best friend her concealer, showing off her arm where her pet bunny once scratched it the night before. "You can't see it, right?"

Stella examined Bloom's arm. "You'll be fine for the night. Told ya it would work." Stella turned her back toward Bloom and moved her hair in front of her shoulder. "Can you zip this?"

Bloom pulled up on the metal, struggling to make it to the top. "Why do you get dresses smaller than they need to be, Stel?"

"The smaller the number the better, now pull harder!"

Bloom did as she was told then clasped the top of the dress.

"Hey, did you guys find anything?" Stella turned around. "About… about Musa?"

Bloom sighed and shook her head. "Tecna's determined about it, but it's just like the others. It the same case. No evidence, no leads, no suspects, the only difference is is that Musa's the victim."

"I can't believe we're being targeted. I'm afraid to be alone now, Bloom. I'm afraid I'll turn around and he'll be right there with and knife, or gun, or something in his hand and that will be the end. I'm scared, Bloom. Terrified."

Bloom nodded her head while pushing her head hair to the side. "Yeah, don't let it get to you. When you lose it, that's when it'll happen. Remember Musa lost it the other night."

"We were drunk, it's too vague."

"Well I remember it. Don't worry too much."

Bloom left and Stella looked down at the silver dress, sliding her hands against the fabric feeling the shape of her waist and sighed. She couldn't believe she was wearing that dress when she should be running off, hiding. Instead she was doing the opposite, about to display her face everywhere.

Stella reached behind her back, unclipping the hook and tugging at the dress fell to her ankles, and she stepped out of it. The blonde reached for the robe bed and tied it on. She rushed to her closet, she throw out a duffle bag and began to throw clothing articles into the bag, not even bothering to fold.

She was going to skip the show. It didn't matter anymore. Nothing really matter anymore. She had to get out of there. She had to escape.

oOoOo

"I don't think I'm gonna go, Bloom. I have a test. Stella'll understand. I'll be alright."

"Aw, Layla, you really think you'll be fine?"

Layla nodded, despite the fact she was talking on the phone and Bloom could not see her. "Yes. Now Bloom, I gotta go."

Layla run up, tossing the phone across the room. She didn't want to talk to anybody. There was a reason why she left Flora at the fountain. There was a reason she was sitting by herself there, too. Layla wasn't in the mood to put up with anybody, even if that meant staying in her room all night studying for a fake test, that's what she had to do.

She put a pillow on her head, blocking the light from the sunset outside. It was quiet and dark under it, alone. She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.

She jumped awake what felt like a few seconds later, but when Layla removed the pillow off her face the room was dark. Wind for the outside was blowing the windows opened and closing them. She didn't remember opening them, it was suppose to storm that night.

Layla got up, walking over and pushing the windows shut, turning the lock with it.

"It's nice to see you're awake."

Layla jumped, cringing at the sound of that voice. It was a voice she knew, and once she heard it, she knew it was behind this mess. Layla reached into her pockets, only to find them empty with no phone. She turned around, meeting the predator face to face.

"I can't believe it's you."

"I can't believe you're not trying to escape, or fight me."

The brunette shook her head. "There's no use. You'll find me no matter what."

The person inched closer to Layla, standing only foot in front of her. "You're right about that."

And before Layla knew it, she felt a pinch in her arm as a needle was stabbed into it. Then everything went black.

So just a little information... this story probably won't be updated more than once a month, it's not my main concern at the moment since I do have another story in progress that I will be paying a lot more attention to. I do not plan for this to be a upper long story, probably a maximum of ten chapters and a minimum of five.

Thanks for reading, I'd love to hear what you think, plus there is a suspect poll on my profile so go vote!

-Michelle Loves Chocolate 99