"What do you mean she's gone?" Hieronymous and I manage to both yell at the same time, Potsdam, on the other hand, is calm, cool, collected, and giggling at us. As if the fact that people are missing is a laughing matter, especially considering one of them being my twin sister.

"Well aren't you two getting along well?" Hieronymous is not pleased by Potsdam in the slightest considering he is muttering under his breath, I as well am not pretty happy with how she is handling this circumstance.

"But yes Miss Mallory is missing, she and the other Wildseed students from other schools may have been kidnapped. The council has people trying to manage the situation."

I feel as though I can't breathe. I close my eyes trying my best to not cry right now.

Why, why would someone take her away, why would someone take any of those other students away too?

I can't even...I must not get too upset, I must stay calm. I have to stay calm, nothing good comes from crying or shouting or simply getting upset, especially in my situation...

"May? They can not tell what is going on?"

"Whoever or whatever may have taken them covered their tracks well. There were definite signs of a struggle in some cases, but in others...like Miss Malory there was nothing present at all. Though that may be because of another reasoning..."

"And what would that be?"

"Possession."

What? I open my eyes. All this time she was possessed? How long was she? When could she even have been?

"She was possessed and you did not take notice of this?"

"It wasn't a recent ordeal, it happened far too many years ago for it to be even noticed. The only reason I came to be aware of this was because of Evangeline, she herself had found signs of it."

"E-Eva? Shes...?"

"Yes, she just so happens to be the one leading this investigation."

I am not sure how I am to feel about that, nor do I care much really. Twila was possessed for years! Was it before or after I left? Must have been afterward right? Cause if it was before...

I didn't notice a thing.

How horrible of a sister can I be?

"H-how long? And...how was she able to tell?" I needed to know.

"For about eight years and how she was able to tell well, when a person becomes possessed whatever possesses them leaves a mark of some sort behind, at first it is very noticeable, but as time goes on the mark fades, much like the free will of the person possessed. It would seem one way or another your sister managed to break the possession on her own, and Eva found traces of what remained of the destroyed mark at your old home."

"...I see." She was possessed for long and I didn't notice a damn thing, I'm horrible so very horrible.

Tears fall from my eyes and I feel the need to curl up in a ball and die.

"Oh dearie, do not blame yourself for not being able to tell, you were a child, you wouldn't of notice a single thing wrong." How is that suppose to make me feel better?

"I'm her twin sister, of course, I should have noticed something was wrong with her!"

She was gone all this time, the girl I met wasn't her, it was some damn demon or spirit or something pretending to be her, I didn't even notice!

I thought so badly of her, and it wasn't even her.

She needed me and I failed her.

I failed.

I failed at everything.

I hear footsteps coming toward me. "Leave me alone! Please...just leave me alone...I'm fine, just continue the conversation forget I'm here...okay?"

I wipe away my tears, but more form in their place. It doesn't stop me from trying, though.

And do try, and try and-

Hieronymous is the first to speak. "What are we to do about this?"

Petunia answers. "Nothing at all, like I said before the Council is handling this issue." Seriously?

He is not happy with the answer. "Children have gone missing and we are to just sit here and pretend nothing has happened? What about the other Wildseed students that are away from school right now? Should we not be contacting them and sending them back to school early?"

"Oh Hieronymous the Council already gave strict instructions to not cause a panic of any kind, so we will be patient and wait for any more news of the situation."

What? What bullshit is this? Anger has now placed my sadness. "No, that isn't okay in the slightest! Students are missing and we are to just do nothing? The ones that are still out there could be taken away too! For all we know the ones already missing could be de-"

I can't speak. I open my mouth and try to form words, but nothing comes out. I try again and again, nothing. Did I lose my voice? I don't feel any pain...did...

I now stare bewildered at Professor Potsdam.

"Shhh, calm down you are causing quite the ruckus. I am sure they will be fine, same goes for your sister okay?" Even though her voice is gentle and sweet I can't help but feel utterly frighten by her. I look away scared and embarrassed.

Then I simply nod my head not sure if I can speak again and not really wanting to try again anyways.

"Now it is quite late, tomorrow we shall deal with your little predicament okay?" I nod again still not looking at her.

"Alright then, goodnight!" I hear her leave the room and everything is silent, but only for a moment.

"If you weren't going to snap at her I sure would have in your place." His words were bitter and angry. I look up at him now.

"I didn't break anything did I?" I really hoped not.

"No you didn't, even if you had, I would have understood."

I sigh. "What now?"

"Like she said, it is late, I suggest you sleep." Heh, sleep like I will be getting any of the sorts for the next few months after hearing all of this.

"...You too." He somehow managed to look even more exhausted now.

"Iris..."

"Go to bed Hieronymous." I don't feel like arguing and I know neither does he.

"Fine, night."

"Night..."

He then leaves and I am left alone, I fall backward on the bed and stare at the ceiling.

This will truly be a long night.

I was dreaming and yet everything was hazy and distorted. Words...I could only hear words. I knew the voices, I knew this conversation at hand, and yet-

Why is it so hard to-

I can't...remember...why can't I remember? What is this? It's there, but...it isn't.

"So promise?" Violet...I could never forget her voice, so sweet and full of life and energy and-

"I promise." Me? What promise? What did we promise?

This hurts...its hurt to remember... There was silence and then-

"Good, then I suppose it's goodbye, at least for now. When everything is done I'll be back, I won't...you won't have to deal with this anymore okay? I'll make sure of it, be good for me Iris." Deal with what? What was going on?

Everything was fading away then, the dream, memories? Don't leave, come back, I want to-

No...I don't...I-

I woke up crying, curled up into a ball on my side shaking and wheezing. There was so much and so little, so many things I couldn't understand. What was that? A dream? A memory? It felt like one, it felt...real, it was like it just happened.

As if she were still here. Why did I dream that? I couldn't even...

My mind was foggy and I felt utterly exhausted. I need sleep, but I don't think I can, not again, not after...that.

I drag myself up and attempt to wipe away my tears. My eyes hurt, they are probably swollen and red right now. Heh, as if I didn't look awful enough.

"Iris? Are you awake?" Hieronymous? Did I wake him? Crap...

"Y-yeah."

He walks into the room and I feel the immediate need to hide under the covers. Please don't look at me I'm a mess.

"Did...you have a nightmare?" His voice was so gentle if I felt better in this moment I surely would have become flustered.

"No...yes? I...can't remember it really...just woke up crying and all." Not really a lie, I have no idea what that was. I...do not...I rather never find out. It didn't feel right...the mood, the situation...just felt wrong.

Something big happened and I don't want to remember, I shouldn't remember, I...can't. I just feel that...no. Just no...

"I see...will you be alright?" No, after that I doubt it, whatever that was is gonna eat away at me like everything else as of late, but I'll...be okay with that...for now.

Yet...

"Please stay with me...I don't want to be alone...just stay till I fall asleep again, okay?" I rather not sleep at all, but I must, rest is important.

He looks resigned. "Alright." He sits down at the desk near the bed.

I feel awful for asking such a thing especially cause he needs rest too. "I'm s-"

"I know, I know, just sleep please."

I nod, lay back down, and some time later I fall asleep once more.