Ally sat there looking at the ground. Donna's body was only there a moment ago. She had vanished out of thin air. The blonde girl breathed heavily as the laugh echoed through her mind. She looked up to see the dark clouds were gone and the lights shined on the burning field. Crackles of flames were one of the first things she could hear as her ear slowly came back to normal.
"Ally," Derek's deep voice called. Ally didn't look for him. Suddenly, she was lifted up to her feet. She turned around only to gasp. The stage was completely destroyed and was still burning with purple flames. Tears began to form in her eyes. Before they could fall down her face, Derek wrapped his arms around her. Ally pressed her head against his chest and closed her eyes. After a while, Ally finally realized why his hug was familiar. He was the one she held onto at the dance. It was the same physical feeling of his arms, that made her emotionally feel safe.
She didn't fight when Derek wrapped his arm around her and began to walk her towards the school. She looked up to see that many people were gone. She was sure they all went into the school. She hoped her mother was okay and that her father was taking care of her. Derek must be concerned for his own parents as well. They would probably all be together, just like they were 20 years ago.
When the pair walked into the school, the noise of talking people entered Ally's ears. They walked to the castleteria stairs to see everyone was sitting at the tables, on the tables, or on the floor. Many had blankets wrapped around them. Ally spotted the nurses walking around to make sure everyone was okay. Her eyes darted around for her mother's blonde hair.
Her eyes laid on Hyde, holding an ice pack to Cassidy's face. Then darted to find Brandon, Catherine, and Ryder all walking towards the couple. Ally watched as they sat down. Where was Matt? Was he alright? Was he still out there? She was about to turn when Derek held her a little closer to him. "There they are." She followed the point of his finger. There both of their parents were.
Ally nodded as she began to walk to down the stairs. Only now did she realize that her ankle was acting up from her past injury. She winced a little, but was happy enough with Derek holding out his arm for her to take. He escorted her down the stairs. When they got close enough, Ally didn't care if her ankle hurt. She ran and hugged both of her parents tight. "Thank goodness you're alright."
"I could say the same thing," Humphrey said before letting Apple hug their daughter.
Apple held Ally close. She then scan her for any injuries. Ally could tell she was very worried. "I saw the stage blow after I made my way off the field. I was hoping to find you here but then I didn't and I don't know what I would've done if you would have been hurt."
"Mom," Ally let go,"I'm okay. See?" Apple wiped off her tears and smiled. "Derek is the one that threw me out of the way. Otherwise I may have actually been hurt." She turned towards Derek's parents. Lizzie was hugging his son for a moment before placing her eyes on Ally.
"That's the Charming in him alright," Daring said in his very deep voice. "I'm proud of you son. Even though you didn't finish the game, you played pretty good."
"I'm not concerned about the game right now dad," Derek folded his arms.
"What's going to happen now?" Lizzie asked.
"We can't investigate tonight," Apple shook her head,"Not with all of these people here. I do have guards on the watch. I don't know who did this, but we will have to figure it out soon. Many people could've died if it wasn't for the stage being the target. The best thing to do is get the well students up to bed. Maddie?"
"Yes," Maddie walked into the small group. She must have been helping some students around their area.
"Where's Matthew?" Apple asked. Ally wondered to where he had gone. If he saw Donna too.
"I just sent him to his room," Maddie was in a different tone then usual. She was serious instead of her usual optimistic tone.
"Great," Apple grinned,"Will you please help me send the well students up to bed. Starting with these two." Apple hugged her daughter once more. "Goodnight Ally." Ally waited for Derek to say his goodnight's to his parents so they could walk together. And that he would help her up the stairs.
He walked her all the way up to her room. Ally let go of his arm and turned to him. His blue eyes seemed a little empty as they looked at the ground. "Hey," Ally lifted his chin with her finger before she kissed his cheek. "Thanks for saving my life tonight." His eyes focused on her, the life seemed to slowly come back. He then pulled her into another hug.
"You're the one that save me," he said in a low voice before he let go of her. The butterflies flew inside of Ally. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Ally grinned before putting her hand on the doorknob to open it. She slipped inside and looked a Derek one more time before shutting the door. She through her jacket and scarf over to her bed before looking through the peep hole. Derek looked around the hall before walking towards the stairs. This was odd. He had to go the the right to get the boy's dorms, not left.
Ally wait another moment before opening the door quietly. She shut the door silently and walk crept down the hall. She saw Derek turn to go out the stairs. She waited till he was on the second flight to get up there herself. She tried no to make a sound as her ankle gave her a little bit of trouble. When she reached the top of the stairs, Ally waited for Derek to turn the corner before sprinting down the hall.
She would find out where he was going. Ally turned the corner, then backed up. Derek knocked on a door. Ally watched her her eyes barely peeking over the wall. When he was let inside, Ally made her move. She walked to the door Derek had gone into and pressed her ear against it. She didn't know if she would be able to make out any words, but it was worth a shot.
"Did you see her?" Matt's voice was muffled.
"Yes," Derek admitted,"Ally took her down. She really is upset about this." Ally felt her cheeks heat up a little. He was concerned about her. She knocked on the door and straightened herself up.
The room became very silent as she heard the lights being switched off. Matt cracked open the door a little, but he kept his hold on hit. He had a robe on with messed up hair. He looked tired. This was obviously, a trick. "Ally?" he said in a tired voice,"You're supposed to be in your own room."
"I know," Ally tried to look innocent,"I just need to come in and talk." She tried to move past the door, but he didn't move.
"What about Catherine and Cassidy?" Matt raised an eyebrow,"Or someone who's not trying to get any sleep tonight." Ally didn't know how to convince herself in.
"They're with their boyfriends," Ally told him. She then thought about how Derek was probably listening somewhere in the dark room. "Besides, I have full trust for you Matt." Ally stepped closer to him and fluttered her eyelashes.
"R-really?" Matt's eyes widened,"Why me?" She took another step closer to him.
"Oh Matt. You always know what to say to make my heart soar. You're so kind, and sweet. I can't barely control myself when I'm around you." Ally's face was so close to his that she couldn't see both of his blue eyes looking at her. She reached down for his hand and pried it off of the door handle. She then sprung into action. Pushing past him, she flicked on the lights and began looking.
She felt Derek's arms trying to grab her, but she got right out. Her eyes darted around the room before settling on a giant board. Many sheets of notebook paper had been hung and connected with different color of string. She didn't have time to see what the picture looked like since Derek and Matt both grabbed her by her arms. She was dragged into the hallway. They both let go of her and she dropped onto the floor.
"No wait," Ally sprung up to her feet no matter how much it hurt. Matt was shutting the door, but Ally threw herself into the room. She crashed between the door and its frame before rolling past it. She then just lay on the floor. She heard the footsteps of the boys come close to her again. "Please let me stay for at least a minute," Ally held up a hand. The impact of her leap was settling in. Even though it wasn't that painful, she knew she would have to act it up to stay.
The door closed, and Ally clenched her rib cage for emphasis of her being hurt. There were some whispers from the boys that Ally couldn't hear since they were behind her. Suddenly, she was scoped off the floor by Derek. He then set her on Matt's bed. "How bad does it hurt?" Derek looked into her eyes as he propped her ankle on his lap. Ally felt the butterflies shift inside her a little. She wanted to keep playing injured, but she wanted answers more.
"My ankle or the betrayal from you two?" Ally sat up and got off the bed. She walked closer to Matt. He raised an eyebrow before she reached and pulled the sting on his robe. He was still wearing the same clothes he was in at the game. She then turned to see Derek was only a few feet from her. "Don't try to throw me out again." Ally put on a tough face and crossed her arms. She meant it. "Or I'll get my mother involved."
"She's already involved," Matt said coolly from behind her. Ally turned with a raised eyebrow. He still had his own arms crossed. "Everyone's involved in this, what just happened outside, everyone was there. I called Derek to see what he knew on the matter." Ally could tell this was a lie. Why else would he try to hide Derek from her?
"No," Ally took a step his way,"You're hiding something from me. You got nervous while talking about the triplets and your relations with them. You lied to us about how Donna and you split apart. You and Derek have been consulting each other over the last week. And don't try to tell me another lie because I've been watching you stare at her everyday since the dance. No one looks at someone like that without knowing something others don't. Stop hiding things and start telling the truth. Before anyone gets hurt." Ally really didn't mean to go on a rant, but it needed to be said.
She was really close to Matt again. His expression was blank while she said these words. They looked into each other's eyes. Her's filled with intimidation, his, blank of emotion. For a few moments Ally wondered if it would be enough. He he be convinced to let Ally know the truth. He looked up to connect eyes with Derek before looking back down at her.
"Fine," Matt looked down a the floor. "I'll let you stay." Ally took a step back and softened her expression. She was proud of herself, she would finally know the truth. The girl turned to Derek. He gave her an approving nod.
"I saw tonight," Ally started,"Actually I tackled her. Then she just disappeared from under me. I think she's discovered her powers very recently. She doesn't know how to control them."
"She know how to control them," Matt cut her off. "You probably didn't know that one. Well, there's a lot you don't know. Take a seat." Derek pulled out the desk chair and turned it around. Ally sat down, facing the board. Derek sat next to her, but on the bed. Matt walked in front of the board of papers. Ally examine one to see it was a drawing of Donna in her new look.
"What do you mean there's a lot I don't know?" Ally questioned. "I was her best friend, we used to tell each other everything."
"Well not everything," Matt cut her off again,"This actually started back before the dance. You know the night Brandon had broken his arm, she didn't go on a walk. Well, she did, but she was attacked. She was attacked by something. She said that there was a glowing orb shattering into a mirror. Playing cards swirling around, then a red apple rotting into briers then burning into flames. She recalled a single rose laying on the ground then sinking into the ground, and an ending laugh. She never remembered getting herself to bed that night. So, she called me for breakfast. She told me." He pointed to the picture of Donna looking at an orb.
"Well why didn't she tell me?" Ally felt offended. With something that big Donna should've told her, they were still best friends then. Or so, Ally thought.
"She didn't want to freak you guys out and worry," Matt said in a calming voice,"She wanted to keep it a secret, and I already trusted her w-. We both had our own secrets the other kept. Anyway, she was convinced that it was her grandmother who had attacked. I showed her the grave, but when she touch the letters, she went into a trance."
"Trance?" Ally was confused.
"She was frozen for a little bit," Matt looked at the picture of where he was holding Donna. Ally studied it. She had to admit Matt was very realistic when it came to his art. "Then she suddenly sprung up and began to shake. After a while, it stopped. I didn't know what to think of it. She then told me she had seen when the Evil Queen was buried by Raven. She thought she was going crazy."
"That's why she flipped out on us," Ally recalled to that morning.
"Then, Derek said she had another spell later that day," Matt pointed to a picture of Derek helping Donna up. "We don't exactly know what had triggered it at that point, but we do now."
"He brought her back before the dance,"Ally remembered the way he looked at her. He wasn't angered, but sad. She looked over at Derek, who looked at the floor.
"Then something triggered her at the dance to flip," Matt pointed to the picture of him and Donna talking,"How did your fight start?"
"I took Brandon to the dance," Ally said without hesitation,"But I knew that couldn't have been the only reason. She liked him, but I thought she liked-" Ally cut herself off. She remembered passing the note to Donna about asking Matt to the dance. How red her cheeks had gotten. Ally looked up at Matt to see his eyebrows raised. He wanted an answer. "You." Ally said in a low voice.
Matt's cheek burned red for on a moment. "What? No." he shook his head. There was a little awkwardness spreading across the room.
"What did she do to you?" Ally asked. "I want to know the real answer this time. Not a simple lie." She remembered how close they had used to be. Nothing like that cold disappear in one night.
"I had gotten mad at her," Matt looked back at the board,"When I started tutoring with Molly, she gave me her number, then the morning of the dance, I lost it. I asked Donna if she had seen it, but she denied me. I ended up bringing Molly to the dance, hoping that there would be something more, but after the whole flame thing I didn't get a chance to clarify. The next day, Donna took me to this old hallway. We discussed her magic. She told me that she saw a broken mirror and all the memories attached to it. She had spent the night at her Grandmother's grave and had already moved in Laura. I told her that she shouldn't trust Laura with her magic and should tell her mom. She got mad at me. Then, I found the slip of paper Molly gave me. She took it. I was so mad and confused. I tried to leave, but she grabbed my wrist. I turned to her. She had told me she needed me. For a moment, I almost believed her, but I was caught up in my own life, I didn't realize that this is all my fault."
Ally stood up from the chair. The mood had shifted dramatically. She could hear a slight sniffled. Ally looked down at Derek, who looked at her with serious eyes. She looked back at Matt, who was staring at one picture on the wall. She walked up to him and looked at it too. He was staring at Donna, how had his wrist in her hand, tears in her eyes. He looked at her with cold eyes.
Ally looked to see Matt had one tear rolling down his cheek. Ally put a hand on his back. "Its everyone's fault Matt. Even Donna's. What's done is done, now we have to fix it. Tell me the rest. Please." He looked at her for a moment before nodding his head. Ally took a few steps back before sitting back in her chair.
"That's when she really changed," Matt nodded. "Those three girls, their nothing but trouble. Laura, has her won powers and has given them to Fauna, and.. Eliza."
"How do you know this?" Ally asked. she didn't even know the other girl's names. but there was something different about the way Matt said the last girl's name.
"I used to date Eliza," Matt shook his,"In my first year, back when I was on the bookball team."
"Whoa," Derek finally spoke after minutes of silence,"Your the freshman that got hurt last year?" Matt nodded. "Everyone said that you went crazy though."
"I guess," Matt shrugged,"I couldn't play anymore so I guess that makes me crazy." Ally didn't really buy this. but decided to bring it up another time. "Anyway Eliza told me about how Laura gave her powers and special magic. I just know it wasn't safe. Now I'm sure Laura has taught Donna to use her magic, but that only problem is... she would never want to hurt people like this. Someone could've died. That's just not Donna. There has to be some other cause, but what?"
Ally thought about this. Some unknown source. She thought about how her mother was once possessed by the Evil Queen. It happened after many interactions with the Evil Queen. Ally then thought about her dream. The Evil Queen's signature in the book. Donna and the broken mirror shards. The book wanting to sign her life away.
"I think I know," Ally suddenly realized,"I think I saw what happened." Matt turned and looked at her with curiosity.