She stumbles down the dimly light hallways deep into the belly of Cackles Academy wearing her pristine black robe. Her hair is haphazardly secured into a braid losing its fight with gravity as she carries her flashlight. Fear seems to be driving her towards a faint noise. Her feet begin to carry her more quickly as the noise draws near. Initially it sounds like a kitten mewing. In a matter of seconds it is clear that the cries are not escaping the lips of a kitten. The distinct high-pitch cry propels her into action, and beyond her own fear.
The door to the storage room creaks as she pushes it open. She stops and tears a sheet off a dusty cauldron. She reaches inside, and lifts out a crying infant. As she tucks the infant into her robe the crying ceases. A dark figure appears nearby beneath an archway.
"I knew instinct would bring you here."
Hecate jerks into consciousness. Her heart races, and she finds herself drenched in sweat as she attempts to orient herself. With the flick of a switch the room is illuminated. She pulls her knees to her chest, and tries to drive the overwhelming sense of unease from her body. Progressive muscle relaxation only minimally assists the rigidity of her body.
At breakfast she stares into her bowl of porridge in utter silence. Ada catches her as she tries to stifle a yawn.
"Late night?" She queries.
Hecate remains unusually quiet. A simple shake of her head is the only response that Ada can elicit.
"It is nearly time for class. If you aren't going to eat you should at least drink your tea."
Hecate looks into the teacup. She feels no desire to participate in any breakfast related activities. She silently excuses herself from the table, and retreats to her classroom. Throughout the entirety of the day she remains oddly quiet. She offers little reaction even when Mildred Hubble dumps potion onto her floor. She simply materializes a mop for the pupil, and continues with grading.
At the end of the day Ada waits outside the doorway as the pupils file out. Once the room has cleared out she finds a relatively morose version of Hecate Hardbroom sitting at her desk grading assignments. Ada stops at the end of the desk. Hecate doesn't even acknowledge her presence, she simply continues with the task at hand.
"Hecate?"
"Can this wait?" She responds flatly.
"It cannot. You have been utterly withdrawn all day. I find myself quite concerned. My understanding is that you did not even chastise Mildred Hubble when she dumped potion all over your recently cleaned floor."
Hecate finally shifts her glance upwards, "She cleaned up her mess. No harm was done."
"What has gotten into you today?"
"I didn't sleep well," admittedly.
"The queen of potions, and you suffered through a night of insomnia?"
"Nightmares, actually."
"Oh?"
"Must we discuss this?"
"Obviously it was quite disturbing if it has you this off kilter."
"Just an overwhelming sense that an ominous cloud hangs overhead."
"It was just a dream."
Hecate breaks eye contact, "I'm not so certain that it was."
Ada furrows her brow, "Whatever do you mean, Hecate?"
"It seemed more like a memory than a dream."
"Tell me about it," Ada implores.
"I politely reject that suggestion."
"Hecate do not follow this feeling into a proverbial rabbit hole. I beg of you."
Her eyes flick upwards locking with Miss Cackles. "How will I stop what is to come?"
She squeezes her shoulder, "Rest assured that darkness will not prevail here. You have never allowed it to."
"I did not say that my dream had anything to do with darkness."
"All nightmares do. It is how our subconscious sorts out our fears. Do not feed it, Hecate."
"That is an odd choice of words."
"Do not stare into the abyss," Miss Cackles appeals.
"Understood."
Miss Cackles wags her finger, as if she is instructing a pupil, "Hecate do not lend it anymore of your time. I am serious."
"What are you withholding from me?" Hecate queries.
"Nothing. I am just offering my years of experience. I have witnessed the undoing of many from staring into the darkness. It is not as benign as the darkness peering back at you. On occasion it reaches out, and entangles you in its tentacles. Promise me that you will not do anything drastic."
"I am a rule follower," Hecate reminds her.
"The code stands as protection."
"I am not a first year pupil. Ada I am well aware of the significance of the code. As you said, it was merely a dream."
"Rain clouds bear no peaceful tempests," Ada responds as she turns to leave the room.
Mildred Hubble passes her in the hall. Hecate hears the pupil approaching, and rises from her seat.
"Miss Hardbroom?"
"Yes, Mil-dred Hub-ble?"
"Am I interrupting?"
"Nothing of importance. What brings you back to the potions lab?"
"Penance, I suppose."
Hecate furrows her brow, "I didn't sentence you to any."
"Guilt then, I suppose," she admits.
"Why are your boots covered in silt?"
"I spilled the last of your aqueous digitalis solution," Mildred holds out a jar, "I thought it only fair that I bring you more." She places the container on Miss Hardbroom's desk.
"We were not making anything containing digitalis. It is an incredibly dangerous, and potentially fatal ingredient to use."
"We were supposed to use Dicentra eximia. Seeing as they are arranged alphabetically I simply grabbed the wrong container. It seems that if not for my clumsiness I could have killed someone, namely you."
"The container was clearly marked."
Mildred points to the jar on Hecate's desk, "The solution spilled, but the container didn't actually fall to the floor. That is the original container."
Hecate removes the container from the surface of her desk. She examines it closely. There is a drop of solution beneath the freshly picked foxglove. It is obvious that it has not been washed. It is also apparent that the writing on the label has worn off only to read, Di.
"I can stay and do inventory, and ensure that everything is appropriately labeled, if you see fit for me to be in detention," Mildred offers.
"I do not. It was an honest mistake," Hecate responds flatly.
Mildred's eyes nearly bug out of her head, "Did you miss the part where I nearly killed you?"
"I would suggest that you accept my dismissal before I change my mind, Mildred Hubble."
With a nod Mildred turns, and leaves the room.