Finally free of Margaret's hands, the trio can have a well deserved rest after the intense fight against the witch, in this escape attempt that ended up working, but that still some things were left and with that questions were already raised about Ford's creation that saved their lives, besides what happened to the witch herself.
Being that the four adults ended up revealing that they killed Benson, even causing a little shock, at the same time the trio was also celebrating jumping with excitement, only that they would still get rid of the body since it couldn't simply stay there rotting.
And so all of them sort of separated by their rooms, where they went to change and take a shower, relaxing a little bit, since that was an intense fight, mainly Laura, Bernadette, Croix and Chariot that did as fast as possible, already prepared to go out and buy some stuff for the body.
They left Luna Nova, going with the car to a closer shop, where they bought a 100 litres plastic barrel, and also bought 100 litres of hydrochloric acid, without raising much suspicion, since they bought it in different places separately.
When they got back they put everything in a cart and carried it through the corridors to the floor below, the students just noticed those things, but they were relatively calm, then they arrived where Ford's body was and got a little shocked.
" She's gone... " Du Nord said.
" That's impossible, where did that bitch go? I told you to take the coup de grâce, she escaped from here " McLaren said.
" Easy there love, now let's have a look around " Cavendish said.
The Cavendish was soon closing her eyes to try to look for magical presences, what ends up revealing where she passed, at least the traces revealed the healing of the wounds, but only, that, after the rest nothing was revealed.
But she still used some spell to reveal where there would be traces, in the mean time Laura finds some ashes, already knowing what happened.
" She took off her clothes and burnt everything, she ran away from here " said the redhead.
" I'm already tracking her footprints, that's why I found bare feet strange around here " said the platinum haired one.
The path was soon revealed, with the footprints half"lit by magic, where they followed the path and from there they saw only what was a hole, but it was all buried, as if it was something purposeful, through there ending the search once and for all.
" Shit, she's not that stupid. She's not that stupid, we'll never really find her from here, she's buried this whole tunnel so we can't really go after her," Croix said.
" And what do we do then? " McLaren asks.
" Let's tell the girls about what happened, already warn especially Akko's family, since they might be in some danger, let's be as alert as possible to the danger, since it might be everywhere " Du Nord said.
" Then we go back, I use a digging machine and we walk all the way through the tunnel, or we use the maps of Luna Nova, now we will try to see if there is anything beyond here, to search the old laboratory and dungeon of this witch " said Meridies.
The four get out of there and go to where the old hiding place was, where the traps were still activated, but it was kind of easy to dodge that whole corridor, arriving there it was practically all destroyed, until in a very intentional way by Margareth, all the machinery abandoned, being enough to take pictures, the traces of fingerprints and genetics were also kind of cleaned, leaving only a trace of magic left in the place, revealing that really someone passed through there, but it would be useless to trace through there.
" It's really inhuman here, I wonder how the girls didn't suffer in these cells," said Laura looking at the cell corridor.
" The important thing is that it's all over now, it's even strange to have these other luxurious rooms " Bernadette said taking a look elsewhere in the dungeon.
" She did a real file burn here, there's nothing we can find in relation to the old traces she left along the way, let's just photograph here and then leave, the girls must know more " said Meridies.
And from there they kept taking pictures by all the places that were left, since there were still many parts of that dungeon still intact, like the two luxurious rooms, that only the cameras planted there were destroyed, without even having any way to repair or get information, it was a Ford tactic of not leaving any trace. After that they all went back to Luna Nova's room, where they had already told everyone that they would meet to talk.
Meanwhile at the respective rooms the girls this time free were talking between themselves about all the situation that they had been through, after a bath that they took to relieve everything.
" And so Akko, how was it spending your time there, did Margareth do much mischief to you? " Manbavaran asks.
" You have no idea, we were beaten badly, she fried our bodies to a pulp with those shocks, not to mention that we had to resort to practically pissing our trousers because of that toilet she made " said Kagari.
" How is it? Gross, I can't believe I hugged you with my clothes all pissed off " said Sucy.
" I was dry hours ago, if you were in the same place, you would be the same, have you ever tried to pee with a camera on you and on top of that on your friend's side and in a hole on the floor? I don't even want to remember that, not to mention that cockroaches climbed on us and it was really disgusting, ahhhhh, it was all the time those things walking was the psychological torture that Margareth made us go through " said Atsuko.
The girls of the red team are getting impressed with the Japanese girl's conversation and soon they receive a message to come to the room, with Chariot's call for another important meeting.
A little earlier back in the green team room, Amanda was also going on about her experiences and mentioning pretty much the same thing as her friend.
" It was hell over there, I even envied the Cavendish for staying in luxury and still eating, because that's what Margaret loved to throw in our faces, but she suffered worse, we still had a shred of dignity, she was watched all the time, on top of that the damned did horrible things to her " O'Neill said and Constanze soon shows what she wrote in her notebook.
"I'm glad they killed her, at least now she's gone from base and gone where she deserves to go, that bitch, I'm sure even hell won't want to see her again... Good to see you back Amanda, we've missed you around here."
" Totally, now it's a relief that she left this plan, now I know what Cavendish's mother used to say and warned us about this witch, she is the danger in person, I swear I never want to meet this monster ever again in my life " said the American.
" Now you are well and with us Amanda, we will never abandon you and listen more to Cons, we already knew that Nelson stunk," Jasminka said.
" I'm sorry guys, in the end you warned me, you were right, I've already learned my lesson here and I won't mess with you anymore " said the salmon haired girl and then Constanze shows another notebook she wrote.
"You have no idea how boring it's been without you, at first it was nice to have some peace, but then it was one bore after another, not to mention the worry, we knew what happened and we were left with the greatest burden, but we're glad you're back and that's what matters.
Then the mobile phone beeps the notifications, calling for the girls, the same warning given to Akko, for the meeting at Luna Nova's room, being something that seemed very important, with that they're leaving their room.
Meanwhile at the blue team's room the same happened with Diana, who was leaving there and she barely talked to her colleagues, she just arrived there, took a shower, where she stayed reflecting looking at the ceiling for a while, then she left there and went to check the messages, finding one from her mother warning her to go to the room.
" Are you going out again Diana? We can hardly get excited about your return, we don't even know what happened... Why don't you tell us? What about your hair? What did we do? " said Barbara, holding her friend's arm.
" I'll tell you someday in more depth, but what I can tell you is that I was held in private custody at the hands of a person called Margaret, deep underground in Luna Nova, she pulled out my hair and now I'm like this," Cavendish said.
" You've been different since Akko arrived, nothing against you and her being girlfriends, but I still want to know what's really going on, it seems like your long time friends can't know anything, is this because we humiliated your girlfriend? Sorry, you know," said Hannah.
" No Hannah it has nothing to do with this, it's something bigger than you two can know, it's not the time to tell you yet, especially as I know you and you're all gossips, once you know you'll run to Avery and Mary and tell them everything and they'll tell the rest and so on and so forth," said the Scot.
" Damn it Diana don't you trust us? " England asks.
" If I'm saying this it's because I don't, you have no idea of the hell I had to go through, that's why I prefer to keep quiet, I'll tell you when I get back, I promise, but I won't tell you what's going on deeper, this is a serious matter, which may involve even your lives " Said the short haired girl in a more serious tone and then leaving the room towards the living room.
The two still remained in their doubts, but they decided to leave their friend alone, it could be noticed that Diana's face was very upset by everything that had happened, so they didn't want to bother her anymore, mainly Parker who noticed that and talked to her friend so that she wouldn't disturb her friend yet, since it was a very serious matter to deal with. So much that they went to distract themselves with something else.
At the room were all the girls called to meet, one by one appeared there, until all the called girls were at the place, the more to solve this issue.
" This will be our last meeting to practically define what will happen in the summer, since we have a big concern to deal with," said Croix.
" What do you mean concern? Didn't you kill Margaret? " Diana said, raising her voice, and a hush came over the place, with the four adult women keeping their heads down.
" Did you lie to us? " Said Akko who was also becoming desperate.
" How could they have done that! She got away and she's still going to continue to cause more terror! I could have sworn the damn thing was dead! " Said Amanda already getting furious too.
" It's not that we didn't succeed, but because... The poor thing survived, Croix shot her in the head, right here, but then when we went to get rid of the body she disappeared " Laura said, even pointing the place of the shot.
" I'm sorry about that, it was my mistake, Laura wanted to make a coup de grâce, she wanted to check if Margaret had really died, but I didn't let her because I thought it was too cruel, if you want to blame someone, blame me " Bernadette said, which ended up lightening the mood, as much as she admitted a fault nobody wanted to point fingers.
" I wanted to shoot her, I understand all the cruelty, I got blood on my head, especially for you Diana, we wanted to do justice, now we are in a complicated situation, it was bad for what happened " McLaren said.
" No mothers, it's ok, you didn't equal her, you fought cleanly and went to the end, the important thing is that you are alive, even if she runs away, she knows that we are prepared for whatever comes " Diana said.
" Because of that we are changing plans, Morgana, Saori, Akko, I think the safest thing is for you to live in Luna Nova with us, at least temporarily until we get Margareth, you can stay here for free, we won't charge you any rent, at least until everything clears up " Chariot said.
" I understand, and we will soon come to live here then, all for the protection of my girl, our house would be too vulnerable for Margaret to come and do anything," Morgana said.
" Well, we used to live in rented accommodation anyway, so it's easy to get around, we're moving to another new place this time, and you Akko, what do you think? " Saori asks.
" Yes, I'd love to stay here, close to my friends, it'll be wonderful, it's even a dream to be close to them," Kagari said excitedly.
" So it's all settled, but before we leave, could you tell us what you went through with Margaret, just so we can write it down better," said Du Nord.
" Of course! " say the three of them.
And so they begin to detail, one by one, the days they spent, the Japanese and the American went through similar things, Diana even had a little more luxury, but she still went through the terror of losing her dignity at the hands of Ford, it was a huge shock for all to hear the words that the three said, especially Cavendish in going through something so terrifying.
After the stories, the situation was better understood, including the description that the Scottish woman gave about the creation of Margaret, which fit with all the theories that they thought about the witch.
" Fuck, now yes it makes sense that she took Diana's body, she zombified my great grandmother " Bernadette said.
" She told me everything, everything that goes on today with our family is intentional on her part, it was all to destroy us, she was there putting her hand in so that the only offspring that may have the dignity to continue was hers with Diana who didn't even love her " said the eldest daughter.
" This explains all the manipulation now, I knew it stunk, I read the book of Margaret's autobiography, she never told her intentions with this plan to manipulate aunt Marie and aunt Amelia, now I know that it was all set up to cause the breakup and look she really succeeded, my mother treated me like a puppet, Daryl was indirectly affected by this too, this damn thinks of everything " said the mother with platinum hair.
" I am in shock that she made such a creature, now it makes sense the constant disappearances between 2004 and 2006, it was all that damned woman who caused it, how many people didn't die because of that witch, I remember the terror it was " Chariot said.
" If I'm not mistaken there were 13 girls who disappeared and all for Margaret's ambitions to bring dead people back to life, an inhuman experiment... We really should have taken that shot, who knows what's coming next," Croix said.
" Look, the important thing is to know that we are all OK, that we know what happened, now we have to move on, in the summer we will catch this bitch and we will manage to win this battle," said Laura.
" We've only delayed our mission to restore magic a little, but I'm sure we'll still succeed," Du Nord said.
" Our magic of believing in ourselves no one can take away and now with Claiomh Solais in hand we will be able to find the seven words and thus who knows save this world from the worst " said Meridies.
" For the future of all magic we are still here to conquer the best, I am sure we will succeed, a powerful witch never gives up " Bernadette said.
" And we are also with you " Akko said.
" Whatever happens we will restore the magic to achieve this new goal," Diana said.
" This has been the longest winter of my life, I will never forget how those two weeks have gone and it has made me certain that as a witch I intend more than ever to follow in this new world that you will create with our determination," Amanda said.
" I am very proud of you, you are the best, you are brave, I am very inspired," said Hellene.
" And why not you too Hellene? It was thanks to you that we traced where Margareth's hiding place is and thus we could make our rescue mission, all of you were important in something, we are a group, don't forget that " Laura said, hugging her daughter.
" Now enjoy this last day of winter break and have fun, we'll get things ready to go back to Scotland," the eldest Cavendish said and her daughters nodded in agreement.
After this moment they all hold hands and stand up at the same time shouting for a better future to magic, where from there the girls kind of go out to have a party meeting, this time to liven up the mood a little more, the Scottish lass even decided to call all of them to the blue team's room, since there is more space to celebrate, besides having space for all eleven to sleep, before leaving for another period of classes until the beginning of the summer holidays.
See you, meeting witches...