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The dark night sky allowed the pupils in Cackles Academy to sleep, Katherine was resting in her bed as her dreams consumed her mind.

A bright eye blonde hair girl eagerly flew on her broom behind her mother. The eleven year old was thrilled to attend Cackles. The wet warm air was hitting her skin as she watched her mother fly gracefully. Hardbroom's familiar sat peacefully, Morgona watched Katherine with her green eyes. It wasn't a cat that Katherine was attached to, Morgona in Katherine's young mind was a snitch. She never could do anything without Morgona giving her away. Her mother's figure slowly swooped down from the clouds as Katherine allowed herself to follow.

The castle appeared as the two witches reached its destination. Trees surrounded the castle as a great wall was placed around, keeping what needed to be in, inside and what belonged out, outside. Katherine felt anxious as she allowed her feet to hit the ground. Taking her broom into her right hand. Standing infront of Cackle's Academy was nothing she had never done before, but to her it was her second home.

"Come child" her mother ordered.

It was a few hours before her selection test. Hardbroom led the way into the castle, she felt nervous as she entered the familiar area. To enter as a pupil was different, for the first time she would be allowed here while other girls were present. She would be allowed to make friends. Katherine always ran around the castle as a toddler, driving her mother insane on off periods. As youngster she came during the off periods while living with her father during terms. Now it would be different, majority of her life would be living in the same area as her mum.

The nervous girl turned to her right as both Ada and her twin sister Agatha stood in the corridor. The two twins were a familiar sight for the young child. Ada gave Katherine a warm hug, Hardbroom watched before giving her friend a warm smile, the chatting between headmistress and deputy head began. Agatha walked toward Katherine and leaned forward. Agatha was the fun one in Katherine's eyes. She made every holiday magical and felt like her only friend. Being homeschooled by a tutor she never could make true age appropriate friends.

"Good morning, Kat" she whispered before Katherine embraced the witch with a hug. Agatha's scent of lavender filled her nose as she buried her face within the womans arms. Her mother stood in disapproval as Ada gave a forced smile. The relationship was not approved by the adults. Agatha took the young witches hand guiding her away from the other two.

"Are you nervous" Agatha asked as her eyes locked on Katherine. Katherine nodded as she spoke "I am" of course she was nervous. Her mother warned her that the test wasn't going to be easy, but that she expected high marks.

"You will do amazing, I promise...my sister almost wanted me not to come" Agatha made her face turn into a frown.

"Why" Katherine asked with concern.

"She didn't want me to distract you, in my mind" she tapped her head with her index finger "I knew me coming would not distract you. Your parents are blessed to have a witch with gifts like you...I'm hoping we could do something fun before it begins" Agatha's dark pink lips tilted up into a smile not showing her teeth. Before Katherine could say a word she felt her mother's hand upon her chest as she pressed Katherine against her own body.

"Thank you for your words, but she does not need you filling her ears before her selection exam" her mothers words ended with a snap which made Katherine disappear into her mom's bedroom.

Stirring in her sleep she heard a wolf howl.

Katherine now stood at the top of the tower with Agatha. Agatha wore her black hat and shawl looking at Katherine. For the first time in her life she was scared. She couldn't believe what Agatha was doing and how foolish she was to steal from her mother's forbidden cupboard in her bedroom.

"I need you to sprinkle it upon the poppies so we can use them. "

"I'm scared" Katherine pleaded as she looked at the curse she helped make by stealing the ingredients. The forever sleeping curse.

"Don't make me choose between you and this school...because Katherine...you will not win" Agatha gripped Katherine's chin pulling the sobbing girl closee to her face.

"Do it" she ordered. The door within the tower swung open as a Ada Cackle stood in the doorway.

The wolf howled once more in the night.

Katherine sat in a desk in the middle of the hall. All the pupils were watching her. Mildred and everyone were pointing at her and were laughing. Katherine was no longer the eleven year old from her past but the true age sitting in the desk with her mother before her. Her mother was looking at her golden clock around her neck. The room became ice cold, Katherine could see her breath infront of her.

"Precisely two minutes. To complete...your...witch exam" slamming the cover down for her watch locket as she looked at Katherine in anger. Katherine's jaw dropped as she looked at the mountain of paper that appeared on her desk. Impossible she thought as she tried to start as the room filled with more laughter.

"Quill down" Hardbroom ordered as Katherine tried to say she wasnt done. No words came out as she clawed at her own throat. She couldn't speak, it was as if her own voice was no longer working. Trying to scream at her mum to help her, she fell upon the floor that opened into a black hole.

Esmerelda Hallow screamed "Liar. She's a Liar" as everyone else joined in chanting "Liar"

Katherine shot up from her slumber with a cold sweat. She remembered her selection day clearly and wished she could just forget it, everytime she thought of the poppies and potion Agatha convinced her to assist with, made her have a nightmare. Instead of falling back to sleep, Katherine decided to watch the sunrise as she hugged Zelena. The guilt of lies felt like it was consuming her soul. Her heart ached but she feared telling the truth.

The day started like normal, girls going to breakfast on this Sunday morning, while teachers monitored. Katherine was still shook up from her nightmare that instead of food for her stomach, she felt a breather of fresh warm air would do her good. Once she was in the court yard her feet carried her to the small pond. The air was warm against her skin, her eyes looked around the beautiful garden, thinking. Thoughts flooded her head as she wondered if she should have been truthful. The dream reminded her of a time where she wasn't truthful to her mum, a time when things went terrible. A part of her wanted to turn back and go see the one person that she could be true with, Esmerelda.

The rustle in the trees filled her ears as she called out.

"Who is there" her voice soft but stern. She didn't want fellow pupils to think something was bothering her. The wind blew her blonde hair back, thinking it was just the wind Katherine relaxed. As the moment she allowed her guard to fall, golden eyes appeared in the shadows. The almond shape eyes stared at her as if the creature was reading her thoughts. Feeling what she was feeling. Normally she would run from such a wolf. In her class Myth and Legend they learned about wolves her first year at Cackles. Wolves can scent magic, the connection between witch and wolf can be grand or dangerous. She was taught to avoid creatures in Hallow forest, but seeing the white majestic creature entering the castle grounds, made her wonder. Why did it keep coming back?

Taking a few steps forward she watched as the creature took a step back before turning its body to walk thru the trees. Katherine allowed curiosity consume her as she followed the white wolf. Throwing all the warnings she was taught out of the window.

It led her to the stone wall that protected the castle from the outside, she watched how the wolf had found a hole deep enough under the wall to enter and exit. Noticing a carved name 'Joy' on the stone, the name not ringing a bell as she allowed herself to whisper it. Lowering her body to the hole she could tell that it was once sealed but the wolf must of reopened it. Curious where the hole led she started to crawl behind the creature.

Leaving the school grounds with no permission was forbidden, but Katherine couldnt help but follow. The other side of the wall was filled with trees as she continued to mimick the wolf's lead. It led her all the way to Crystal Lake.

Crystal Lake was on the east side, closer to the nonmagical world. Normally the girls traveled West on the grounds surrounding the castle if they had permission. She heard about Crystal Lake and knew her mother came here to collect potion items, but she herself never officially witnessed the place first hand. The wolf gracefully licked the water as Katherine observed the rocks and pebbles that were beneath her muddy black school boots.

"Its a beautiful creature" a young man's voice filled Katherine's ears. Her body tensed, she wasn't sure who or what spoke behind her. Hearing her own pulse in her ears from fear, Katherine turned around, looking at a young boy that seemed a few years older then her. He was tall with a small amount of muscle on his arms, his youthful face was barley growing a beard on his jawline, his brown hair was scruffy on his head and sparkling from sweat. The accent that gave his words a twang was not familiar to Katherine that she was unsure where he was from. Katherine didn't speak as the boy stared at her.

"I hope I didn't frighten you, cher" he added as his accent had a drawl. The last word made her right brow rise, she had no clue what he called her or said. Staring into his brown eyes unsure if he was a wizard. But, with his blue jean pants and white muscle shirt she couldn't help but assume that he was a nonmagical person. Unsure how he was able to see her Katherine was confused since she knew Cackles had the spell on every pupil to protect them. To protect them from being seen. Glancing at the wolf then back at the boy, not sure if the wolf had a connection with all of it.

"You did" Katherine finally spoke up but looked at her dirty hands and school uniform. She looked like a total wreck, she could feel the dried up mud under her nails from crawling beneath the wall. The boy took a step forward and Katherine backed away, quickly.

Her foot slipped upon the stone causing her to fall within the lake. Her uniform was soaked beneath her as she watched the wolf become startled and run away. Leaving her with this boy. The boy quickly ran over to her and helped the soaking wet witch out of the lake.

"Are you alright" he asked as Katherine jerked her arm out of his grasp once she was out of the water. Her red and black socks started to feel soggy upon her feet.

"I'm fine" she added not wanting a stranger to touch her. The dirt on her body turned to mud as it became one with the water.

"And rude" he added.

Surprised by his honesty, she quickly apologized for her behavior. Not wanting to seem rude when he was kind enough to lift her out of the water. She was so curious how he could see her.

"Well...are you sure you are okay, you seem like your staring at a ghost"

"I'm fine...I must go" she added as she walked out of the lake. Trying to figure out which way she came. No longer looking at the mystrey boy.

"Do you need me to assist you back home or" he looked Katherine up and down "or school" her dirty uniform giving the hint that she was a student.

"No...I'm capable of doing it myself. Thank you" Katherine replied as she brushed her blonde hair out her face looking toward the familiar path she had just came from.

"Are you sure...um...what's your name" the boy asked.

Panic rose again with Katherine. Not knowing who he was or what, she couldn't risk saying her own name. Yet lying once again seemed to become a habit for Katherine this school term. The first name that popped into her head came out.

"Joy" she lied thinking of the name on the wall that led her here.

"Well Joy, if you are sure that my assistance is not needed" he trailed off as Katherine started to walk off, she allowed her head to turn toward him once more stopping as she spoke.

"Thank you for helping me up...um" she didn't know his name. It was as if the boy read her face expression.

"Noah...and your welcome" he slowly picked up a stone and threw it into the lake, allowing the rock to skip perfectly. Katherine watched in amazement before giving him a slight smile. She turned her attention back to her path as his words continued.

"I hope to see you again" it was an odd hope Katherine thought. She didn't even know him but shook her head as she continued to walk.

"You won't"

Leaving the boy alone at Crystal Lake.

She made her way back to the castle wall and crawled back under it. Adding more dirt to her skin and clothes.

Her blue eyes landed upon the name Joy. She never heard of someone named Joy, yet as she allowed her thumb to trace each letter that was engraved she couldn't help but think that maybe she wasn't the only witch who wanted to escape while attending Cackles Academy.