Chapter 4

"Have you seen Joy?" Patricia asks Vera.

"Not since this morning," lies Vera. "Why? Is something wrong?"

Patricia is about to continue when she is interrupted by Alfie. "Is supper ready yet?"

"Yes," replies Vera, "It is. Would you do me a favor and please tell the others?" Alfie nods and walks away while Vera sets the table. One by one all the students, except Joy of course, make their way to the dining room for supper. They all dig in to the lovely stew that Vera has prepared.

After taking a few bites, Jerome turns toward the housemother. "What kind of meat is this? Beef?"

This startles Vera and she takes a moment to think before answering, "Yes dear, something of the sort." Although given this unusual, almost suspicious, response, Jerome shrugs and continues eating.

When supper's over, the dining room clears out and Patricia decides to approach Vera again. "Are you sure you haven't seen Joy?"

"I'm quite sure," replies Vera without batting an eye. "Now why don't you go do your homework? I heard there's a big essay due next week. Wouldn't want to get a bad mark now would we?"

"I guess not." Wanting to interrogate further but not knowing what exactly to ask, Patricia decides to leave Vera alone. But just as she's about to walk away Vera says something.

"Lies," she says. "It's all lies." This sends a chill down Patricia's spine because although the words came out of Vera's mouth, it most certainly wasn't her voice. Adding to the fear was the fact that the voice seemed angry, very angry.

"Excuse me," says the frightened girl. "What was that you said?"

"She has murdered the Chosen One." Again the words come out of Vera's mouth but it isn't her voice. It does sound kind of familiar to Patricia though. She's definitely heard it before. That's when she notices something else that's weird. It's the woman's eyes. They've turned completely black and if she looks closely she can almost see a face in them. She recognizes this for sure.

"Senkhara," whispers Patricia. Then a bit louder she says, "What do you mean Senkhara? The Chosen One? What's happened to Nina?"

"I'm sorry dear. Did you say something?" Vera's back.

Without saying a word Patricia turns and bolts up the stairs. She barges into Nina and Amber's room and sees Nina sitting on her bed reading a book. Breathing a huge sigh of relief she embraces her friend, taking the girl by surprise.

"You okay?" asks Nina, looking perplexed.

"Not really," replies a still shaken-up Patricia. "I'm just glad you are."

"Why wouldn't I be okay?"

"Just something someone said."

"Who?"

"Senkhara." It's barely audible but Nina understands immediately.

"You saw Senkhara?" asks a now worried Nina. "What happened? What'd she say?"

Patricia tells Nina the story starting from when Joy disappeared and ending with what Senkhara said. When she's finished Nina asks, "She told you that the Chosen One had been murdered?"

"Yes. At least that's what I thought she said. I think she was talking about Vera."

"Vera murdered the Chosen One?"

"That's what she said but you're still here. You are still here right?" Patricia reaches out and pokes Nina in the arm. She feels Nina's skin beneath her fingers. She's definitely alive. "Okay. Just making sure."

Nina giggles. "As far as I know I haven't been murdered."

"Well that's a good thing," says Fabian as he walks into the room. "What's going on in here? Girl talk or something?"

"We need to have a Sibuna meeting," says Nina. "Tonight at Sibuna clearing."