Chapter Two: Divide and Conquer

An exhausted Mildred blinked several times, the darkness remained. She realized that she must have slipped into the equally dark subconscious world only to find that still remained in the claustrophobic blackness of a prison and the prospect of escaping was merely a wish.

A faint rustling caused her heart-rate to catapult into the stratosphere and suddenly imagined a variety of nocturnal creatures eagerly stalking her trembling body. Mildred held her breath and intently listened, her bottom lip quivered in fright. She swallowed knowing that fresh tears, beyond her control would erupt and she cowered only imaging the harsh scolding she would receive from the potion teacher. Mildred squeezed her eyes closed, fighting her body's protest, she would not allow herself to cry, she would remain strong and awaited for instructions from her teacher as she clutched onto the lingering hope that they may, somehow escape.

The silence was deafening, Constance wanted to engage with the student, to assess for further injuries and to offer reassurance but also for herself, the memories of being locked in a darkened room against her will began to resurface, she urgently needed to occupy her mind. After all, she could not afford Mildred to hear her break under the pressure of remaining in firm control all the while attempting to formulate a plan to escape.

"Are you alright, Mildred?" asked the familiar, stern voice

Mildred exhaled calmly, secretly relieved to hear the stern toned voice of her teacher apposite to the imaginary conversation taken place within her head in order to keep herself calm although this was the same teacher that could easily render Mildred into a forgetful wreck and shatter all her confidence with a few words.

"Yes, Miss Hardbroom...just a sore head." She complained

"Do you have any other injuries that you are aware of?" continued Constance, attempting to for a clear picture in her mind of her student's current state of health and overall well-being.

Mildred shook her head, "No, Miss. Are you hurt?" she dared to reciprocate and asked

"I'm fine."

Mildred simply frowned and wondered if her teacher was merely staying that to prevent her from worrying. She decided to change the subject, needing to talk.

"What do they want with us?"

Constance had been struggling against the restraints that held her tightly, her wrists ached painfully, and she had to conserve her energy.

"We will hopefully not be here long enough to find that out, Mildred." She replied with confidence

"And what if we can't escape?" pushed Mildred, addressing the elephant in the room.

Constance sighed however she mentally applauded her courage and maturity of a very dangerous situation that they had both been thrust into.

"It would appear that Agatha plans to use you in order to get what she wants from me."

"Your power?" questioned Mildred, as she shivered that the thought of what Agatha could accomplish by harnessing her teacher's energy.

Mildred regarded the deputy headmistress and her potion teacher to be the most powerful witch that she had ever had the honour of sharing the same room as her. She knew her teacher had an immense and vast knowledge as she somehow was able to memorize nearly every book in the library and how she had witnessed the incredible skills and effort her teacher demonstrated often when something had gone wrong in a class. It was like an art form, mastering the power and energy with dedication and a degree of control but the question remained what did Agatha want with all this power?

Somewhere in the darkness, Constance growled at the thought of being subjected to control, "She had no idea of the power she tries to control."

"But why?" continued Mildred, expecting her teacher to know everything

"Have faith Mildred, know your enemy and if I know Agatha as well as I do then she will oblivious feel the need to brag about her plans. It has always been one of her many weaknesses." Replied Constance with a faint smile as she knew that Agatha would at some point unwittingly provide her with an advantage over the older witch

Constance and Mildred remained silent as they heard raised voices behind the door, their fate was already decided it was simply a matter of time now. The heavy door slammed opened, the sheering lighted threatened to blind them and caused both witches of wince against the sudden exposure.

"I want the girl!" Barked Agatha

Mildred cowered away, her restraints clattered loudly against the stone floor and for a brief moment she was free. Hope twinkled momentarily until she felt hands painfully snake around her arms and pulled her against her will.

"No...Let me go! Help me...Miss Hardbroom." She shouted, resisting and fighting the vice-like grip of the obedient witches that carried out Agatha's orders.

Agatha laughed at Mildred's protesting, "No-one is going to save you." She growled, remembering the squirming student that had been deemed the worst witch in the entire school had successfully foiled her plans on more than one occasion and left her reputation in tatters. Agatha had become the laughing stock of the entire magical community.

Constance fought against the restraints that rendered her powerless to help her student. Her wrists were fierily red from her constant attempts to escape. She realized that Agatha had indeed been prepared and researched every miniscule detail as Constance realized that the restraints had been tainted with black magic which prevented her from escaping but also had been slowly siphoning her energy.

"Leave her out of this, Agatha. Take me instead." Shouted Constance, instantly commanding their attention, offering herself as a sacrifice if it meant to save her student from the clutches of Agatha

Agatha paused briefly and contemplated the offer before she cackled wickedly, "A very tempting offer, Constance." Her features relaxed into a scowl, "When will you learn that you posses no power here, no command...take her away."

Constance shouted and frantically began to struggle her restraints until the pain forced her to stop the pathetic attempts. Mildred's screaming had long since gone silent and now a sense of panic and dread threatened to overwhelm her as she condemned to the dark prison alone.

'I have become what I have feared the most, helpless.'

An eerie thought made her realize that she had failed Mildred and feared the worst for her student at the hands of Agatha.