By the time the sun started sleepily rising over the horizon, everyone was on lockdown in the main auditorium. Some were curled up asleep,but most were awake waiting for answers. With the exception of Ciel and the girls who found Isabella, everyone was kept completely in the dark of the situation. Panic whispers passed while some had cried. The sudden hushed evacuation had everyone on guard. Their group was huddled over in the back of the auditorium, not a single word passing between them. Elizabeth had her head on her cousin's shoulder with her eyes closed, but he could tell she was wide awake.

The gentle, yet firm echo of clicking heels drew in everyone's attention towards the stage. Ciel instantly recognized the woman on stage as the one who had been evacuating the Sagittarius dormitory hours before.

"Looks like the show's starting…" Rebecca murmured under her breathe, arms crossed tightly over her chest.

"It pains me to bring you all this news, but Virgo student Isabella Leblanc was found dead minutes before the evacuation started." The woman on the stage began. Ciel believed Florian had called her Miss Hannah earlier. Shock washed over the crowd of students. The hushed whispering soon spread to cries and outbursts as the initial shock began to fade.

"Please, calm down everyone." She called out over the shouts, continuing once it started quieting down. "The police has just left. No foul play has been identified." Hannah added quickly, hoping it would calm their nerves. Ciel glanced back down at Elizabeth, squeezing her trembling hand tightly while Ember wrapped her arm across her shoulder. Brown eyes met with his as she mouthed 'don't worry, kitten.' With a simple nod, he glanced back up at the stage as Hannah was finishing her speech.

"Without saying, classes will be cancelled today. Professor Faustus will be guiding dorms Capricorn thorough Gemini back while Professor Michaelis will take Cancer through Sagittarius with the exception of those belonging to the Virgo dormitory who will remain here just a bit longer." She finished, sighing sadly afterwards.

Seeing him hesitate as the two professors led the group of students out, Ember gave him a soft nudge. "We'll be able to watch her. Go on." The redhead said encouragingly. Ciel watched the blonde intently for a moment before her eyes suddenly flickered open.

"I'll be fine, Ciel. Go back to your dorm." Elizabeth whispered quietly. He wanted nothing but to believe in her words. If she was set on being this strong, he had to as well.

"Okay… But promise to meet up with me later?" He replied as he stood up, legs a bit numb from sitting for so long.

"Of course. Now go." She said as she and the rest of the girls rose. Ciel headed slowly after the others following behind professor Michaelis, glancing over his shoulder once more at his cousin and the group of girls that were now in the middle of the auditorium with the other Virgos.

X-X

The next few hours ticked by painfully slow. Laying sprawled out on his bed, Ciel kept checking his phone at least twice every few minutes. No texts from Elizabeth. No answers. He wondered if the girls had at least got back to their dorm by now. A deep sigh fell from his lips as he sat up and looked over at the other side of his dorm room. Florian had never came back. All students beside the Virgos were instructed to go back to their dormitories and it was already late afternoon. Where could he have gone? Ciel grabbed his backpack and pulled the old mechanics textbook out, trying to keep his mind off everything going on. By the time he had his notes opened, a soft chirp rang out from his phone. Grabbing it quickly, he scanned over the text from Elizabeth. 'Just got back to our rooms. Meet for dinner at cafe in an hour?'

After writing a brief reply back, Ciel set his notes aside on his bed and grabbed a coat from his still unpacked suitcase. Grabbing his key, he tucked it securely in his coat pocket before heading off to the main building. The academy was practically a ghost town with classes cancelled for the day and it didn't take him very long to reach the cafeteria. It took half an hour for the others to arrive and even then there was barely any talking. Ember or Anna would occasionally make a comment, but the conversation would drop soon after.

"Ciel… Please don't tell mother about any of this." Elizabeth said finally, bright green eyes looking over at him.

"What are you talking about? She's going to find out as soon as she sees it in the paper, Lizzy."

"I know that, but if she finds out who….. who found her….." The blonde's voice trailed off, squeezing her hands together tightly in her lap. "I don't want to leave here…. I love it here… the classes… the people….. Ciel…. Please…"

Ciel stared blankly at the girl for a moment before gazing over the other three around them. "...I promise I won't tell her." He whispered. A slight smile grew on Elizabeth's lips.

"Ciel…. everyone… Thank you. I'm going to be okay. I promise." She said, a determine look shone in her eyes while the other girls smiled back at her.

"We're all here for you." Anna murmured quietly and wiped a stray tear off her cheek.

"We all need to be here for each other right now." Rebecca said afterwards. Everyone nodded.

"Just don't push yourself….Okay, kitten?" Ember sighed gently.

"Yes… Yes I know. Thank you all so much…" All of the drama was worth it at that moment just to see Elizabeth's sunshine-like smile again.

Towards the end of dinner as everyone was finishing up their meals, the girls all decided to go back to Elizabeth and Rebecca's dorm to watch a movie. After they left, Ciel went to go check out the library before heading back to his own dorm. He had passed it yesterday while trying to find his second period class and was thankful when he found it easily. Rows and rows of statuesque shelves lined across the gigantic room. He gently ran his hand along the smooth mahogany wood, the scent of leather and cinnamon filing his nose . The quiet, nostalgic atmosphere of the library settled his nerves greatly. Fifteen minutes passed by in a whirlwind as Ciel got lost in what seemed like the endless aisles of books. Three books were nestled securely in his small arms as he examined the last row in the first section next to the back office. The door to the office was cracked opened just the slightest and the sound of voices caught his attention. As he moved closer to the door to listen, he froze at the recognition of the voices. Blinking a few times, Ciel edged closer and peered in the crack discreetly from the side.

"How much longer is this going to take? My patience is wearing t-h-i-n." Alois murmured, twirling a strand of his platinum hair between his fingertips. The blonde boy was sitting across the desk in the middle of the small room where a man with jet black hair was working on some sort of paperwork.

"I already told you we can't leave until seven anyway." Professor Faustus replied, sharp golden eyes never leaving the paper in front of him.

"Really no fun, are you?" He sighed before leaning across the desk and gripping the teacher's collar tightly. A second barely passed before the blonde closed the small gap between them as Alois pressed his lips up against the man's. A wave of sudden shock and surprise jolted through Ciel before all the books in his grasp fell from his arms and smashed against the floor loudly. The professor's eyes looked up quickly towards the door barely a second before he had pulled himself up against the bookcase out of sight.

"...What was that?" He said cautiously, gaze never leaving the door.

"I didn't even hear anything. Would it kill you to keep your attention on just me for once, Claude?" Alois mumbled before reinitiating the kiss, forcefully biting down on his bottom lip.

A mixed feeling of disgust, confusion, and nausea swept over Ciel, leaving his mind spinning. After standing there still for a few minutes he rushed back up the aisle of books as silently as he could and made his way out the doorway, leaving the dropped books spread on the floor.

XX-XXA thank you again for everyone who has been reading so far and the reviews. I hope everyone keeps on reading and enjoying as the plot starts to develop on. Thanks again!

- Cressy Drizzle