EDDIE'S POV

"I'd like you all to turn in the assignment by next Friday at the latest, no exceptions."

I hate how Madame Kahn always glares at me when she says no exceptions.

"BRRRINNG!"

Yes, I think. Saved by the bell.

I am about to dash out of the classroom when I hear a soft voice call my name.

"Eddie," Madame Kahn says suspiciously. "May I speak to you, please?"

I glance nervously at Patricia. She gives me a worried nod of her assent and exits, leaving me alone in the room with Madame Kahn.

"Um, can I help you Madame?" I ask questioningly.

"Oh, no need. Call me Malia."

I raise my eyebrow in confusion. No teacher has ever asked me to call them by their last name - most of the time I get in trouble for that.

"Did I do something wrong?" I ask.

"No, no dear," she smiles at me, but I sense another emotion tugging behind her expression. "I just thought it was time for… a little chat."

"What… what do you mean?"

"Well, I was just worried that something was troubling you. The way your dad described you, I had expected you to be my little rebel." She winks at me, and for some reason I taste vomit in my mouth.

"You're not at all what I had expected. You're quiet, and a very good student, actually. Focused, determined. You seem like you have a goal in mind."
"Just trying to graduate Mada… Malia."

"That's good."

She falls silent, and I feel awkward tension sweep over us. It bothers me, for some reason, to be shut in a solitary room with a young teacher like… like her. Something about her twists my insides.

"Take a seat, Eddie," she says. I slump to a desk, and as I'm about to sit, she clears her throat and motions to her desk… right next to her.

"Um, Madame, I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Oh, Eddie, what's the matter?" Her grey eyes lock with mine and a twisted grimace paints her face. "No one has to know!"

"WHAT?" I demand.

"You're nothing like I expected, Sweetie. You're much better."

"Let me out! LET ME OUT OF HERE!" I bolt to the door and turn the knob.

"NO! NO!" Madame Kahn lets out a murderous cry. Her hands thrust forward in the direction of the door, and I hear a latch. The door is locked.

"H-how did you do that?"

"Oh, yes," she says. "This will be much more fun than I was told… Osirian."

"No - how do you know what I am? H-how is that possible?"

She narrows her grey eyes - no, red eyes. "You're more powerful than I ever imagined. I can sense it. This will be… and interesting year."

"Let me out!" I scream again. But it's no use. Madame Kahn knows what I am, which means she's powerful. More powerful than me. The door is locked, and I can't open it from this inside.

From the inside.

When Madame is satisfied with herself, she strolls delightedly to the supply closet, rummaging for something, which I can only assume is something to use against me. The moment I'm positive she isn't watching me, I slip my phone out of my pocket and begin to send a text to Patricia. I see that I've already missed three worried texts from her, wondering where I am.

Locked in French classroom with a whacked up Madame. GET. ME. OUT.

-Eddie.

I click send and impatiently wait for a response.

Within a few moments, I hear a tug at the door. I mumble "thank GOD!" and await Patricia.

The door swings open, and I see a fraught Patricia standing in the doorway. I kiss her in relief, and we discreetly slip through the doorway, pleading and praying Madame Kahn misses us leaving.

Unfortunately our prayers are not answered.

A bellow of murderous rage escapes the classroom and an angered Madame Kahn marches towards us with impeccable speed that it's a strain to stay out of reach. Patricia's hand is tightly wound with mine as I tug her along the dark corridor, away from Madame. I don't want Patricia to see that I'm worried, so I manage to be a few inches ahead of her as we travel through the maze of our school. On the inside, I'm horrified that Madame may be the furious evil we're supposed to be aware of. I didn't notice it at the time, but by being close to her now I have a sharp pain in my hands and forehead. I wonder if it's just a coincidence. I pray that it is.

I whisk my throbbing forehead 90 degrees to see where Madame is in relation to us. I see she's gaining speed, but can't attack us since we're surrounded by students in a public corridor. Patricia's hand grips mine tighter and I feel her body pressed against mine.

"What's going on?" she whispers when we turn a corner so that Madame can't hear.

"I saw the eyes," I say blatantly.

"You mean - you saw her eyes change red?" I see her lip quiver as she speaks. I hate to push this on her, after all she's been through. I know she is weak and fraught. She's broken inside, and my bringing up my life is in danger doesn't exactly ease her fragile mind.

"Yes," I say, but that's all I say. But I feel like I have to add the next observation. "I - I think she might be linked to the evil we're watching out for. When that hooded figure jumped on my car and attacked us, two glowing red orbs shown and were exactly the same color and illumination of Madame's."

A lump forms in Patricia's throat. "Ok," is all she says. She stops abruptly and points to a massive doorway that I do not recognize. "In here."

"What's in there?"

"Don't know. I've never been down this way… I think. Actually, I'm not sure." Even though she's unsure she opens the door and I volunteer to enter first.

Say what you want about chivalry, but I know there's no way Patricia would ever step into an unfamiliar place first - at least currently.

There's no light switch, so I guide Patricia in discreetly and pull her close to me. We sit in a dark corner, and as I close the door, I see Madame at the other end of the hallway, rummaging through supply closets and classrooms. I know she'll be here soon, but I need the time to tell things to Patricia. I don't know how this will end.

It's too dark to see Patricia, but I can sense her. I feel her pressed against me, her head burrowed in my chest. Muffled sobs seep through her mangled frown. I gently shut the door silently so as not to draw the attention of Madame.

"Patricia," I whisper through the darkness. But that is all I say.

It is quiet. The two of us sit tightly together, awaiting our fate. We know that Madame Kahn will search and search, determined to find us. I think it's time to let Patricia know why.

"I have suspicions about Madame," I say. "I know I mentioned her eyes glowing, and I'm beginning to wonder if she was not only linked to whatever we saw in my car, but that she was whatever we saw. I don't know who or what she is, but there is one thing I can be certain. She is dangerous. I refuse to let her harm you, whatever she might be. I promise you, I will get to the bottom of this and make it all go away. If Victor is correct, if there is an evil more powerful than anything we've ever faced before, then I need to get Sibuna involved. I hate to involve more people into this, but we need help. I'm weak, and my powers are growing, and if something happens to me, you can't face this alone."

Patricia's warm hands graze my chest and her hot breath tingles my neck. "Ok."

I lean forward and kiss her head, pulling her close to me.

An aggressive knock raps against the opposite side of the door. My heart skips a beat, and I know that it's Madame.

"It's ok," I whisper, but I know it is not. I hear her first pound again, this time more angrily. She pounds and pounds and pounds… until the door swings open. A pair of gleaming red eyes blaze ferociously ahead of me. Unearthly heat emanates from the figure in front of me in the darkness, and musty smog swirls eerily around my entire person.

Even though I'm fully aware it's Kahn, I still feel fear circulate inside of me. She's morphed into this shadowy dementor-like creature with fiery eyes and inflicting fear within both Patricia and me.

Kahn screams a dreadful, inhumanly scream, and my world turns black.