Chapter 4 – Strange Sounds

Mildred had gone to Ethel's room the next day and knocked on the door. She was hoping she could help Ethel.

"Go away" Ethel's voice could be heard through the door.

"I don't mind just sitting in silence with you, it might help you not feel so alone" Mildred stated with a soft voice.

The was no answer from the other side of the door, Mildred wasn't sure what to do. The emotional pain Ethel was in would make her ill.

"I'm heading to breakfast if you want to come with me?" Mildred really was patient.

Again, there was no answer from inside the room, but there were tears and a yelp of pain.

"Ethel are you ok?"

"I'm fine" Ethel finally responded, "Go on without me".

"Hiding isn't going to help in anyway, Ethel, come on, your stronger than this, I know you are".

Miss Hardbroom was walking down the corridor and she had stopped to hear what the girls could possibly be talking about. Mildred is really trying with her. If Ethel just spoke to someone, she would feel better. She transferred herself in Ethel's room.

Miss Hardbroom was devastated by what she saw, Ethel had tears streaming down her face, she was sat crossed legged on the floor, her left arm was uncovered and sliced, she had self-harmed and some of the cuts were deep. She had seen many types of mental health issues but never self-harm, she had never been in this position before, Ethel had finished cutting herself by the time her teacher had transferred herself into her room and was trying to sort herself out.

Ethel hadn't noticed Miss Hardbroom behind her, she dragged some sort of t-shirt to cover her arm whilst she got some plasters ready. She had them laid out, she then uncovered so many injuries at once and started to place the plasters on them them. A hand had stopped her.

"Mildred go for breakfast" Miss Hardbroom had stated loud and clear and Mildred left for breakfast.

Ethel looked up and to her horror she saw her teacher. Miss Hardbroom knelt on the floor and pulled a potion from her dress. Ethel got up and backed away, as her teacher stood, she said the words that Miss Hardbroom would never forget. "Leave me alone, I don't want your help, I don't deserve it, I can mop my arm up myself" Ethel's voice was one of fear.

Miss Hardbroom spoke clearly and with a voice that stated Ethel was breaking her heart "Ethel, It's ok to talk, its healthy, your not fine. You do need help, You, are stronger than this. It's just a setback. Come here"

Ethel didn't move, she had become scared of everyone, she was expecting them to attack her or try to kill her, which would never happen even after what happened last year. She still held the t-shirt to her arm. Her face was tear stained she had stopped crying.

Out of no where came some scraping on the walls, they both turned around. Hecate a picture of confusion and Ethel one of fear.

Hecate unsure of what the scraping was for, and who for a witch, watched far too many horror films over the holidays had transported Ethel to her potion's lab.

Ethel sat down with the t-shirt; she wanted the wounds to turn into scars she didn't want a potion to destroy that ideology. Her arm was throbbing she could feel the wounds bleeding almost like they had their own heartbeat.

Miss Hardbroom sent a message to Miss Cackle and transferred it to her at the breakfast hall.

I won't be teaching today something has come up with Ethel.

I will explain later, mental health issue, shouldn't be left alone.

Hecate

Miss Cackle had received the note, knowing it had to be serious for her to not teach, she knew Ethel was in good hands, she stood up and acknowledged all the students.

"Good morning, girls" She spoke loudly so they could all here.

"Good morning, Miss Cackle" the students confused as to what was going on.

"Miss Hardbroom has let me know to tell you all that potion's is cancelled for the day; she has important issues to sort out" Miss Cackle stated gravely.

The students were buzzing, no Potion's and no Miss Hardbroom, it was going to be a good day. The only student not buzzing with happiness was Mildred.

"This has to have something to do with Ethel" she whispered.

"Why would it, the world doesn't revolve around her" Enid quipped.

A loud cackling could be heard around the hall, everyone including the staff looked around, it was creepy.

Mildred left the hall to go to Ethel's room she got halfway and found herself being pulled through the void and into the potion's lab.

Ethel was in there backing away from Miss Hardbroom who quite clearly wanted to try and help her with an injury.

"Why am I here" She queried.

"Hold Ethel" Miss Hardbroom instructed.

"Why?" she asked as Ethel didn't look co-operative.

"Because I said so" Miss Hardbroom's voice was rushed and concerned.

Mildred got hold of Ethel and realised why Miss Hardbroom was concerned. She saw her left forearm covered in wounds. "Ethel" Mildred breathed, she hugged her from behind and refused to let go whilst her teacher got her potion out for the sixth time at that point and a cotton pad. She applied the healing potion on Ethel's arm gently as not to hurt it further. Once the potion had done its job Ethel looked at her arm which no longer had any injuries on it, her arm was good as new. She fell to the floor in tears yet again. Mildred had maintained her grip on Ethel and still wouldn't let go as she had bent over as Ethel fell to the floor.

For once Miss Hardbroom was lost for words, Ethels behaviour so far had been strange and depressing. She had hoped the girl would be able to pull herself out, clearly that hadn't happened.

"It's ok, I am right here, we can stay here as long as you need to, it's ok, let all your tears out" Mildred's voice couldn't have been any softer if she tried.

Miss Hardbroom was as always surprised with Mildred the girl was the perfect Head girl, she knew just the right things to say. She fully smiled at Mildred which she hadn't ever done to a student, she wanted Mildred to know her help was much appreciated. This was why she without hesitation when she realised, she couldn't get close to Ethel that Mildred was the student she needed. Mildred was a kind-hearted girl and always respected others and treat them in a manner of which she herself doesn't. She realised there and then that whilst she wanted to be strict, she had been too strict on her students over the years. Her students didn't feel they could go to her with personal issues like this. It tore her apart to realise this.

All three ended up sat on floor with Ethel between them whilst she cried, Ethel had stopped crying around ten minutes later.

"You don't need to watch over me, I'm fine" the other two did not interrupt her as much as they wanted to, they both hoped she would explain as best she could. "My parents were furious over summer, they put a tent in the back garden and wouldn't let me in all summer, It was awful. They hate me, they practically threw me out. I keep thinking others will jump me not that I wouldn't deserve it, I don't want to be here anymore". It took many deep breathes for her to get her words out.

Miss Hardbroom couldn't take it anymore.

"Stay with her" she ordered Mildred, who nodded in response. She transferred herself to Miss Cackle who took one look at her and knew it was bad, Hecate had let a tear slip down each of her cheeks. She wasn't one for showing emotions and the staff looked worried, They had never seen the strong woman cry.

"What's going on?" Miss Drill had asked, there was no response.

"Are you alright?" Mr Daisy asked she also did not respond to him.

"Ethel?" Miss Cackle pressed, and Miss Hardbroom had nodded, and they both transferred to the potion's lab.

Miss Cackle walked up to Ethel and Mildred and took in the sight of Mildred cradling Ethel who looked like she wasn't fully there. Her lights were on but nobody was home.

There was a screeching noise and then some of the chairs in the potion's lab were flung around.

"Who is throwing chairs around?" Miss Hardbroom said loudly, the three of them not including Ethel started looking around and they couldn't see anyone. Ethel was transported back to bed.