Chapter 4

"Pearl!" "Pearl!" "Pearl!"

I heard the distinct shout of my name and I stopped in my tracks. Flashes from torches appeared in an array. I knew they were here for me.

"They?" I wasn't even sure about who they were. Footsteps echoed towards me and I ran in the opposite direction.

"That is her!" Someone yelled and they began to run after me.

"Stop Pearl! It's Evelyn!" My supposed werewolf roommate yelled and I surged forward. The last thing I wanted was to stay with that monster but I didn't make it long.

The bush suddenly became illuminated like it was daytime and I was stuck in a spot, I couldn't move no matter how much I tried.

When I looked behind, I saw that the great illumination came from the torches. I didn't know their numbers but I saw five touches on the ground.

One of my pursuers had her hand on the torch in the middle, her mouth moved in succession like she was making an enchantment.

The light from the torches augmented at the center and gave off a bigger source of light that illuminated the woods.

"Let me go!" I yelled as I tried to move.

"You mouse! You are caught. You can't move an inch, not when one of the best witches is at it," Evelyn said as she walked towards me.

"You are such a pain in the ass, you have put me in a tight spot. We gotta get you back. Let's get her out of here, the woods is a dangerous at this hour of the day," Evelyn said.

"Dangerous!? You are the danger!" I yelled and they all laughed in unison.

The one who manipulated the torches rose to her feet and made her way towards me with her lips moving fast. She tapped her fingers and immediately I was able to move my legs. One of them grabbed me and he didn't let me go. He flipped me over his shoulders and marched forward.

"Thanks for helping out, Zora," Evelyn said and the one who had just tapped her fingers gave her a thumbs up.

She must be the witch that Evelyn mentioned.

I threw tantrums and tried to get away but my strength could not match the strength of the one who carried me.

The main gain was locked but it opened on its own accord as soon as we approached it. When we were all in, it closed up again on its own accord.

The guy who carried me threw me down like a sack of sand.

While I cussed and tried to wiggle back to my feet, another two of the boys grabbed me on either side and dragged me along.

We rounded different corners and soon we were standing in front of a big cage. It looked like a cage for holding large animals.

I pulled back but I was thrown inside and the cage was locked up.

"Stay in there, Mrs. Hopkins will like to have a word with you in the morning, you can't go running errant until then," one of the guys said and they began to leave.

"Get me out of here!" I yelled. No one looked back but Evelyn stayed rooted to a spot.

She turned around and walked back to me while others walked away.

"You piece of shit! Why did you run!? You have put me in a tight spot! If I get expelled because of this, I will surely make your life a living hell!" She yelled and shook the cage with a strength that was surely too enormous for her small frame.

I watched her walk away and I heaved a sigh. Well, I couldn't sleep all through the night as I was still yet to fathom all that was happening.

The next morning, the five students who dragged me into the cage returned. They opened up the case and began to drag me to a building with the inscription, 'Students Affairs'

We rounded many corners and walked past many offices until we got to a door with the inscription, 'Hopinks'.

Evelyn knocked and opened the door.

Mrs. Hopkins was seated with a dreadful look on her face.

"I warned you guys not to do anything crazy after the hazing yesterday! Evelyn, why did you parade your wolf before her!?" Mrs. Hopkins said coldly.

"I am sorry. I thought she was a werewolf and…" Evelyn stuttered.

"She is not! she is a 'normin'! You should look out for her," Mrs Hopkins said and everyone muttered. They looked at me with disdain and I wondered what a 'normin' means.

"What is she doing here, Mrs Hopkins? Why then do you make her stay with the wolves, you should take her away from us! She is a jinx!" Evelyn yelled.

"Evelyn!" Mrs. Hopkins yelled and banged the table angrily. Everyone froze and silence prevailed.

"I make the rules here. Now, leave!" Mrs Hopkins said levelly and I wondered how she was able to control her anger quickly.

We all turned to leave but I heard my name, "Pearl, wait behind."

I walked out of Mr.s Hopkins' office about an hour later. I had learnt everything I needed to learn about Hopkins Citadel.

How in the world does a place like this exist and why did my stepmom bring me here?

I walked back to my room and met Evelyn in her space, she looked away immediately she saw me and prepared to leave.

"I am sorry Eve, no one told me anything, I know nothing about all of this… I was so scared," I mumbled and held her arm from behind. She flicked and jeered her hand out of my hold.

"Don't you dare touch me!" She yelled and fumbled out of the room.

I threw myself wearily into my bed as I recounted all that I just learned.

Hopkins Citadel runs like all other normal high schools from Mondays through Fridays but Saturdays and Sundays were the weird days.

There were different faculties that students attended on those special days. There were faculty of witches, sorcerers, magicians, enchanters, shape-shifters, werewolves, and many more.

I was called a normin because I have none of those special abilities and Mrs. Hopkins wondered why my stepmom bought me over.

I was told I couldn't leave the school because the perimeter was sealed and the citadel is not visible to the outside world.

I was given a day to settle in. It was Friday anyway, I would be free on Saturday and Sunday since I won't be involved in the weird activities that take place on those days and I will begin classes by Monday.