Chapter 4
Before Molly-Jo could answer two pairs of echo footsteps caught the groups attention. The library was well hidden yes. But that didn't mean it wasn't unknown. The nightshades occupied the forgotten library the only reason why the group hadn't been shooed out was because the ice queen had a warm spot for Marcy. So if hiding out in the library during school to avoid people then fuck it Marcy could bring her friends with her.
A girl with skin somewhat noticeably darker than Luz hoped down the stairs. Under her nose was a half circle of lighter skin spreading to her cheeks and under her chin. Her eyes were a amber brown with a shimmer coating both. The girls hair was a fiery orange stopped just a short of her shoulders. It was untamed, hair sticking out every where. Usually covered by a patchy teal beanie. She wore the males uniform, heavily toren with spats instead shoes.
A other girl followed behind her. Insisting to actually walk down the stairs unlike the other one. Her skin darker than Anne's, she had lavender hair tied up and covering one eye, the other was fully yellow. No eye whites. Just yellow with a green tint and a black slit for a iris. She wore the girls uniform with light burn marks and little tares. And much like the other, spats instead of shoes.
"One day that stairs case with betray you Ivs."
"One day! Not today!"
With that Ivy skipped over to her friends while Maddie sighed trailing behind her. Marcy flashed a bright slime waving at the new comers. The two joined the rest on the floor, Ivy spreading out like a starfish laying on her stomach while Maddie just sat criss cross like Luz once was. Ally yawned stretching her arms over her head, "so what mess y'all get into." It wasn't a question more like a automatic response with the same love as a parent asking their kid 'how was school' whenever they came home.
Maddie just shrugged, "the rumors of the killings around town haven't been anything more than false." Her tone was flat laced with disappointment. The girl adored a good mystery so when a real life investigation was going on down town she obviously was thrilled. Marcy tilted her head resembling a confused puppy. "But the murders-" Maddie cut her off "we're real, very much. The 'monster' part was nothing but dust."
Marcy huffed and bounced up onto her feet. "I mean you don't know that!" She wasn't shouting, just talking louder something she did when her attention was caught. Her arms we're crossed as she paced back and fourth "Well- we don't know of the monsters even real or not BUT we do know that supernatural things exist given us."
Much like Maddie, Marcy was very into mysteries or just about anything that her grubby little hands could solve. The others still sat on the floor, Ivy only lifting her head to watch Marcy. Something like this was a common reoccurrence. Marcy was known for getting lost in her head more often than not. Luz raised her hand before speaking. "I, for one think that you should stop with the murder mystery pod casts."
"I would love to but it's the only thing that gives me the thrill to do physical exercise." Marcy waved her hand, Ivy hoped in "the mayor said it's a bear." Ally snorted "you really believe Toadstool?" Ivy opened her mouth only letting air out before closing it and shaking her head. "Mama said they were claw marks yes but they were huge. Not only that there's no way it could a bear, it doesn't match their hibernation patterns as all bears do is eat in sleep during the fall. "
Ivy pushed herself up with her hands and rested herself on her forearms. "Eat? Maybe a bear is killing people so it could eat?" Once again Marcy shook her head. "Mama saw the body's, they were only torn." Luz let out a loud and exaggerated sigh in a attempt to stop the conversation. She never liked murder or anything to do about it. Molly-Jo caught on quickly changing the subject. "Ivy. Anything ambushes?"
With that the girl with yellow patches quickly pushed herself up and jumped bending her knees while landing. "Yes actually!" Marcy sighed, frustrated about the mystery but begrudgingly sat down by Luz. Maybe she should slow down on the murder podcasts. Luz smiled gratefully at her patting the top of her head.
The Vamprie smiled pumping her fist in the air "hell yeah! That's my girl! Who's the lucky victim?" Ally was known for pranks, mostly known for throwing trash cans full of water on girls in the bathroom stalls. Only the ones she didn't like. Ivy giggled before clapping. "Okay, okay so- we got a new student kay?" Molly-Jo snapped her fingers pointing one at Ivy, "told you!"
Marcy let out a quiet whine, the group turned their heads to see Marcy nervously picking at the skin by her fingernails. Luz slapped her hand stopping her from making herself bleed. They only had so many bandaids that weren't wrapped around Marcy's fingers. "Hey, Sasha told you to stop. Your finger is gonna get infected again." Ivy voiced. She wasn't all about Sasha, she disliked her actually. Only admiring her hand to hand combat skills, stealth and her sword fighting skills. But she did look after Marcy the only thing Ivy could appreciate.
"Sorry! Sorry." Marcy mumbled now scratching the base of her neck. An other nervous habit. Just before Luz could slap her hand away again she spoke. "It- it's just that mine and Sash's room has a empty bed. You don't think mom would throw an other person with us? I mean-! She didn't tell me." Her voice grew quieter as she spoke. Maddie shrugged "well if she didn't tell you then I think you're getting worked up over nothing Marce."
Ivy smiled and nodded rapidly. "Yeah and! If you do end up getting an other roomie it's Sprig's and Polly's sister!" She said throwing her arms up, obviously excited about getting to meet her. Luz let out a tiny 'oh' before confetti was thrown over the witch's head. Molly-Jo hummed "well damn they look very different." She muttered. "Sprig and Polly we're adopted." Maddie explained earning a audible 'ah' from her.
"Well. Yeah I guess that makes it a little better." Marcy smiled weakly at her friends attempt to cheer her up. And it did sorta help. She knew Sprig well enough thanks to Maddie and Ivy and she knew Polly like the back of her hand thanks to their love of smarts.
A muffled bell ringing caught the groups attention. "Right on time." Luz said getting up while the other followed in suit. Ally and Molly-Jo were the first ones to head to the staircase "see ya at lunch losers." Molly-Jo punched Ally's arm as the two walked up the stairs "owie". Marcy laughed and walked up behind them the others close behind her.
Sasha Sinclair was tough, sharp and unpredictable. She only spoke when necessary, she was a hard worker constantly training to be the best fighter the school had ever laid eyes on. She spoke her mind refusing to sugar coat anything no matter how gruesome it may be. She preferred to be alone and yet surrounds herself with her followers who would do anything for her. Marcy Wu was the only one who could get close to Sasha without her growling. That was nothing new.
So it was safe to say she was never caught off guard. She had never showed the expression of shock openly. But that was about to change.
Sasha sat on the edge of the pound in the middle of the quad. Her goons sat around talking about something that only came in muffled mumbles to her. Then she saw it- or them. Sprig, Polly and someone who heavily resembled Astrid. Her eyes widened, but there was no way that could be Astrid he moved when they were- "Sinclair?"
Sasha blankly looked over at a boy named Dillian. "You good? You looked- well looked." She huffed sitting up straighter, crossing her arms. "Don't you have a girl to harass?" She barked. Dillian gasped putting a hand over his chest, "it's called flirting!" A slap could be heard as his sister sat by his side retracting her hand. "No, it's called harassment." Maggie was one of the very very few people Sasha could handle being around. Unfortunately she's Dillian sister and still an ass, so more often not Sasha wasn't fond of Maggie.
Maggie and Dillian were a pair of twins. They looked fairly similar. Red hair, light brown eyes and freckles. Maggie had long hair tied into braids keeping her hair out of her face. Dillian had mullet that he was somehow able to pull off. Maggie wore the girls uniform and a baseball cap and Dillian wore the boys uniform.
Dillian complained about being hit while one of his twin rolled her eyes are his antics. She shot a look over at Sasha earning an other huff from her. Maggie raised her arms in defence and shrugged. "Christ if you keep slapping me I'ma tell dad!" Dillian cried. Maggie lifted an eyebrow. "Yeah what's he gonna do. Agree with me?"
The fake blonde shook her head, blocking out the siblings arguing. She looked over where she saw the frog siblings. They were gone. It was just false hope. Probably... Hopefully.
Anne sighed. Today had been nothing but walking and gaining information that she'd probably forget anyways. The school was huge! No wonder why her siblings we're getting closer to beating her in races. Sprig and Polly walked beside her to her dorm. By some gods she was able to bribe Polly with candy and Sprig with money to help her unpack. Maybe she went just a little overboard.
"And then Frobo's lasers activated and that was just a mess and a half. Headmaster Wu almost kicked me out! I'm sorry that Frobo wrecked the archery lane, I can't control him!" Anne stiffed a laugh while Sprig was hit with realisation "that's what Ivy was talking about during archery!" He said with a gasp.
The eldest sibling shook her head and grabbed her keys, unlocking the door and opening it as she shoved the keys back into her dirt stained jeans. "Ivy does archery?" Anne asked while walking in. Before Sprig could answer a new voice cut through the air.
"Uh- hi?"
Standing in front of Anne was a girl with grown out short black hair. She wore a oversize black shirt with a white skull printed on it, very loosely fitting green pants and mismatch socks. Multiple paint colors splatter across the clothes like stars. Her warm brown eyes staring at the new comer. A small ink drawing of a bird on the girls skin flying across her cheek and down her neck. Anne's eyes wided as she stepped back cleary not expecting to see anything.
"Hey I swear I didn't blow up anything."
"That- that's not why im here."
The other girl tilted her head waiting for an answer. "Um this is kinda my room to." She awkwardly explained pointing to her bed that still held her luggage. Sprig pushed past Anne as Polly yanked her back by her jacket. "This hurts to watch so we'll just gonna add ourselves into the equation." Polly explain.
Before Marcy could voice her confusion to her forgie friend an other voice rang out as the bathroom door opened. "Mar-Mar? Who's-" Sasha froze in front of Polly and Sprig, not seeing Anne who was still in the door way. Sasha was now in ripped baggy gray jeans, a light brown over sized shirt and a dusty red Letterman jacket with cream colored arms. Her last name craved on the back. And dark red running shoes.
The blonde scoffed, crossing her arms. "What's the pollywog doing here?" Even if Polly was Marcy friend Sasha never said she wouldn't be a little mean to her. So name calling was still on the table. "Pollywog?" Polly scoffed her evil grin spreading across her face. "Mar-Mar sure takes the cake." Sasha growled her eyes flashing yellow as her nails sharpened.
Marcy looked conflicted as Sprig smiled obviously wanting to see who dies first. Anne took a deep breath before stepping further into the room, grabbing Polly by the hood of her uniform and pulling her back. She cover the devils mouth with her hand cringing at the saliva feeling on her hand. "Normally I would apologize for my sisters actions, but seeing as you started it I would suggest a apologize before I side with her."
"Trust me, no one will like that." Sprig butted in.
Sasha's eyes wided. That voice was so familiar. Just, higher. Those eyes that reminded her of dark chocolate, the curly hair that could destroy any brush in its path, the skin with light scars constantly covered in new scratches and wounds- was familiar. Hell even the leaves and twigs in the kids hair! Maybe she wasn't seeing things.
"Astrid?"
Marcy whipped her head around looking at Sasha with a confused face. There was no way her childhood friend was here. Then she looked at her new roommate. She gasped- it was him!
Sprig sucked in a quick breath looking at his sister. Polly stopped fighting against Anne's strength. Anne stood frozen as she felt a sting in her heart. She hadn't heard that name leave anyone's mouth in years. Anne didn't like that name. Well that isn't exactly true. She thinks it's awesome name, just for for her. Never feeling like it matched who she was. Knowing that she couldn't live up to expectations for that name.
Noticing Anne's silence Sprig opened his mouth to say something but was cut of by Marcy. "Astroid where have you been?!" Her hands flapped excitedly, her friend was back! There was so many things they needed to catch up on! "Why haven't we meet your siblings?! Is that why you moved?"
Blinking away her surprise Sasha spoke. "Marcy calm down. Give him some space." She put a hand on the girls shoulder in a sad attempt to mute her excitement. This only prompted Marcy to jump up and down her hands almost slapping Sasha. "Calm down?! Sashy he's back! Do you know how many sleepovers we need to catch up on? We haven't seen him in forever."
Anne inhaled quickly. They didn't know. That's- okay. Not really, but Anne was trying to not let it get to her. It's obvious they had known her before. Their names were unfamiliar to her. She knows why. And she knows why her name would be unfamiliar to them. She'll just have to tell them who she is.
She's done this more times than she could count on both hands. But this time was different. Her heart beated faster, faster than the already unnatural rapid beating she had been used to for years. She could always hear her heart beat since she could remember. But now she feels it. Pounding against her rib cage like a rabid animal. Shaking her whole body.
The constant thumping of her fast pacing heart made it hard to breath. Usually she was able to slow it. Control it. But not this time. It was scaring her. She couldn't control herself. Anne tried to blink away the fearful tears that started to fill her eyes. Trying to keep her panic to herself.
Sasha saw. Of course someone had to see her sorry attempt of keeping a break down at bay.
"Woah Astrid- man, you okay?"
That was the last straw.
Anne let go of Polly the tears she so desperately tried to seal away slowing spilling down her cheeks. "I- uh, need to go.." Rushing away from the room she tried to recall where the green house was located. Hop pop would calm her down. He always did.