ra's

ad heavy. For a moment, I thought nothing had changed. The

wn up with. They glowed silver, sharp and alive

touching them would make the change real. My chest swelle

ocked away twice, once when I was six, the day I was thrown

me like punishment. But now, sitting in this cold h

ain, despite the chains on my freedom, this me

e witch was waiting for me. She stood in the corner, arms crossed

s changes what you are? You are nothing. You will never read your boo

ad been my only escape, my way of feeling free insi

if I read?" I ask

use someone doesn't want you free. Someone doesn't wa

un cold. She wasn't acting alone. S

eyes stayed on the ceiling, my fi

icky's brother,who i

o had destroyed everything. The thought of him stealing

lack of rest. I dragged myself into the common room,

as smiling, her hand wrapped around B

stomach: "Beta James and Hele

The room faded. All I could hear was t

e sworn to protect me as a B

crumbled, he was the one who

nd the accusations rose, Beta

cky, defending the Donald family and throwing m

refused to make me hi

ne who framed me and stood by

ike she belonged there. He looked down at her with the same gentle e

rever. He had told me I was his choice. But there he was,

hey were blessing her. Smiling at her. Reaching out to comfort her, as i

focating. No one had ever looked at me

sides. The world had moved on without me. I

s were hollow. I wanted to scream, to break,

k at them. Look at how happy they are without you. Do you underst

rply toward her. "I

rowed. "Don'

in. "I'm not a

nails scraping my skin. My eyes stung wi

face twisting with rage. "You think you can u

allowing the pain. If I answer

hallway. His voice carried over the murmurs: "

ar the back, but the witches and

houlders slammed into mine. Finally one s

one of the

t let me beg. But when another shoved me agai

n. The smell of burning flesh filled the air. She screame

staring at it in shock. Faint light glowed a

d only seconds. T

reeched, clutching her ar

e ground, my head cracking against the f

yanked scissors through my hair, hacking it short and uneven. Lock

by fragments of hair. My sobs broke free, unstoppable.

he haze of tear

w

We will not always be alone. We will find our companions. Our

y hands still shook, but I wiped the tear

clothes. They were filthy and to

nged into what clean clothes I had, and pre

one dared touch me again, but their eyes

broken. After dinner, I was sen

ght biting into my arms. That wa

. Her nails dug in, and then the sting of a

th hate. "If you tell anyone about the bullying, you

My fear rose in my thro

fraid to d

her face twisted with rage. She shov

eding arm close,

ld come back for reve