When good turns evil

"Can we help you?" Zara asked, trying to sound calm.

One of the men consulted a clipboard. "We're here to collect the...ah...remains of Phelia. We were told she was in this room."

Zara's eyes widened in panic. She slammed the door shut, her heart racing with fear.

"Guys, it's them!" she whispered urgently, running back to the other girls. "The people from the school. They're here to collect Phelia's body!"

"Collect my body., What do you mean collect my body?, What happened to me?" Phelia said flabbergasted.

Kaelara's face turned white. "What do we do? We can't let them find out she's alive without having a plan, even we are shocked by this"

Phelia couldn't wrap her head around what they were saying, "Alive?, What do you mean? I was always alive."

Kaelara looked at the confused Phelia saying "No... You were dead... But now you're alive, It's complicated" with a head shake.

"Wait! Phelia is dead, or was dead. Is this supposed to be her ghost or something, no that's not right, She came back to life so you are like..."

Another knock was heard at the door.

Lila's eyes darted around the room. "We need to hide her now."

Phelia, still looking a bit dazed, nodded. "I'll hide in the closet, quick, help me"

As the girls frantically tried to come up with a plan, Arden looked on, his eyes wide with confusion. "What's going on? Why can't they know Phelia's alive?"

Kaelara shot him a warning glance. "Not now, Arden. We'll explain later. Just help us hide Phelia!, and also find somewhere to hide, we don't need more questions."

The girls quickly ushered Phelia into the closet, hiding her behind a stack of clothes and blankets. Zara leaned against the closet door, trying to catch her breath.

"What do we do now?" she whispered.

Kaelara's face set in a determined expression. "We stall them. We'll tell them we don't know where Phelia's body is, or that we need more time to...to prepare the body or something."

Lila nodded. "And then we come up with a plan to get Phelia back and alive without the school finding out."

As they whispered among themselves, the knocking at the door grew louder, more insistent. The girls exchanged nervous glances, knowing they had to act fast to protect Phelia's secret.

As the knocking continued, Kaelara took a deep breath and opened the door, trying to look as calm and composed as possible.

"Can I help you?" she asked, attempting to sound nonchalant.

The two men in black suits looked at her expectantly. "We're here to collect the remains of Phelia," one of them repeated.

Kaelara hesitated, trying to think of a plausible excuse. "I...I think there's been a mistake. We weren't told where Phelia's body is. We were told she was...taken care of."

The men exchanged sceptical glances. "That's not what we were told," one of them said. "We were told she was in this room, and that you girls were supposed to be...."

Kaelara's face set in a determined expression. "I'm afraid there's been a miscommunication somewhere. Can you please wait while I check with the others?"

The men looked at each other uncertainly, then nodded. "Fine. But we won't wait for long. We have a schedule to keep."

As Kaelara closed the door, she let out a sigh of relief. She turned to the other girls, who were watching her with anxious expressions.

"What did they say?" Lila whispered.

Kaelara shook her head. "They're not going away easily. We need to come up with a plan, and fast."

Zara's eyes darted toward the closet, where Phelia was hiding. "We can't let them find her alive. We have to protect her."

Arden, who had been quietly observing the scene, spoke up. "I think I can help with that somehow. I know a way to get Phelia out of here without being seen."

The girls turned to him, surprised. "What do you mean?" Kaelara asked.

Arden smiled confidently. "Leave that to me. I'll take care of it."

As the girls exchanged sceptical glances, Arden's smile grew wider. He seemed to know something they didn't, and he was determined to prove it.

"What do you mean you'll take care of it?" Kaelara asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Arden leaned in, a conspiratorial look on his face. "I've been exploring the school's hidden passages. I know a way to get Phelia out of here without being seen."

Zara's eyes widened. "Hidden passages? You mean, like secret tunnels?"

Arden nodded. "Exactly. The school's founders built them as a way to move around undetected. I've been mapping them out, and I think I can get Phelia to safety."

Lila looked impressed. "That's actually kind of genius, Arden."

Kaelara, however, still looked sceptical. "And why should we trust you with this?"

Arden's expression turned serious. "Because I'm the only one who can help you right now. And I'm willing to take that risk to help Phelia."

Phelia, who had been quietly observing the conversation from the closet, spoke up. "I think we should trust him. We don't have any other options right now."

The girls exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement. Arden smiled, looking relieved.

"Okay, let's do this. Phelia, come out of the closet. We need to get moving."

As Phelia emerged from the closet, Arden handed her a cloak. "Put this on. It will help you blend in."

Phelia nodded, wrapping the cloak around her shoulders. Arden turned to the other girls.

"Stay here and stall the men outside. I'll get Phelia to safety, and then we can regroup and figure out our next move."

"Where will we regroup" Kaelara asked.

"I will come check if the coast is clear, back here, then bring Phelia back" Arden said

With that, Arden and Phelia slipped out of the room, through the hidden passage in the room, leaving the other girls to stall the men outside. As they made their way through the dark and winding corridors, Phelia turned to Arden with a curious expression.