Piper waited outside the infirmary, pacing back and forth; she'd bitten her nails until it hurt. Her anxiety grew with each passing moment. Last night, she'd cried herself, unable to sleep; the school's security team caught up with them as they dragged HollyAnn back to school.
Piper ran a shaky hand through her hair. Aria pushed the door open. Dr. Violet Winston emerged with HollyAnn's parents and Aria.
"How is she?" Piper asked in a shaky voice.
HollyAnn's mother, Poppy Thistlewick, gave her a condescending stare.
"Safe from fatality, no thanks to you." Poppy snarled. "How could you be so irresponsible? You could have killed my little girl!"
"Now Poppy," HollyAnn's father began.
"No, Douglas," Poppy said, and straightened her jacket. "I've always said Holly doesn't need this school, it's too dangerous for her to be here."
Piper's voice shook with regret. "Please forgive me; I never meant for this to happen. I'm so sorry I hurt HollyAnn."
Aria stepped in. "Mr. and Mrs. Thistlewick, why don't you wait in my office? I'll be with you shortly."
Piper watched the couple disappear down the corridor and turned to Aria. "You have to believe me, Ms. Tombstone."
"I... don't know what to make of this, Piper," Aria shook her head. "I trusted you to set an example here. Listen, just go to the headmistress' office; Ivy's there."
Piper took a heavy gulp.
She climbed the staircase to Lady's office. Why did she agree to sneak out? Expulsion dawned on her.
Piper knocked on the door, and a soft voice bade her enter.
The air in the office was still. Ivy sat across from Lady Brunhilde's desk. Ivy didn't usually show emotion, but she appeared terrified.
Lady Brunhilde stood facing the window and turned around. "Sit, Ms. Black. Ms. Thorne, you can leave."
Ivy exhaled, got up, and walked out of the office. Piper sat down.
"Lady Kent," Piper began, "I know the three of us acted dumb..."
"Oh, I'm quite aware that three young Squires sneaking out of school was foolish." Lady Brunhilde agreed. "Now, start from the beginning."
Piper explained what happened last night. "I never meant to hurt her; I just couldn't control my powers." She sighed.
Lady Brunhilde made a light scoff. "Whose idea was it, you say?"
Piper stared at the headmistress. "It was..."
"Ivy just told me it was your idea to sneak out of school." Lady Brunhilde revealed.
Piper widened her eyes. "What? It wasn't!"
"Don't lie to me, Ms. Black." Brunhilde said in a firm tone. "You should speak your truth in the face of adversity."
Piper's thoughts whirled in circles. What did she mean by 'her idea' and 'truth'? "Okay, Ivy was the one; she planned the whole thing. I didn't even want to go..."
Brunhilde gripped her desk and leaned forward. "More lies, a mermaid student inside the shimmering pond heard you saying, 'We should do this'."
Piper gripped her fists.
"And thanks to your antics, you nearly hurt someone, Piper. I expected you to apologize for putting them in danger, but I see your arrogance has clouded your judgment." Brunhilde said. "And now I'll make mine."
Piper bent her head low; her entire body shook. "Please..."
"Three weeks cleaning the training halls and a five-thousand-word essay on the The Green Knight's philosophy." Lady Brunhilde announced. "You will apologize to Ms. Thistlewick and her parents before the entire school for putting her in harm's way."
It was probably better than expulsion, but once she apologized, she realized not all friendships were equal; some were built on loyalty, while others involved sacrifice. It didn't matter what the Terran sorceress thought. Simon's betrayal hurt more. He seemed to forget their friendship, perhaps out of shame, and they slowly drifted apart.
* * * * * * * *
Back in the present, the memory stung, and Piper's face twisted in a grimace. She was walking down a trail farther away from the town; it wouldn't be long until more of the Monster Army raided that town.
The knight shouted her name. "Piper!"
Piper spun around, sword drawn and aimed at the Knight. The Knight's raised hands caught her attention, and Piper's gaze snapped to his face.
"Easy, I'm a friend." He tapped the side of his helmet; it automatically retracted back, revealing his face.
For a moment, time stopped. Piper stared at him; recognition sparked in her mind. His hair was longer, and a jagged scar marred his jawline. He flashed a quick smile.
Piper sheathed her blade, but as he stepped closer; Piper's fist shot out, connecting with his jaw in a swift punch.
"Shit!" Simon exclaimed, staggering back as he reached for his nose.
"You're not my friend, Simon." Piper turned and continued walking.
"What was that for?" Simon demanded, stepping in beside her. "I haven't seen you for a year and a half, and you hit me."
Piper scoffed. "Grimm, you're such a fucking baby. Stop following me!"
"You know that boy just died." Simon said solemnly.
"Hmm, such a shame." Piper nodded knowingly. "I'll do my best to move on."
She circled on her heels and continued walking.
"He was in second-year, just like you," Simon spoke. "He gave up his life for that town."
"Yes, I know who he was, Simon," Piper sneered. "He brutalized first years, forcing their heads into toilets and subjecting them into torture. The townspeople won't mourn him, especially since they'll be getting more raids from the Army. Peace won't last till morning."
Simon drew his head back; his eyes registered shock and outrage. "We can help protect those civilians."
She scoffed.
"What's gotten into you?" Simon asked, while his eyes flashed with disbelief. "I thought you died, and now I don't even recognize you, Piper."
Piper exhaled. "I have my own plans, and I can't afford to be distracted by conflict."
"And what plan is that?" Simon asked.
Piper hesitated for a moment, then answered. "Home."
She grunted. "Which you just ruined by showing up."
Simon stepped forward. "You're bleeding."
Piper hadn't realized how numb she felt; the red liquid was seeping through her cloak, and she covered her upper left arm.
She took off her backpack; her senses were starting to blur. Piper frantically searched her backpack for her medkit.
Simon's voice was miles away. "...the blade...poisoned."
The last thing she remembered was falling into the dark.