by Cody Wagner
For the most part, I sat there, numb and staring at nothing, while trying to make sense of everything. I still couldn’t understand how someone who seemed like such a good person could cause this much devastation. If I’d looked closer at Cassie’s behavior, should I have seen the signs? At times, I thought I could. And that got me berating myself over how stupid I was to have fallen for her act.
No, I knew how I fell for it.
Cassie wasn’t like movie villains. She wasn’t pure evil with a coal black soul. Those people don’t exist in real life. Cassie was a regular person, just like me. Except, I realized with an ache in my heart, for the fact she’d murdered someone.
How could a seemingly normal fifteen-year-old kill another kid? I pictured Jimmy dying in my arms again. This time, though, his blood was on Cassie’s hands, not mine. I sighed and fought back another wave of tears. Jimmy was the most innocent person I’d ever met. I thought Cassie was, too.
Then I thought about how Cassie didn’t want to kill me. It pissed me off. How dare she decide one person’s life was expendable while another’s was worth saving. But when I forced myself to look deeper, I knew she genuinely liked me. And Roze. She cared about us and did incredible things for us. And she was right about Roze’s safety. Although she’d told Roze to jump if I took action, I would never take that action, and Cassie knew it.
I hung my head, thinking about everything the three of us had been through together.
Before I could stop myself, memories started appearing in my head. I tried to force them away, but they kept sneaking back in. I remembered the first time Cassie and I had met Roze. Roze was devastated, thinking Sanctuary was a real conversion therapy school. That morning, Cassie had whispered something to her. I don’t know what it was, but it had really helped Roze cope.
Then I thought about our plans to sneak out of school last year. We’d spent hours making fake signs and stuff. It was so much fun, sitting on Jimmy’s floor and joking around, as we tried to sabotage Zimmerman’s Zealots. Later, the night before our trip to Little Rock, we’d dragged a massive ladder across campus to get Jimmy.
That’s when something hit me. Cassie didn’t go with us to Little Rock. She’d received an order from Mrs. Cooke to stay behind. Or at least that’s what she’d claimed. It suddenly became obvious Cassie backed out of our plan to conduct her own mission. While she claimed to hate the Zealots, she was really controlling them, ordering them to kill Jimmy.
The idea sent me into a frenzy. I hopped up and started swinging at nothing. Growls escaped as I ripped the cushions off the couch, toppled my chair, and yanked the drawers from my dresser. Clothes went flying everywhere. The entire time, I screamed and cussed at Cassie.
Then I stopped as something else hit me. Cassie was really upset the night before we left for Little Rock. When we were about to leave her behind, she started crying. She was way more upset than I’d expected. At the time, I thought she was being overly dramatic about not joining us. But that wasn’t it. She knew Jimmy was about to die. And it made her sad.
But she did it anyway.
I attacked the room with a renewed vengeance, now focusing on everything Cassie had ever touched. Rummaging through her cabinet, I found her homework and shredded it. Then I went to her bed, pulled the sheets off, and tore them up.
Ten minutes later, the room was trashed, and I collapsed to the floor, exhausted. I leaned my head against the cool sink and closed my eyes. Last year, I’d cut gum out of Cassie’s hair at the sink. She was so appreciative. She was always so touched at the smallest gesture. If I paid her the tiniest compliment, she looked like she wanted to cry.
What had she been through to turn her into this? What made her such a Jekyll and Hyde?
That directed my thoughts to what she’d said about her real mother. Had Cassie’s mom really been killed by the government? Or was that a lie? Even if it weren’t true, Cassie was so young, who knows what she understood or how she might have misinterpreted things?
Thoughts of Cassie’s real mom took me to a darker place. Cassie was right: someone with the Siren’s power would have been locked up and studied. Probably forever. Is that the fate that had awaited Cassie? If so, how did she escape? I didn’t know, but a sliver of pity ran through me. I’d hidden like crazy just because I was the Seeker. What would I have done if I were a Siren?
I shook my head; that didn’t excuse Cassie. Nothing gave her the right to do all this. Nothing.
Letting out a long sigh, I looked at Roze. She hadn’t moved a muscle. Her leg still hung out the window, and she stared blankly at the wall. I wanted to go and help her, but I wasn’t sure what she might do. Did interfering with her count as trying to get to Cassie?
I didn’t know, and instead of going to Roze, I started talking to her. She didn’t register my words, but I rambled on and on. I talked about things we’d shared over the last two years. I told her how much I appreciated her. And I assured her she would be OK. It was all cheesy stuff, but I needed to say it all to her.
Suddenly, I heard a knock at the door.
“Blaize?”
It was my mom.
I glanced around the room and took in the carnage. They were going to think I’d gone insane. I didn’t care. A numbness set in as I stood and walked to the door. Nothing my parents could ever do or say would come close to what Cassie had done. The feeling of nothingness spread through my body as I threw open the door.
Mom, Dad, and Molly stood with Mr. Wolcott. Mom took one look inside the room and covered her mouth. Dad burst in, saw the destruction, and stood in front of me.
“Are you OK?” he said.
Despite everything that had happened, Dad’s first concern was for my safety. I didn’t care, though. At least not in the moment. Without answering him, I went to Wolcott, who was slowly approaching Roze.
“She’s under control.”
His eyes went wide as he stared at me. “It was you.”
I nodded.
“Did Jimmy—”
I nodded again, knowing he was asking if Jimmy had passed his power to me.
“How?”
I shrugged. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.”
“Tell him what?” Dad said. “What are you talking about?”
Wolcott stared at me a few more seconds then got down to business. “We can discuss that later.” He gestured to Roze. “Right now, we have to help her.”
“How?” I said.
He looked around the room. “Where’s Cassie?”
His tone insinuated Cassie could help us.
I hung my head. “She’s the Siren.”
“What? I don’t—” His voice broke.
“Cassie is the Siren.”
Wolcott’s voice was barely a whisper. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I watched her control Roze.”
“Oh my god.” Principal Wolcott grabbed me and hugged me. He must have known how devastated I was. I almost crumpled into him, but my parents put an end to that.
“I don’t think this is appropriate,” Mom said.
Dad nodded. “What the hell are you even talking about?”
Molly ignored them both and joined us. She had no idea what was going on, but she threw her arms around me and Principal Wolcott.
“What kind of school is this?” Mom shrieked.
Wolcott let go of me and fixed her in his scary penetrating stare. His voice became as commanding as I’d ever heard it. “We will discuss this later. Right now, Roze is our concern. She’s in grave danger.”
“What do you mean by—”
“Stop,” Wolcott said, cutting off my dad. “We will discuss this later.” He turned to me. “What did Cassie tell Roze?”
“To jump out the window if I tried to stop her from leaving.”
He shook his head and covered his face with his hands for a second. I knew he was thinking the same thing I had for the past hour: How could Cassie do such a horrible thing?
Then, he looked back at me,
composed. “The command was about you, so I can approach her.”
“Now, listen here—” Dad said.
It was my turn. I looked at Dad and growled, “Later!”
Dad stepped back, surprised.
Principal Wolcott walked to Roze, who remained still. He tentatively reached out and laid a hand on her arm. She didn’t move, so he gently pulled. Like a puppet, she stepped back into the room. Wolcott got behind her and started directing her to the door. She remained comatose but walked with him.
“What’s wrong with her?” Mom said.
“Later,” Wolcott replied.
At this point, I expected a blowup. My parents could only take so much. But they’d gone quiet with shock. I think they realized something gargantuan was going on, and they had no idea how to process it.
Finally, Wolcott reached the door and led Roze into the hall. He turned back to me. “Get Coach Adkins, please. Bring him to the Admissions Building”
I nodded and took a few steps but stopped when something hit me. “Principal Wolcott.”
“Yes?”
I took a few breaths before saying, “Tons of students are under control. I saw them before coming here.”
Wolcott watched me for a minute. I could see his devastation. The school was doomed, and he knew it. Seeing his face sent an anvil crashing into my stomach.
“Get Coach Adkins,” he whispered.
Without hesitating again, I took off running.
* * * * *
The next time I saw Roze, her hair was wet, but she wasn’t glowing anymore. Her face was wrecked when she walked into Wolcott’s office.
“Is it really Cassie?” she said, her body trembling.
I nodded, and she collapsed against me. Wolcott looked at us, helplessness flashing across his face, before returning to a phone call. I’d only been in his office a few minutes, but he’d already talked to like eighty officials. I wasn’t sure if I felt sorrier for him or Coach Adkins, who was in another office with my family. I had no idea what they were doing in there, but I mentally wished Adkins luck.
Roze nudged me with her shoulder.
“Did you find anyone under control,” she whispered.
I shook my head. Wolcott and I had scoured the campus for purple glows, but came up short. Wherever Cassie’s victims were, or what they were up to, we had no idea.
That is, until a girl, glowing purple, burst into the room, followed by the receptionist.
“Sorry,” the receptionist said, panting. “I tried to stop her.”
We all looked at the girl, Sawyer Freno, from my Music Appreciation class. She glanced from me to Roze to Wolcott then said, “We need to talk.”
I jumped up and stood between Roze and Sawyer. “She’s under control.”
Principal Wolcott looked at me for a second then focused on the receptionist. “We actually have an appointment.”
The receptionist studied him, nodded, and slowly backed out of the room.
As soon as the door closed, Wolcott turned to Sawyer. “May we help you, Ms. Freno.”
For some reason, I expected Sawyer to gloat. After all, Cassie had won. But Sawyer’s face looked worried as she said, “I have a message from the Siren.”
“Cassie,” I said, correcting her. Siren felt impervious and powerful, and I decided, right then and there, that I’d never call her that.
Sawyer ignored me and looked at Wolcott. “The Siren will be releasing evidence against Sanctuary.”
“We gathered as much,” Wolcott responded. “Why are you telling us?”
“Because it’s nothing personal.” Sawyer held up her hands as if surrendering. “She’s not trying to attack any of you personally. But the school must close for her to do her work.”
Wolcott stood and walked around his desk. “And what, exactly, is her work?”
“To make things better.”
I clenched my jaw. That’s exactly what Cassie had told me.
“Well,” Wolcott said, “she and I have very different ideas on how to do that.” When Sawyer didn’t respond, he added, “I still don’t understand why you’re telling us this.”
Sawyer shrugged as if the answer was obvious. “She’s giving you time.”
“Please explain.”
Sawyer lowered her arms. “The Siren doesn’t want to harm the students. In the long run, she’s going to help them. You have to trust her.”
“Trust a murderer?” I spat.
Wolcott held up a hand to calm me down.
Sawyer cocked her head at me for a second then faced Wolcott again. “However, certain sacrifices have to be made in the meantime. That means closing the school. But to help the students, the Siren—”
“Cassie!” I shouted.
Sawyer ignored me. “To help the students, the Siren isn’t releasing any evidence for an hour. You have that long to prepare the campus.”
For the first time, a flash of anger appeared in Wolcott’s voice. “That’s very kind of her.”
“She wishes it didn’t have to be this way.”
This time, Wolcott ignored her. “So what now?”
Sawyer turned to me. “I was also ordered to tell you Cassie is sorry.” She looked at Roze. “Especially to you. She never should have made friends here. It was a mistake.”
Roze didn’t say a word. I didn’t know how to respond, either. She’d actually used Cassie’s name. For some reason, it made the statement hurt even more.
“Is there anything else?” Wolcott said.
“No,” Sawyer replied.
I expected her to leave. Instead, Sawyer approached Principal Wolcott. “I’m to accompany you to break the spell.”
That was it.
Suddenly, Wolcott sprinted to the door in two bounds. Grabbing the handle, he said, “I’m sending Coach Adkins in to help Ms. Freno. After that, you’ll hear the alarm bells going off to summon the students. Please stay here and wait for me.”
“What are you going to tell them?” Roze said.
Wolcott shook his head slowly. “There’s not a whole lot I can do. But I’ll inform them the public knows. Then, we’ll discuss how to handle their families.” He looked at Roze. “Please don’t try and contact your parents. We’ll handle that.”
“What?” Roze said.
Wolcott threw open the door. “I know I owe you some answers. We’ll talk when I get back.”
With that, he was gone. A minute later, Coach Adkins jogged in and went straight to Sawyer.
“I’m ready,” she said.
I know there were a million other things to worry about, but I asked, “What are you going to do to her?” Part of me thought it would be some sort of water ritual. After all, Roze’s hair was still wet.
In my wildest nightmares, I didn’t expect Adkins to say, “We have to drown her.”
I took a step toward him. “What?”
Roze jumped up behind me. “No!”
“Calm down,” Adkins said. “She’ll be perfectly fine. Just like you, Ms. Merrill.”
I stared at Roze’s wet hair.
“Explain,” Roze said, her voice low.
Adkins looked from Sawyer to Roze, apparently debating if he had time to explain. Then he nodded. “There are only two ways we know of to break the Siren’s spell. The first is to let it wear off. But that can take hours or even days.” He put his hand on Sawyer’s elbow. “The other is to threaten the victim’s life. It kicks in a survival instinct, which somehow breaks the spell. In short, I’m going to submerge her.”
My mind went into shock.
“We’ve found it’s the best way,” Adkins said. “And she won’t remember a thing.”
Placing his hand on Sawyer’s back, he led her from the room.
I turned and stared at Roze. In the past couple weeks, she had been controlled and drowned. Twice. Sure, she was OK, but it had to be terrifying, even if she didn’t remember.
Roze sat stoic, trying to act calm, but I felt her shudder.
* * * * *
“Camera crews will be here soon.” Wolcott closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
I’d never seen him that exhausted. It showed how much he cared about Sanctuary, which brought on so much guilt, I once again said, “I should have told you sooner. I’m so sorry.” It was the sincerest apology I’d ever uttered.
Wolcott forced a tiny smile. “Don’t apologize. If you hadn’t had the courage to come back, we wouldn’t know the identity of the Siren. That’s huge. We’re not fighting in the dark, anymore.” He paused before adding, “Besides, it’s just as much our fault.”
I rolled my eyes, not in the mood to be patronized. “How do you figure?”
“We weren’t equipped for all this.”
“What do you mean?”
It was Roze. I looked at her, realizing she hadn’t spoken in over an hour.
Wolcott stood and walked a few steps. “Every teacher here is told the truth. I knew from day one about the Siren.”
“How long ago was that?” I asked.
“Seventeen years.”
“Did you believe it?” Roze said.
Wolcott looked at her. “Yes and no.”
“What?” I said.
He began pacing. “We’re given video proof she exists. And every teacher here has been trained. But . . .” His voice trailed off.
“But what?” Roze said.
Wolcott returned to his chair, turning it a little too hard before sitting. “Nothing ever happened. We never had to deal with it. For the first fourteen years, nothing happened regarding a Siren. Nothing. None of the teachers here had any practical experience, either. We settled into our teaching jobs, thinking the Siren thing was hardly more than a myth, something we wouldn’t have to worry about.”
