The Hidden Alpha (Stryders #4) - HOLD

Chapter 43: Runaway

Climbing up the first floor was the only time we had to pass by anyone. Two girls, chatting together as they held books, didn't even bother looking at out direction. Probably to go to the library to study. A sense of nostalgia washed over me as I remembered the easy days where studying and passing a test was my main concern. So much has changed.

Lost in my own thoughts, it was Callum who guided me out of the door of the fourth floor, and asked me what my room number was. 

"413," I said, following the known path. Lainey told me that nothing has been done with my room even though I got kicked out. Yet.

Walking closer to my door, I immediately knew something was wrong. The doorknob was frozen. I looked up at Callum, who looked puzzled as I did.

The door creaked open for us since the lock was simply frozen.

A chill ran over my - literally.  My mouth opened wide in complete shock as I stepped inside. Ice covered the entire dorm room. It was like someone decided to make it their own personal ice skating rink.

"This is crazy," I gasped, shivering as the ice got to me. I looked around, and my head whipped back as I met eyes with someone that was outside the window. "Hey!"

The person disappeared, and I ran to the window, opening it while regretting it. Ice also covered the window. This mysterious person fell down four floors to the back courtyard, and started to run.

"Whoever that is, we need to catch them," Callum said, as he was prepared to jump out the window too. He gave me a daring look, patting his back. "Want a ride?"

"I'm scared of heights," I whined, but climbed on his back. Knowing we had no time to waste before this person ran away for good.

"Hold on for a second," Callum said to me, as he jumped out the window full of grace, landing perfectly on his legs. He didn't even look like it bothered him. "You go follow her straight, I think I know where she might be wanting to go."

I didn't like splitting up, but it was our only option. "Okay, but come back to me as soon as you can."

Callum gave me a heart stopping smile before he ran into the other side.

The hooded figure was about to be completely out of sight in the courtyard. I knew there was a fence we had to climb to get out of the dormitory area, so that was where they would slow down.

"Wait up! I just want to talk!" I yelled, running across the lawn to get to the intruder. The person was funning even faster, if that was possible. At this rate, I was never going to catch up. All I wanted was a civilized conversation. 

I thought that I was gaining on the person, and it looked like they would be ahead of me, until the person slumped onto the ground. Callum stepped from the opposite side, and I could see the tendrils of smoke around him. His powerful magic was gripping them into a hold. Forming a binding magical sort of prison.

I caught up, panting and huffing. Reggie was so going to kill me because I was so out of shape.

"Way to go," I said to Callum, as he reached over for the person, taking off their hood. Surprising us both as it was a girl around my age - with white blonde hair nd deep lapiz lazuli blue eyes. Momentarily blinding me with how beautiful she was.

She was struggling against the magic binds, but nothing would budge. It was too powerful.

"We're not here to hurt you. If we do release you, you have to give us some answers. Please." The girl stopped struggling. Encouraged, I continued, "I just need to know why you were in my dorm room."

"That's my room too." She finally spoke. It was harsh, bitter and clipped.

I remembered something. My roommate. The one who was never there - the Ice Queen. This was her, in the flesh. "You're my roommate. I don't think we ever seen each other."

"Yeah, that completely on purpose," she said. "Now, please, if you would release me with...whatever dark magic you have going on here I would appreciate it."

"If you promise you won't run away."

"Running away is all I do," she gave me a wry smile, "so I'm told by everyone. But, I promise."

 Callum released her binds, and she looked down, and I could tell. Her mind was made up about us. She wouldn't trust us - no matter what.

Lainey said something earlier about why I got shackled. Why it was me they wanted my magic to be gone. It clicked into place for me like a puzzle. They thought I was the runaway. She mentioned how she always ran away.

"You," I gasped. "Headmaster Clara locked me up because she thought I was you."

She narrowed her eyes for a second, but looked away from me. Seriously, I've never seen such a color or blue eyes like that. It was as though she came straight from an ancient book. 

She shrugged, not looking the least bit sorry about what she put me through. "Whoops."

"Why did they want you?" I asked.

She sighed, standing up which made Callum tense, but as if knowing she said, "I'm not going to run away. Tell your guy to stop. Really, all I wanted was to get away from this wretched place, and all you guys are doing is wasting my precious time that I don't ha-"

The alarms went off.