Miss Hammond's scream tore through the hallway as Kaelen and I bolted toward the staircase. Behind us came the crash of her chair overturning, followed by another shriek that could have shattered glass.
"SPIDER! HELP ME! THERE'S A MONSTER IN MY OFFICE!"
I caught Kaelen's eye, and we both bit back laughter as we raced down the stairs. The commotion had drawn attention—doors were opening, voices calling questions. Perfect. The more chaos, the better our chances.
"This way," I hissed, grabbing Kaelen's sleeve and yanking him down a narrow service corridor. "The stables are behind the kitchen garden."
We slipped through the back door and into the rain-soaked afternoon. The sky hung heavy with dark clouds, and the grounds were deserted—everyone inside for afternoon lessons or drawn to the hysteria we'd created.
"Do you think she's all right?" Kaelen asked as we sprinted across the muddy yard.
I shot him a surprised glance. "The spider was harmless. She's fine—just terrified."
