??? – Alicia, is that you?
Alicia – Me? Who are you?
??? – Come on, you don't remember me? I'm your best friend… the one who died, remember?
Alicia – I... I don't remember...
??? – Of course you don't. You abandoned me. Moved on like I never existed.
Alicia – That's not true… we just drifted apart. You looked happy without me.
??? – HAPPY? I was miserable after Xumxum died! And where were you?
Alicia – I heard about it, but I was busy with exams, and you were too…
??? – No, I wasn't. I failed. After Xumxum died, I stopped going to school. Locked myself in my dark room… waiting for a message from you that never came.
Alicia – I was going to send one...
??? – No excuses. If I mattered, you would've sent it.
Alicia – But I thought you were okay...
??? – You thought. After I left town and died in that accident, you didn't even send flowers or show up at my funeral.
My mom, my dad, my brother... they were all waiting for you.
What's your excuse?
Alicia – I... I'm sorry... please, I'm sorry!
??? – Too late!
WAKE UP, ALICIA!
Alicia wakes up screaming.
Alicia – I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please forgive me!!!
Violet – Hey, hey! Ali, calm down. It was just a nightmare.
Alicia – A nightmare? What happened?
Alicia looks around, confused.
Alicia – Where am I?
Violet – You fainted and hit your head. I brought you to the infirmary.
Nurse – What's going on? I heard yelling everything alright?
Violet – All good, Khawlah. Alicia just had a bad dream.
Khawlah – Don't scare me like that! Haha, it's my first month interning here.
Good to see you awake, Alicia. How do you feel?
Alicia – I'm fine, just a bit of a headache... probably from the fall.
Khawlah – What fall?
Violet subtly gestures behind Alicia's back.
Khawlah – Ahhh, that fall!
Violet – Yeah, when she fainted.
Khawlah – Right. You hit your head when you fell. It'll hurt for a few hours maybe days but you'll be fine. Nothing to worry about.
Alicia – A fall? Hmm… I could've sworn Violet cast some kind of Odoris spell to make me sleep...
Khawlah – My part's done here, the rest's on you. I've got other wings to check.
Violet – Thanks, Khawlah. Really.
Khawlah – Anytime. Good luck, girls!
Alicia, you're free to go whenever you want.
Violet (muttering) – What an idiot…
Alicia – Where's my pendant?
Violet – Not with me.
Alicia – Very funny. Hand it over.
Violet – I'm serious, I don't have it.
Alicia – My mom gave me that necklace. It's the last thing she ever gave me before she left.
WHERE IS MY PENDANT?!
The lights begin flickering violently.
Violet – Alicia, calm down
Alicia – MY PENDANT!
The lights burst.
Violet – The pendant's with Fionna!
Alicia – Fionna? What does she want with my mom's pendant?
Violet – She said she wants to talk to you after this.
Alicia – Oh… fine. I just hope she gives it back.
Violet (thinking) – That was terrifying. I don't ever want to see her really angry...
Alicia – I'm ready, Violet. Can we go?
Violet – Y-yeah… sure...
Khawlah (returning) – What's all this mess?
Violet – I was just showing Alicia a Lucendi-type spell.
Khawlah – Inside the infirmary?! You know there are patients hooked to machines here what if there was a short circuit? Someone could die!
Violet – I know, I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking.
Khawlah – You'd better start thinking. I'm your friend, but we're talking about lives here.
Alicia glares at Violet.
Violet – I swear it won't happen again.
Khawlah – It better not.
Khawlah leaves with a frown.
Alicia – We're leaving, Violet. Now.
Violet – Right, let's go.
As they walk out:
Violet – Alicia... are you planning to finish that spell?
Alicia – I don't know. I just want my pendant. It's all I have left of my mom.
Violet – Fionna's not gonna give it back. Not after your mom's last request.
Alicia – What do you mean?
Violet – Your mom spoke to Fionna.
Alicia – What did she say? When was that? Did Fionna tell you?
And you hid that from me?
Violet – It was the day you arrived. Fionna asked me not to tell you.
Alicia – And she didn't plan to say anything? How long were you two going to hide it?
Violet – Your mom
Girls (shouting) – VIOLET!!!
Violet – Melania? Ceana? Why are you yelling—inside the infirmary?! Keep your voices down.
Melania – Tracey's missing!
Ceana – Nobody's seen her since the FluctLight Club party!
Violet – What? Did you call the police?
Ceana – We did, but they said there's not much they can do. They asked for a photo and a statement.
Melania – We came straight to you we thought maybe you'd know what's going on.
Violet – Did you tell Fionna yet?
Melania – Not yet. We hoped you would.
Violet – Fine. Go to the main office, tell Oliver I sent you, and that it's urgent. Explain everything to Fionna.
And don't tell anyone else. Got it?
Melania & Ceana – Got it.
They run off.
Alicia – Wait! Aren't we going to the main building too?
Violet – No.
The hallway lights flicker again.
Violet – Alicia, we don't have time. You need to get your class schedule sorted.
Alicia – What about my pendant? And the missing girl? Aren't those a little more important than my schedule?
Violet – Look, I'll drop you at the office. Do whatever you want. I'm just trying to help, okay?
Alicia – Forget it. I know where the office is.
Violet – Fine.
They part ways.
Alicia (thinking) – I don't need her. I'll talk to Fionna myself. She'll tell me everything.
Alicia runs toward the main building.
Alicia's POV:
Seconds later, she bursts into the administration hall.
Oliver – Hey! Slow down this isn't a racetrack!
Alicia – I have an appointment with Fionna!
Oliver – No, you don't. No student meetings right now.
Alicia – I have a VIP pass.
Oliver – Nice try. Sit down and wait your turn.
Alicia – I can't
Oliver – Sit. Down.
Alicia – Where's Danielle? She scheduled me with her
Oliver – Don't play that card. Couch. Now.
Alicia (quietly) – Somnum nunc.
Oliver collapses instantly.
Melania – Alicia, right? That's your name?
Alicia – Yeah. No time to explain.
Melania – You just knocked a guy out with a snap of your fingers…
Alicia (thinking) – Great. Did they just witness magic? Congrats, Alicia, you've officially traumatized two girls.
Alicia – Uh, hypnosis. Ever heard of the "hypothetical pistol" experiment?
Ceana – I think so?
Alicia – Yeah! Works just like that you point your finger and
Alicia whispers again: Somnum nunc.
Alicia (thinking) – Only way for now.
She kicks open Fionna's door.
Alicia – FIONNA!
Inside, two hooded figures in masks stand beside her.
Fionna – Alicia? What are you doing here? Where's Oliver? You're not allowed here get out, now!
Masked One – Impressive management skills you've got, Fionna.
Fionna – She doesn't belong here! She's new, she doesn't know the rules!
Masked Two Funny. She seems pretty advanced.
Masked One – Indeed.
Fionna – I don't understand.
Masked Two – She just used an advanced-level spell and left three students unconscious at the reception.
Fionna – Alicia?!
Alicia – I'm sorry! I just really needed to talk to you.
Alicia (thinking) – I've never seen Fionna so nervous… who are these people?
Fionna – Alicia…
The masked figures whisper something to each other.
Fionna (yelling) – Alicia! Get out. Now!
Alicia – Okay, fine. But I'm coming back for my pendant.
Fionna – Oh, that's what this is about?
Alicia – Yes. My mother's pendant.
Fionna – It's on the table, in front of the painting. Take it and leave.
When you go, send Violet Crawford in.
Alicia – I will.
Alicia smiles faintly.
Fionna – You know the consequences. I'm not your mother, and I won't protect you.
Alicia's face hardens. She walks to the table.
On the wall hangs a large painting of a white-haired mage dressed in blue, sitting inside a glowing circle with scattered papers around her and a wolf pendant on her neck.
Alicia (thinking) – For some reason… I've seen her before. But where?
Alicia grabs her pendant and leaves.
Alicia (thinking) – Why does everything have to be so complicated...?
She puts on the pendant and goes looking for Violet.