"I'm the problem?"
Isolde Duchannes stood in the Headmistress's office, dark smoke gathering around her hands, her voice sharp with wounded pride.
"I'm the problem?" she repeated, anger rising.
Then suddenly — her expression shifted.
The fury drained away, replaced by something fragile.
"I'm… sorry," she whispered weakly. "Please forgive me…"
She staggered.
And collapsed.
Behind her stood Alexa — still, composed, watching.
The room held its breath.
The Headmistress turned slowly. "Alexa… what did you do?"
"I fixed it."
"Fixed what?"
"…the problem."
For a brief moment, her eyes flickered — a faint orange glow passing through them — and delicate traces of lightning flickered across her face before fading.
A stunned silence settled over the room.
—
The Headmistress's voice came out firm, though shaken.
"Alexa… we don't kill anyone."
Alexa looked at Isolde's motionless body — then back at her.
"She's not fit for living."
Sarah stepped forward, eyes wide. "Alexa… what has gotten into you?"
Valerina watched quietly, her mind racing — remembering every time Alexa's eyes had flickered… every strange calm… every subtle change.
Alexa said nothing.
She turned and walked toward the door.
Valerina quickly moved ahead and shut it behind her as Alexa left, the click echoing loudly in the silence.
Sarah, the Headmistress, and the Principal stood staring at Isolde.
Valerina finally spoke, voice low.
"Something's different about Alexa."
Sarah looked at her. "Different like… good different or bad different?"
Valerina shook her head slowly. "Worst different."
She ran a hand through her hair, thinking.
"I mean… since the day Alexa was hit by that thing."
The Principal's voice cut in quietly.
"The ITE."
Valerina nodded quickly. "Yes — yes, that thing."
She looked at them seriously.
"Alexa has been acting strange. I mean… she killed Isolde with the snap of her fingers — made her apologize — and her eyes… her eyes flicker orange. And her face… it flickers with lightning every time she does something."
She swallowed.
"That's not Alexa."
The Headmistress stiffened. "So you think Alexa is being controlled by… the ITE?"
Valerina nodded slowly. "Yes. But not fully yet. That's why she still hangs out with us… still acts like herself sometimes."
Silence fell over the room.
The Principal walked to her desk and opened a small carved box, taking out a vial of shimmering liquid.
She handed it to Sarah.
"Give this to Alexa," she said gently. "It will help her sleep. Then we will bring her in for tests."
Sarah took it carefully, worry written across her face.
Outside, somewhere in the halls of Arcadia…
Alexa walked alone.
Quiet.
Unseen.
And something within her stirred.