Whilst stretching in class, she started telling me a story that Saryna told her, but I barely heard it. I watched the door, waiting for Skylar to come in. As the minutes ticked by, she never came.
“Isabella,” I whispered. “Did you see Skylar this morning at breakfast?”
She glanced at me mid-stretch, her brows furrowed.
“Who?” she asked.
Panic struck deep. I shook my head and went back to stretching as my pulse thundered in my ears.
If she couldn’t remember her, that meant…
I forced myself to stay calm.
Running around like a lunatic wouldn’t be smart right now.
I watched out for her in our Valyrian class, but with little hope. I even asked Professor Rynar if he knew where she was. He chuckled at me and shooed me to my seat, where there was a Valyrian poem waiting to be translated.
He was one of my favorite professors. Skylar had often helped me with our work in this class. I never thought I could learn another language, but somehow, practicing with her made it effortless.
Professor Rynar had been my last hope that someone else would remember Skylar. I had to look for her. Instead of going to my seat, I turned on my heel and bolted for the door.
“Anna?” he called, but I didn’t turn back.
I headed straight for the dorms. I ran, worried I’d already waited too long, accidentally brushing past other students. “Hey! Watch out.”
I kept moving, ignoring them, and rushed up the staircase.
I reached Skylar’s common room and knocked furiously. After a few seconds, I knocked again, and the door flew open to a cross-looking Riya.
“Why are you beating down—” she paused, focusing on me, and her expression shifted to concern. “Anna? What’s wrong?”
I rushed past her, scanning the nameplates on the door.
RIYA, REECE, SARYNA, and nothing.
The last door didn’t have a nameplate. I went in, scanning the dorm. My chest hurt as I dragged in strained, painful breaths. The bed was made, and the wardrobe neat. There was nothing on the bedside table. The room was empty.
“Anna? What are you doing?” Riya asked, her voice cautious.
“Skylar,” I said. “Have you seen her?”
Her brows knitted in a tight and worrisome expression.
“Skylar?”
My heart plummeted into my stomach.
I stared at her.
“Skylar,” I repeated. “Short, shy, brown hair, smart?”
Riya’s lips parted, her face glowing with concern. “Anna, I think we need to get you to the Nurse’s ward.”
She touched me gently on the arm, and I jerked away from her.
“I’m fine,” I snapped, leaving the room.
I went straight to my dorm, my heart pounding and my head splitting with pain.
