Aria clutched at my arm as the school alarm wailed over our heads. I winced at the and turned to Aria who looked terrified. 

"Verina, what could be wrong?" she asked worriedly. 

"Selzers," I said grimly, pulling her to the main hall where students had started gathering. 

"Selzers? Surely not," she said leaning on a wall next to me. "Maybe they have just caught the intruder." 

I looked at her hopeful expression and shook my head. 

"Maybe the intruder is a Selzer," I said. I knew I was not reassuring her but I felt that she ought to know. "They wouldn't just set off the alarm for a stalker." 

Airell and Eryx saw us and came over with Bianca trailing close behind. All of them looked worried. 

"We are so glad to see you guys," said Bianca giving both of us a hug. "I couldn't find you in the dorm." 

"What's going on?" asked Airell running a hand through his dark hair, looking distracted. 

"I am not sure. Verina thinks it's a Selzer attack..." Aria mumbled. 

I tuned her out and peered around the hall trying to see if everyone was there. I saw Emily and Sia standing in the corner with horrified expressions on their faces. Wanda was nowhere to be seen. My heart sank as I ran towards them. 

"Where is she?" I sputtered out. A few people standing nearby turned to gape at me. I didn't care. 'No, No,' I thought desperately. 'Please let her be okay.'

"Where is Wanda?" 

"Outside with Mrs Kuperus," said Emily. 

"Is she hurt?" I asked. 

Emily shook her head and I exhaled in relief. Wanda was fine. 

"Wait- why is she outside?" I asked frowning. "Shouldn't she be in the hall with us?" 

Both of them exchanged glances. 

"So you don't know?" asked Siya. 

"Know what?" I demanded. 

"A Carthan has been attacked. They found her lying outside. Wanda has gone to tend to her." said Siya. 

My heart sank again. A Carthan had been attacked. A girl. I pushed past people and made my way towards the front door. 

"Ver! Where are you going?" asked Eryx. 

"A Carthan. Attacked. Outside." I told him shortly and hurried towards the front door with my friends close behind me. The door was slightly ajar. I reached out and pushed it open. Mrs Kuperus and Wanda were kneeling beside a body on the ground. 

I raced over to them. 

"There is nothing we could have done." Wanda was saying gently.

 Mrs Kuperus looked as though she was going to burst into sobs. I felt stunned to see her like this. She was one of the toughest people I knew. I couldn't quite believe it. Wanda kept a hand on her shoulder with a grim expression on her face.

I slowly approached the battered body sprawled lifelessly in the grass and my heart filled with fear. I looked at the long fair hair spreading out in a pool of blood. A sense of dread washed over me when I realized I recognized who it was. I know her, I thought frantically as I took a step back from her, my legs trembling. 

It was Garessa. And she was dead.