THE PUZZLE

PEACH MIDNIGHT QUEST

The moon shone so brightly on Earth giving it a peaceful state. Majority of the students of Jazielly Academy were already asleep. A few of them talking in whispers to prevent their voice from being heard. Principal White made sure he took the tour himself to check on the students because of Ashley. He had his eyes on her since she stepped into Jazielly Academy.

Footsteps approached the girls dorm and immediately all noise seized. They all knew the consequences.

As Mr White went away, Peach got out of bed. She stared at Ashley, seeing Ashley's face, one would know she was having a bad dream. Peach shrugged and quietly went out of the room. She got out of the dorm successfully without anyone noticing.

Walking out, she heard echoes from distance and she knew exactly what it was. A bald eagle flew past her giving her signs not to go further but she didn't heed. She walked hastily to the library, the library door was shut.

"Oh s**t, not this time". Peach said.

She stared solemnly at the door for a while and soon, the creaking sound of a door opening was heard. As the door opened, Peach happily went in.

Going through every shelf, she was in search of a letter. She comes to the library every full moon for a letter. But today, Peach didn't see any letter.

"Maybe it wasn't dropped here".

Then, she decided to go into the forbidden realm never minding the consequences.

"By magic gentle guiding hand

I open this door to a new land

With a twist and turn, a push and sway

The door swings wide, come what may"

Peach sang.

" Aperi, aperi, let the way be". Peach said smiling.

As the door opened, Peach went in hoping to find her letter but instead, she saw a pack of a jigsaw puzzle.

"What's this for?".

As she held it, she felt something powerful around it.

"This might help". Peach said putting the puzzle in her bag.

As she got out of the library, a sniffing sound was heard behind her. Pascaline Baldwin was staring at her.

"Uhm... I just came out to take in air". Pascaline said though she knew Peach wasn't a talker.

Peach gave her no reply and went away. Every magical ability was done in secret. Any student caught using magic was expelled.

She got to the dorm peacefully. She brought out the puzzle and let all the pieces fall on her bed. She looked closely and didn't get a clue. As fitted two pieces together, a shiver ran through her spine.

"Now is not the time for this". She said keeping it her drawers. Then she laid on her bed.

★

It was morning the next day, Ashley stretched on her bed.

"My cousin, Jeff always says 'If you stretch on the bed when you wake up, it will reduce stress'". Ashley said and Peach chuckled.

Ashley smiled seeing her roommate chuckling.

"Woke up at midnight, didn't find you on your bed, where did you go?" Ashley asked knowing there will be no reply.

" Went to pee". Peach replies to Ashley's surprise.

" OMG! I think I'm hearing voices, this one is tinier than any horror voice I've ever heard". Ashley says dramatically.

" Peach did you hear it?" She added.

" It's me Ash." Peach replied pointing to herself.

"You can talk?". Ashley asked.

"Weren't you told that I can talk?"

"I am not dumb Ashley. I know they have told you things about me. Freak, dumb, asshole. I hear them every time". Peach said putting her hands on Ashley's shoulder.

"Seemed like you had a nightmare yesterday". Peach said putting her hands on Ashley's shoulder.

How did she know..... Ashley thought.

★

"What's wrong Miss Jackson?" Stephanie Harris the dorm mom asked seeing Ashley in her office.

"Mrs Harris, I know you are busy but can we talk?"

"Sure, anything for you. So, what is it?"

" Mrs Harris, I woke up this morning expecting to see a quiet Peach like always, but Peach was talking too much unlike before". Ashley explained.

" So, what do you think is the problem?". Stephanie asked smiling.

" I think my roommate have been swapped. It's either she has a twin who came visiting that I'm not aware of or someone shape-shifted so they can decieve me". Ashley said.

She concluded that things that have been happening to her these few days, were results of her fictional imaginations.

"Don't even mention magic. It's prohibited here". Stephanie made her know.

" Prohibited?". Ashley scoffed.

Stephanie nodded.

" Why would something be prohibited when it isn't even existing?". Ashley scoffed.

" That's for you Ashley to think about". Stephanie said.

" I think you have class now". Stephanie said onhearing the sound of the bell.

"Come sometime later". She said staring at Ashley.

" I'm interested in you". She whispered.

Ashley nodded.

" Thanks for listening, Mrs Harris". Ashley said leaving.