Forbidden Course

This can’t be real

I read it again, and again, and again. I don't understand. Why is this happening? Why was I selected? I look at Juju, but she's looking at me as if I know what to do. She’s my best friend, but she's always looked up to me even when we were younger, and she just turned eighteen. " Okay," I say, "First things first let's wake our team." There's a guy a few feet away lying on his front with his head to the side. I walk over and bend to nudge his shoulder, he's tall with broad shoulders, and chestnut brown hair that's slightly curly. He has tan skin and there's a birthmark behind his left ear. Wait, I know that birthmark it's shaped like a bird, like a 'v' but stretched flat like in paintings. I know him, I struggle with my memory images of me kissing that mark and a name flash clearly in my head. DEAN. Before, I realized what I'm doing I’m shouting his name and shaking him. Pleading with him to open his eyes, those big beautiful brown eyes. He peeks through thick dark lashes and grumbles, "Kara? Why are you in my room, not that I mind, but I'm trying to sleep." I almost sob," Dean you need to get up were not in your room." Catching the sadness and panic in my voice his eyes shoot open and he sits up in confusion. He looks at me taking in what I'm wearing with wary amusement, but says nothing to me as he scans the room. Juju's shifting from foot to foot as she anxiously watches the other teams. I have the nagging urge to do the same, but I need to stay focused, I need to catch Dean up to speed, and I need to wake up the others. " Dean, you need to read the note in your pocket and I need you to stay calm, because if you freak out then so will Juju." I say in a soothing voice. He looks at me as if I've grown three heads, but slowly does as I ask. While he reads, I head towards the next body. It's a girl, she can't be more than fifteen years old. She has short blonde hair, small frame, and tiny feet. I'm about to wake her when there's a shout from another circle. My whole body stiffens with fear. slowly I turn my head It's a woman about 5'4 light brown hair that comes to her waist, she's gorgeous with grey eyes, and her face reflects my emotions perfectly. She is frightened. I realize she's in the witches’ circle but she doesn't look dangerous. I step away from the little girl in front of me and walk towards the frightened witch. With my hands up showing I mean her no harm I step in her circle with caution. She studies me a moment then stutters," W..wh.what is th.thi.this ? Who..who are Yo..you?" As calmly as I can I tell her, " My name is Kara, I'm nineteen and human, I don't know what this is or where we are, but I'm assuming you have a note in your pocket like the rest of us... Um it says this is the Forbidden Course, are you really a witch? What's your name? " Something I've said has made her go pale, without taking her eyes off me she reaches for the note quickly she reads. She's shaking with anxiety as she whispers over and over until she's practically screaming " It can't be, it can't be, it can't be, IT ...CAN'T ....BE, I CAN'T BE SELECTED!!!"