CARMELLA

CHAPTER 5. MISERY BEGINS AT HOME

Mrs. Emma’s voice was firm, but calm.

“In order to succeed in this mission, you’re going to need people, Carmella. You can’t do it alone.”

Carmella folded her arms, her gaze sharp. “I can. Friends aren’t authentic. They’re the kind of people that draw you closer to your doom—faster.”

Mrs. Emma watched her silently for a moment before speaking again. “One way or another, you’re going to need someone. I can only do so much… but if you believe you can do it all by yourself, I won’t stop you.”

Carmella didn’t reply.

Mrs. Emma gave a nod. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodbye, Mrs. Emma.”

And with that, Carmella left the training room.

—

*Later that night…*

Her bedroom was dim, lit only by a flickering candle and the faint green glow of a potion she was trying to brew. Carmella hunched over her desk, muttering softly as ingredients swirled in the small cauldron.

Then came a knock.

Carmella tensed. She quickly hid the potion under her desk and moved to the door.

“What do you want?” she whispered as she opened it.

Maya and Mason stood there, looking curious and slightly excited.

: “We have a small report,” Mason said.

Carmella opened the door wider. “Come in.”

The twins entered quietly, sitting on the floor.

“So,” she asked, “what have you observed about her?”

Mason leaned forward. “I was going to the bathroom and I saw Mrs. Elena talking to your school’s lunch lady.”

Carmella’s brows lifted. “Which one?”

“She was dark-skinned, big eyes, thick face.”

Carmella narrowed her gaze. “Mrs. Emma?”

“Yeah. Mrs. Elena called her Emma. I couldn’t stay for the whole thing, though.”

“What did you hear?”

“They mentioned something about the new girl with the yellow and red hair…”

Maya added, “That’s Carmella!

Mason nodded. “They said stuff like ‘defeat,’ and ‘she’s mine.’ It sounded... intense.”

Carmella’s mind spun. “Mrs. Elena knows Mrs. Emma?” she muttered to herself.

“I couldn’t hear the rest,” Mason admitted, looking a little downcast. “The hall monitor nearly caught me. I had to run.”

“You did good,” Maya said, patting his back. “Don’t beat yourself up.”

Carmella opened her mouth to respond—but then the door creaked open again.

Fred stepped in.

“There you two are,” he said, raising a brow. “I’ve been looking all over.”

“We were just chilling with Carmella,” Maya said quickly.

Fred looked mildly confused. “This is new.”

“I was telling them a bedtime story,” Carmella replied with a calm, convincing tone.

“And it’s really spooky!” Mason added with a grin.

Fred chuckled. “Alright. Get to your beds after, okay?”

“We will, Dad,” they both said in unison.

Once their father was gone, Carmella turned serious again.

“Get more information. Watch her closely and bring it all to me.”

Maya gave a small salute. “Okay.”

“Now go.”

The twins hurried out quietly.

Carmella stood there in the silence of her room, her thoughts tangled. The pieces were starting to move. But the board was far from set.

She had to be ready.