CARMELLA

CHAPTER 8. mystic misery

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– Scene: After School*

After school, the hallway buzzed with chatter and footsteps. Carmella made her way toward the middle school wing, headed to pick up Maya and Mason, but she suddenly bumped shoulders with someone on purpose.

It was *Mrs. Elena*.

“Hey! We meet again,” Elena said with an unnatural smile.

Carmella raised an eyebrow, already irritated. “What is it?”

“I want to tell you something,” Elena said, glancing over her shoulder. “Make it quick,” Carmella snapped, folding her arms.

“You know the lunch lady… Mrs. Emma,” Elena began, lowering her voice.

Carmella didn’t respond.

“Don’t trust her. She’s—”

Before she could finish, a firm hand tapped Elena’s shoulder. She flinched.

“Mrs. Elena,” Principal Karlton said, his voice cutting into the tension.

She turned immediately. “Hello, Principal Karlton.”

“I need the fifth-grade student attendance records. Could you get them for me now?”

Elena hesitated, then smiled awkwardly. “Yes, sir.”

She glanced at Carmella once more. “We’ll talk later.”

: Carmella didn’t reply. She walked away with the same cold expression she always carried. Principal Karlton and Mrs. Elena turned down the opposite hallway.

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*Scene: At the Johnson House – Later That Day*

The doorbell rang.

Maya and Mason were sprawled out on the couch, watching cartoons when the knock interrupted them. Maya jumped up and opened the front door.

Standing there was a girl with curly hair and a schoolbag slung over her shoulder.

“Who are you?” Maya asked, squinting suspiciously.

“I’m Lisa. I’m… looking for Carmella. I’m her friend from school,” Lisa said with a nervous smile.

Maya raised her brows, surprised. “Alright.”

As she headed upstairs, Mason leaned in.

“Who was that?”

“Some girl. She says she’s Carmella’s friend,” Maya whispered.

Mason sat up, eyes wide. “Friend? Carmie made a friend?”

“I’m as shocked as you are,” Maya muttered.

Mason shook his head slowly. “That ‘friend’ has a death wish.”

“Yep,” Maya replied flatly.

---

: Carmella’s Room*

Carmella was seated cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by candlelight and ancient symbols. She opened her eyes sharply at the knock.

“Who is it?” she barked.

“It’s Maya. Some girl is asking about you. Claims to be your ‘friend,’” Maya said with sarcastic air quotes.

“Let her in,” Carmella responded without emotion.

Maya shrugged and walked off. With a snap of her fingers, Carmella cast a cloaking spell. The witchcraft relics around her room shimmered, then disappeared into thin air.

Moments later, a second knock came.

“Who?” Carmella asked.

“It’s Lisa.”

“Come in.”

Lisa opened the door cautiously, then froze.

“Oh my—!” she gasped. Her eyes scanned the dark, moody décor.

“What’s wrong?” Carmella asked, her tone calm, detached.

“Your room… it’s really spooky!” Lisa said nervously.

“It’s my acquired gift. What’s not to love?” Carmella said.

Lisa gave a forced laugh. “Yeah, it brings out your dark aesthetics…”

“It’s not aesthetics,” Carmella cut in, her voice low and serious.

Lisa blinked. “Oh… so… they’re real?”

“Yes.”

Lisa swallowed hard. “Okay. Why don’t we… start our homework first?” she said, still glancing around, unsure.

The air around *Mrs. Elena's* house felt colder than usual, almost as if it sensed the tension that was about to unfold. A sharp knock echoed through the hallway. Without a word, Elena walked to the door and opened it—her expression blank, unfazed.

Standing on the porch was *Mrs. Emma*, her brows furrowed with restrained fury.

“What are you doing here?” Elena asked coolly, her voice almost bored.

Emma pushed her way slightly forward. “Why did you do that?”

Elena blinked, casually folding her arms. “Do what?”

“Ruin my plan!” Emma snapped. “Why are you shaking Carmella's belief in me? She canceled training today!”

“I didn’t do anything,” Elena said with a sly smirk.

“Stop lying! You told her not to trust me!”

“I did.” Elena’s smile grew. “You really thought I’d let you use her all to yourself?”

Emma’s eyes darkened. “Stop what you’re doing. Or else—”

“Or else what?” Elena cut in mockingly. “You’re powerless. You’re not even a real witch to begin with.”

Emma’s lips curled. She leaned in and whispered coldly, “You’ll see.”

Then, her voice softened with false sweetness. “Look... how about we make a truce?”

Elena tilted her head. “What could be sweeter than ruining this?”

---Emma sighed. “Once I use Carmella, you can have her. Take her powers. I only need her for a while.”

Elena squinted. “Really?”

“I swear. My goal isn’t to take her powers. I just need her strength for a task. That’s all.”

A long silence stretched between them. Finally, Elena nodded slowly.

“Alright. We have a deal.”

Emma extended her hand. “A clear one.”

They shook.

“Just don’t ruin my plan again,” Emma added.

Elena smiled with icy calm. “Don’t worry. It’s going to be a success.”

—

Back at the *Johnson* residence, inside Carmella’s dim room, the energy was still.

*Lisa* stretched and sighed, dropping her pen.

“I’m on number five... do you want a snack or something?” she asked, looking at Carmella who was quietly seated at her desk.

“No,” Carmella replied flatly.

Lisa stood and reached for the door. Just then, Carmella subtly raised a finger under the table. Her school bag, sitting quietly in the corner, twitched—then slowly levitated a few inches into the air.

Lisa turned just in time to catch it moving. Her eyes widened.

“Oh my gosh! Did your backpack just... move? By itself?”

Carmella didn’t even blink. “I didn’t see anything.”

“I’m serious! I *saw* it!” Lisa insisted, her voice shaking.

“You must be hallucinating,” Carmella said with eerie calm.