Nick didn't want to make the same mistake as last time and just not talk to Abby. They kissed. Again.

He can't deny that he didn't replay the scene over again in his head a few times, despite how creepy it sounds. He also couldn't deny how he was walking around the Academy aimlessly with a lame smile on his face.

He can't deny that, maybe, there's going to be a surprise ending that he's depending on to make everything perfect.

Maybe some fairytale ending that allows them to start from the beginning. Don't push your luck, a voice inside him is saying, but Nick can't help it.

A gate has been opened.

•

Abby paced around her bedroom nervously, rubbing her arms up and down so much it started to burn.

She looked around the room she's called her temporary, but probably permanent, home. She wants to go home.

But how do you go back to a place where no one remembers your name?

Abby felt tears starting to form in her eyes. Her knees buckled and lost all strength, causing the girl to fall on the floor a sobbing mess.

She wants to go home.

You can't, a voice says. She thinks it's her head being the irritating inconvenience it is, but when she looks up, even through her blurry vision she can see the small shape of a cat sitting in front of her.

Abby didn't even scream, she actually took a sigh of relief. Finally someone she can actually talk to.

"What are you doing here, Cleo?" Abby sputtered out.

If cats could roll their eyes, then Cleo just did. I'm here to help you. Now please stop crying, it's making me uncomfortable. Abby chuckled and wiped her eyes, her tears slowly stopping and her hiccups ceasing.

There we go.

"It's been a while."

I know. I'm sorry about that, but there was some stuff I had to do. For example, making sure your family's memories are not intact. Abby nodded in understanding, looking down at her hands.

"The High Priest wants me to get on my family's good side and kill them," she mutters, but she knew Cleo heard her. That damn thing heard everything.

I know.

"What do I do, Cleo?" She asks, feeling her tears coming back. "I can't kill my family, no matter how bad they are. They're my family. I grew up with them, I baked awful cookies with them," Abby chuckles at the memory, then frowns when the reality of it all sinks in again. "I don't know what to do," she whispers.

That's what I'm here for.

•

Nicholas thinks what the High Priest has planned is the complete opposite of a good idea. Killing off a whole family?

He looked down at the photograph the Priest gave him, the one of the Henson family.

Just yesterday, three people were visible, whom Nick figured out was a woman named Sara and a man named Hugo, along with Abby.

Today, two more showed up. Alastair and Harry.

Butterflies started to form in Nick's stomach. At this rate, all of the family will be awoken in less than a month.

Despite Nick desperately wanting it to be the latter, it was now or never.

So, he walked out of his room, and made a beeline to Abby's, ignoring those who said hello to him, not even smiling to his teachers. He was ready to get this stupid plan over and done with.

Unfortunately, she already knew the truth.

And that will make everything so much harder.