The reason why nightmares are always scary is because once you fall into them, you never know when you will wake up.
Speaking of it, the days when Tia was involved in it actually didn't last too long. However, after the extreme beauty was suddenly torn apart, the darkness swarmed over her. Even if she thought about it again today, ten years later, the faded and yellowed memories still frightened her.
"... It was a very big basement, divided into many cells with thick brick walls and iron gates. It was very dark there, there was almost no light at ordinary times, and you couldn't see anything from the door. No idea. But I can hear a lot of breathing and painful groans around me - there are many people like me who are locked up there."
…
Perhaps because the number of cells was still more than enough, Tia, who had calmed down a little, groped in the dark and carefully explored the cells left and right, and then quickly determined that at least there was no one else except herself in that cell. What a person who doesn't know the details.
Being held in solitary confinement may make people feel more uneasy, but if you think about it from another perspective, it may not be a bad thing. At least Tia, who had not received much kindness from others since she was a child, felt that even in this situation, the people in the same cell with her were not necessarily her companions.
"If it's Alyssa, or that kind Miss Britt, then it should be fine... right?"
Tia, who was hugging her knees and curling up in a ball in the corner of the cell, suddenly remembered the two people who were chatting with her before falling asleep. Then she looked at the situation in front of her and couldn't help but hesitate for a moment. For a moment.
But soon, she shook her head vigorously in the darkness and shook away some of the thoughts that briefly flashed in her mind.
"By the way, where will Alyssa be now? Has she been imprisoned somewhere too?"
Since there was nothing to do and she didn't dare to say anything when she didn't know anything, Tia could only huddle in the corner and think wildly.
It was indeed dark in the cell, it could be said that you couldn't see your fingers, but compared to the fear of violence, reprimands and insults, she was less afraid of this simple darkness. You know, in the past, in order to avoid the bullying in the orphanage, she would often take the initiative to hide in places where others could not see clearly. For her, the darkness may actually be a kind of protection that can bring her a sense of security.
However, just when Tia's thoughts were wandering and she began to wonder how she was unknowingly caught here from the monastery dormitory that was filled with beauty everywhere, she heard a shrill scream of extreme panic. Suddenly there was a sound from a certain direction outside the cell, severely interrupting her reverie.
"Who? What's wrong?"
Tia still didn't dare to make a sound, but instead covered her mouth and nose out of habit. Then she realized that the seemingly distant exclamation stopped abruptly after it sounded once. What was the current situation of the owner of the sound... Although everything was still unknown, it would not be a good thing after all.
"Is she also a... girl...?"
To be honest, it is not easy for children of her age to tell whether they are boys or girls just by their voices. What's more, in such a quiet environment, the scream came so suddenly that in retrospect it didn't leave much of a reliable impression in my mind.
Just as Tia was thinking this, she suddenly heard the sound of footsteps coming from far and near outside, which made her even more afraid to distract herself from thinking about what was there and what was not.
Someone is approaching! More than one person. Moreover, one of them seemed to be dragging something, and there was an obvious rustling sound between his steps...
Then, Tia finally saw the light for the first time since she woke up in the darkness.
Unfortunately, that is not the light that represents hope. If possible, Tia would prefer that this place remain dark forever.
The next moment, before the footsteps came to the door of her cell, Tia quickly lowered her head and buried her face between her knees. She secretly looked at the getting closer light outside the iron gate through the messy hair covering her eyes.
"Ta-ta, tap-ta, tap-ta, tap-ta..."
"Chi-chi-chi-chi-"
Not long after, a yellowish and dim light first faintly floated out from one side of the iron fence, and then two figures, one tall and one short, slowly passed by the corridor outside the fence.
The short man was walking in front, because the brightness of the light group was not very high, and Tia, who covered most of her field of vision with her bangs, could not see much clearly. She did not see the specific appearance of the other person. But there was one thing that Tia noticed right away. In the man's hands...
"Is that... a wand? A wizard?"
Although Tia was guided by John more than a year ago, Tia has already attended school in Ilvermorny for a year. But in fact, she, who had never been able to integrate, didn't actually learn much in this year, and she didn't even get used to the wand, which is standard equipment for every wizard.
At this moment, when she discovered that the other person actually had a wand in his hand, she finally realized that she seemed to be... already a little witch
Tia, who still didn't have much real feelings, gently clasped her little hands and began to regret it for the first time. Since I have the rare talent to be a wizard, why don't I take a serious look at it? I remember that the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts seemed to have said in the first class that carrying a wand with him at all times is a habit that a qualified wizard should have, because that might help him in something. Save your life in unexpected situations.
"Where is the wand? In the suitcase?"
Just when Tia couldn't help but start to regret secretly, the next scene that came into view completely washed away all her emotions, and was replaced by deep fear.
She saw the third figure passing by the door, and what he was dragging in his hand, which looked like a broken doll.
"Well."
Tia tried her best not to make any sound, but the moment she witnessed that scene, her breathing couldn't help but become heavier.
It was very quiet in the dungeon, even if there was only a little bit of breathing, it was enough for the other party to hear. At that moment, Tia clearly saw that the figure paused as he was about to pass the door. Then, a harsh and hoarse voice sounded—
"Don't worry, my dear...it will be your turn soon."