Souxie Lafayette #3
A hand slowly reached for the door handle as everyone became quiet, on the edge of their seat.
It was something new to the student body, including us.
Maggie never spoke about the funeral, and we never truly asked.
Yet when he turned the knob, he slowly pulled the door open to the church and you could hear the gasps from students behind me.
It showed another night sky with buildings, the sound of cars, and music.
It was only then you saw the screen jolt as someone let out a gasp when two cats slipped out of the door and took off into the night.
“She has permanently exposed our world,” he whispered, still trying to catch his breath from the jump scare.
The clip went off as Xavier came back to the podium to face a petrified student body.
Dr. Joy Vaughn was shaking her head with a frown, disturbed by it all and playing up to the role of a scared dean.
“Drew Collins,” Xavier started. “We have a problem, and I think it's time we address it. I…Xavier Martin would like to start a movement that guarantees our safety, protects our students, and continues to push our education forward. The Underground does not need to be run by those who take advantage. The true magic of our people starts from here.” He touched his chest with the palm of his hand before tightening up to a fist. “Let’s continue to keep it from outsiders and those who mean us no good so that we always have control. “Thank you.”
He stepped back as a few students stood up to clap before the rest followed. Some continued to sit down while others talked over the applause, unsure of what to think.
“Maggie Grey,” Dr. Joy Vaughn said as she stood up at the podium.
“Like the rest of her family will be arrested the moment she finds herself back at the Grounds. Not only is she wanted for this violent attack, but she has also taken a student as well. A student that was here under an emergency asylum. A student by the name of Danielle Jackson. It is believed Danielle was forced to go against her free will for fear of Maggie Grey reacting violently towards her. It has officially been reported so anyone that has any information regarding this matter, please come see me. Those who are found withholding or helping hide these fugitives will be removed. That is all.”
Everyone began to get up as Harvey leaned in close to me.
“If the girl was taken by Maggie, why did she refer to her as a fugitive?” He asked with his eyes cutting towards me. He grabbed his things while I carefully picked up my tote with Quan inside.
“What the hell is going on?” Isis asked as we began to move. Everyone was trying to talk to Xavier as they crowded around the stage. Harvey led me out, keeping me in front of him as we pushed our way through the double doors until we were outside on the Grounds waiting on Asha.
“Okay, what the fuck do we do?” Asha blurted out as we stood off to the side, away from the auditorium. “Huh? What the fuck? You know Maggie would never–––”
“I know she wouldn’t,” I cut in.
“They don’t give a damn about that,” Quan said as he hung outside of the tote bag. “The damage to her reputation is already done, which is what he wanted.”
“Exactly,” Harvey said. “Can’t worry about where they are…need to worry about what you’re gonna do when she gets back and what she’s gonna come back to.”
“We can’t let people think she’s some sort of freaking monster!” Isis demanded.
“I mean I can deadass fight,” Asha said with a shrug as she pressed her hands together. “I can fight anyone that has something to say.”
“Oh, violence with violence, that’s good, did you think of that all on your own?” Quan snapped angrily. “No you cannot fight everybody dumbass.”
“I mean so then what?!” She fussed with her arms out. “I don’t like them playing with her like this!”
“We need to know that Maggie is safe,” I said. “Wherever she is, we just need to know she’s good with Ayira. If she’s not, then our priority is to find her first.”
“Agreed,” Isis nodded.
“How is it that this girl comes out of nowhere. None of you know who she is and now she and Maggie are missing?” Harvey asked as my mouth opened to speak but closed at the thought. Asha’s brows came together while Quan shook his head.
“I’ve been saying this about this so-called princess…Danielle isn’t really Danielle…it’s Ayira…pretending to be Danielle? Who the fuck is this lady and where did she come from?”
“Aye…I didn’t wanna be the one to say it,” Asha said. “But I always said something was off about her and yall are just so ready to accept anybody in the group.”
“Like this mothafucka,” Quan muttered towards Harvey who tilted his head to the side.
“I thought you enjoyed watching me having sex with Souxie?”
Quan’s whiskers twitched before he dropped back into the tote bag, annoyed.
“I don’t think Ayira is a danger to Maggie. If anything, I get the sense she was meant to be with her…” I said.
“Yeah nah…Ayira got in her head. What if Maggie did turn violent and it’s because of being around Ayira. We don’t know this broad! I can’t believe we were even thinking about taking her out to a club!”
“I don’t think Ayira would take advantage of Maggie,” Isis said with a worried tone before looking at me. “Right?”
“I can’t say but I don’t think so either.”
“Okay so how do we know she’s okay?” Asha asked. “If we don’t know where she is, how do we know anything at this point?”
“Who is the one person that knows her better than we probably ever will?” I asked dryly.