Descent into Madness!

—Mira

"I... I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered, clinging to my denial like a life raft in a sea of crazy.

The principal's smile widened, showing teeth that were just a bit too sharp to be human. "Come now, Miss Lott. There's no need for games. We're all friends here."

Yeah, right. And I was the Queen of England.

"What do you want from me?" I asked, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.

Principal Grimsby leaned back in his chair, which I now noticed was actually a swirling vortex of darkness. Show-off. "It's not about what we want from you, Miss Lott. It's about what we can offer you."

I raised an eyebrow, skepticism overriding my fear for a moment. "And what's that? A lifetime supply of supernatural air freshener to cover up your clothes-sniffing habit?"

To my surprise, he laughed. It was a sound like ice cracking, sending shivers down my spine. "Oh, you are delightful. No wonder she chose you."