The hidden room wasn't much, certainly less than the library. All it contained was a desk, a chair, and a burnt-out candle. If anything, it resembled a study room more than anything else.

  Why would she hide a study room, though?

  Out of curiosity, I took the first step inside, but a hand immediately halted me. I turned to see a frightened Ben.

  “Um, Davina, maybe we shouldn't step into the room,” Ben quivered. I flashed him a confused look, raising an eyebrow and tilting my head. “Well, in most stories about hidden rooms, they're usually equipped with some kind of trap,” he explained frantically. “You know, to keep people out. What if that's true too?”

  I could feel his hand trembling and see his gloomy stare. So, I simply grabbed his hand, gave him a calm smile, and led us both in. He took his first step into the not-so-hidden room. I gestured to him with my hand, signaling that it was safe. He smiled back, saying, “Thanks, Davina.”

  I blushed.

  But it wasn't as bad as when I realized we were still holding hands. My face turned red as a tomato once more. Ben noticed this time but simply asked if I was okay. That's my Ben.

  I approached the table only to find an envelope that hadn't been opened yet. It was from someone named Amf. Probably someone doing business with my mom.

  But why hide it, though?

  I looked up to see another coin on the wall, just like the one on the other wall. I wondered what this one would do if I put it together. Just as I was about to do so, the ground began to shake once more. The wall was closing up.

  “Davina, it's time to go,” he yelled as he grabbed my arm. But I couldn't leave without some answers. Without thinking, I snatched the envelope, and Ben pulled us out of the library before it sealed.

  Thankfully, we made it out in time, and I held the letter. Ben was gasping for air. The fear melted from his face into a grin. Out of excitement, he yelled, “That was AWESOME!” I placed my hands over his mouth to stop him from drawing too much attention.

  Speaking of attention, why hasn’t anyone come here? There's no way no one noticed the ground shaking… twice. Is there some kind of spell at work? Whatever spell was keeping this secret… it was powerful. And dangerous. But why go to all this length to hide a study room?

  ============================

  We made it back to my room, thankfully undetected. Ok maybe not undetected, seeing as how every creaking door or even slight change in wind flow was welcomed with a jumpscare and a not-so-manly squeal. No comment.

  Ben lay on my bed, finally letting out a breath of relief to the end of our… adventure.

  “So are you gonna open it?” he asked, also curious about what all this hiding was for. I gave a meek nod with a weary look at the mysterious envelope from FMA. So many thoughts ran through my mind what this letter could contain.

  What if it was a letter from a secret spouse and all this while she's had a secret family stashed somewhere?

  Or what if it's a letter from a doctor and she was terminally ill? I don't like her very much, but that doesn't mean I want her dead.

  For a letter hidden this carefully, I could only expect the worst.

  Amidst my panicking, Ben places his hand on mine, holding the envelope with a concerned look and says in a low gentle voice, “Don't worry, you don't have to right now, whenever you’re ready, I'll be ready too”. Brought out his pinky in front of me and wiggled it. I grabbed it with mine and gave a more determined nod.

  I inhaled deeply, exhaled, and steeled myself. This time, I would open it. I slid my finger under the flap—

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  *Knock *Knock.

  …

  Ben and I froze.

  Panic set in, and within seconds, we were scrambling around the room, desperately searching for a place to hide the envelope. We tried to be quiet, but judging by the amount of shuffling, thudding, and loud whispers, we failed.

  The knock sounded once more, and Ben quickly grabbed the letter and slid it under my bed, which was surprisingly effective as it was completely out of sight. I appraised him with his chin held high.

  The knock appeared once more. We answered it with a bright but probably really suspicious smile. It was Clara. Although she was carrying the same emotionless face, I could tell she wasn’t too happy with the time wasted on knocking on the door.

  “I came to inform you that the boy’s mother is here”,

  “Huhn”, Ben Confused.

  “But she said I could stay till 5” He said.

  The maid did not react but simply walked away. Rude.

  Ben looks at me in frustration, but trying to keep his anger in check, inhales, then exhales and says apologetically, “I’m sorry, but I guess I have to get going”.

  I went in for a hug and buried my face in his chest, hoping to hide the tears welling up.

  I feel a tap on my head and hear his low voice once more. “It’s Ok, Davina. We’ll see each other in school,” he assures her.

  “There, no one will ever separate us”.

  I lifted my face to face him and wiggled my pinky in front of him. He smiles and grabs it with his “I promise”.

  He went to meet his mom. I stayed in my room to watch them leave from the window. I would’ve followed to greet her, but I got the sense that it was because of her I hadn’t seen Ben since my dad’s funeral.

  She’s not a fan of witches.

  So there I was, alone once more. But now with a choice to make, lying right under my bed. Thankfully, he left a corner out, so getting it wouldn’t be too difficult.

  Annoys me how smart he is sometimes, yet always so oblivious. Shame.

  Ok, here I go, opening it, finally going to know what she’s hiding. The truth will finally come to light. Yep, any moment now. Just to simply open…

  I can’t do it.

  I lay on my bed in defeat against my moral conscience.

  I hate being left in the dark like this, just like the time Ben wouldn’t tell me why I couldn’t come over to his place. I was so annoyed that I refused to even look at him, and all he did was just sit in silence, waiting for me to forgive him.

  And that’ when dad told me

  “It’s not all secrets that are meant to hurt us, when it’s from the ones that care about us, it’s to protect us from the truth we just can’t handle right now. All we can do is TRUST”.

  I didn’t understand then, but after seeing Ben’s mom practically drag him out of this house like he was in trouble, I do now.

  Imagine telling a kid they can’t see their best friend because of how they were born. It sounds like the backstory of a villain in a children's book.

  And I'm not sure I’m ready for this one either. Guess I'll just have to trust her.

  I hope I’m right.

  So at the end of the day, I decided to return the letter without even reading it. Well, at least it was fun, beats doing nothing all day, again.

  I open the door to the hidden room with the split coin bearing our coven crest to return the letter. As the door split open, it revealed a tall figure wearing a cloak walking away as the walls sealed behind him.

  I opened the hidden room with the split coin bearing our coven’s crest and stepped inside to return the envelope.

  Just as the door parted, a tall, cloaked figure appeared—walking away, vanishing into the shadows as the wall began to seal shut behind them.

  My breath caught. I didn’t dare move hoping they don’t see me?

  I swear my heart was beating so loudly I thought the figure would hear it, making it beat even louder.

  The door finally sealed for after what felt like an eternity. I dropped the envelope back on the table only to find another just like it on the table, and from the same person— FMA.

  My eyes rested on them both for a brief moment.

  Trust.

  I inhaled and exhaled and then left both of them and went back up to my room with a filled jar of concerns and questions, a lot of questions.

  Wait, is this why she’s shipping me off?

  Is she shipping me off because of some weird arrangement with some creepy cloak-wearing person that apparently has to take place in a dark secret room?

  Yeah, other Kids do not have these problems.