Layne woke up feeling very dizzy, she was now sitting on one of the school’s balconies, leaned up against the dark metal railing. She was surrounded by Queen Lauren’s guards, and Jade was watching her very closely. She was still wearing the rusted metal handcuffs, only now instead of being chained to a wall, she was chained to the railing. Jenny was sitting next to her, also chained up and still unconscious. Layne put one hand on her shoulder and shook her awake.

“Jenny! Wake up!” Layne whisper-shouted.

“Layne?” Jenny weakly looked up at her, her yellow eyes were like dying flashlights in the dead of night. Layne wanted to cry every time she looked in her eyes. After being a prisoner for months, Jenny had truly lost all hope. Layne knew she had to get both of them out of there, no matter what.

“It’s going to be okay, I promise.” Layne whispered.

One of the guards looked down at her and glared. Layne gulped. Most of the guards were busy painting some kind of symbol on the floor. It was a very large circle, with several smaller and more complex design inside it. It looked like something that would be used to cast a spell. Layne didn’t want to know what Jade and Lauren intended to use it for.

Then one of the guards walked up to Layne and unlocked her handcuffs.

“Get up.” the guard said impatiently.

Layne did as he said. She had to play along until she saw the signal. Two guards grabbed her arms and brought her up to Jade.

“Jenny, I’m going to get us out of here.” Layne said as the guards dragged her towards the glowing symbol.

Layne looked up at Jade, trying to appear calm. Jade seemed as confident as Layne wanted to look. To Jade, this plan had already succeeded. Layne looked down at her glowing necklace, it could feel that something was about to happen.

“Sit down.” Jade said coldly.

“Where?” Layne asked, trying to match her tone.

“Oh, you know where.” Jade said, pointing towards the symbol.

Layne looked at the shape painted in blood on the ground. At the very center, there was a shape that looked like her necklace; a red diamond. Surrounding it were two empty circles, about the size for someone to sit in with their legs crossed, as Jade was already doing. Layne sat in the other circle, still trying not to show any fear.

“Now, I think you know where that goes.” Jade said, pointing at Layne’s necklace.

Layne nodded, she took it off and held it by its silver chain, she placed it in between the two of them. Jade took out a large knife. Its long thin silver blade reflected the light of the full moon.

Jade looked up at one of the guards, “Time?”

“11:33, princess.” the guard replied.

One more minute until the moon will be at its fullest. Layne thought.

Jade pressed the knife against Layne’s wrist, she waited to cut though, it had to be exactly 11:34.

“Ten seconds.” Queen Lauren said.

“So, how do you feel, Elaina?” Jade asked with a villainous smile on her face.

Layne didn’t answer, she was rapidly observing each guard, checking for a key ring to unlock Jenny’s handcuffs. She saw it, it belonged to the guard nearest to the balcony’s rail and Jenny. Perfect, hopefully grabbing it wouldn’t be too hard. Layne was still waiting for the signal.

“Five.” Lauren said.

Come on Jake, hurry. Layne thought.

“Four.”

Layne looked down at the red light of her necklace.

“Three.”

Jade looked very impatient.

“Two.”

Almost out of time. Layne thought.

“One.”

And with that, Jade didn’t hesitate, her hand that stood still before quickly sliced open Layne’s wrist and her blood gushed out onto the necklace. It disappeared , as if being absorbed by the gem, as soon as it hit the ground. Jade was starting to have the same flickering glow as the gem. The spell began restoring her instantly, which meant that Layne would have even less time than she thought.

“The gem once used as a curse will now be used to heal

And for the gem's new owner, my blade will be the last thing they feel!” Jade shouted.

Layne assumed that those words were part of the spell. Layne began to feel light-headed, even dizzier than before. All her strength- no, her life force was being drained out of her. Her vision blurred, the low whispers of the guards became one long humming noise. Layne wondered if it was now too late for her, even if she heard Jake’s signal.

No, Layne was not giving up, she promised Jenny that she would get them both out of there. Layne would stay strong, even as she watched her energy being spilled out in front of her.

Layne’s world suddenly snapped back into focus when she heard the loud alarm coming from below. Jake had come through, he had come for her. A feeling of relief washed over her, then stopped, now came the hard part.

Jade and the others looked surprised to hear the alarm, a distraction Layne would use to her advantage. The moment Jade looked away, Layne grabbed the knife and plunged it into Jade’s hand to distract her. Layne quickly got up and ran to the guard with the keys and grabbed his key ring.

“Get her!” Lauren and Jade screamed at the same time, Jade pulled the knife out of her hand.

It was already too late for that though, everyone was distracted from Layne stabbing Jade, allowing her to get to Jenny and free her from the handcuffs.

“Do you trust me?” Layne asked.

Jenny nodded.

“Jump.” Layne said.

“What?” Jenny asked.

“Hurry!” Layne said.

Jenny nodded. Layne helped Jenny climb over the railing and jump down. Layne followed.

A second before she fell she felt Jade grabbed her hand.

“You’re not getting away that easily!” Jade shouted.

No, of course it would not be that easy, but Layne still had the knife. She stabbed Jade’s hand again, and Jade let go, and Layne fell.