She looked around to make sure the other doors were still in the two hundreds before reverting her attention to the numbers on the black door looming before her. Winter stood still in front the door. Part of her did not want to go in. Something about whatever laid on the other side of the door made her uncharacteristically anxious, but she was not one to run. Winter reached out her hand toward the dark door handle. Before she gripped it, the door slowly creaked open.
She peered into the room, there was no one near the doors. It was cold and poorly lit. The closer she got, the more the anxious feeling grew. Winter walked in and saw the tiny woman staring at her from where she was standing at the far end of the room. Her arm was perched on the chair positioned at the head of the table, but she did not sit in it. The tiny woman was accompanied by two men. One older looking gentleman and a younger man seated at the chairs closest to the tiny woman. "Winter Knight," the tiny woman called, "Come in." Winter walked a little closer toward the table. The tiny woman smiled joylessly. "You must be wondering why you have been called here." Winter said nothing, sensing their scrutiny. The woman glanced down at a clipboard, "We have news for you." Winter glanced around the room to display that she was obviously not paying attention. She refused to give them the upper hand. The tiny woman went on, "About your mother." Winter maintained a carefully uninterested expression but she couldn't contain the small twitch in her finger. Winter thought, "Why are they talking about Mom? They're probably testing me to gouge how much I care." She ignored the comment and instead asked, "Who are you?" They tiny woman tapped her pen against her folded arms, " My name is Endora Della." She looked up at Winter with sharp ebony eyes that seemed to penetrate past her skin and see into her soul. "I am the headmaster's secretary."
At that, Winter's interest was piqued. The tiny woman, Della, picked up on Winter's intrigue and she continued, "Your mother is gone." The two men kept their eyes pinned on her. Winter attempted to keep the disbelief from her face, "What are you talking about?" Winter's eyes shot to the clipboard Della kept looking at. "We have been trying to get in contact with her since earlier today. She is not answering so we sent someone to your house." Winter waited for the rest. "They reported that the door was open and no one was inside." Winter shrugged, "So? She could've gone out." Della nodded, "Yes we would've assume the same thing, had it not been for a note left on the dresser that looks like it's for you." Della tossed a single piece of carefully folded paper towards Winter. It was in her mother's delicate handwriting. She inspected the note closer and began to read.
"My dearest Winter, I know it's been hard on you to have to move so much because of my job. I know I haven't always done the best thing for you but I tried my best to give you a good life. It's always been a little difficult for me to keep up with you and all your questions. You are sixteen years old now. There are so many things you need to learn. There are so many things you needed to know that I just couldn't tell you. Even though I told them to keep me stationary until you graduate, my boss has relocated me to Finland. It is not up to me. I have to go. I said it before and I will say it again. You are so much more special than you know. The only way you're going to find that out for yourself is if I go away and give you the opportunity to grow, alone. That is what I am doing now. I am so sorry Winter, about everything. I hope that one day when you understand, you will thank me. Even if you don't, please promise that you won't come to hate me. I love you my little detective."
Winter deemed the note authentic. She found herself having a hard time controlling her emotions as real tears streamed down her face. "This isn't real. This is a test. She didn't leave you. You haven't been abandoned," Winter thought to herself in an attempt to regain control. Della's face sported a subtle smile, as though she could sense the struggle. When Winter's cold blue eyes met Della's dark ones, she felt her rationale slip her. "Now that you know, we are going to have you stay here in the dorms along with." Her sadness and panic melded into anger and fury. "This isn't real," Winter said tersely, "Where is my mother?" Della's smile became genuine, "Why are you so worked up?" Winter's heart wrenched as her mind flickered over to her father before throbbing in immense pain. "Where is my mother?" Her question was ignored again and Winter could feel her anger intensifying in a way she had never felt before. Della's smile grew and she said, "Your mother won't be coming back." Winter's breath grew ragged as her emotions clouded all sound logic. Della pressed mercilessly, "Does it make you feel like an orphan? Abandoned by both parents?" The pain in Winter's head deepened. When it was already too late, she realized she was hyperventilating. Her body and mind were out of her control. "Your father." An unbearable wave of pain overcame her and a noise Winter had never heard before escaped her mouth. The lights in the room began to flicker and her eyesight was hazed in red, as though a scarlet tint had gone over them. She couldn't breathe as she felt something inside of her screaming to be let out. She could feel hundreds of eyes on her, all expecting something, as though they too could hear the screams of whatever was inside her. A blinding flash surrounded them. Then, nothing.