Why IS it so cold in Principal Cinch's office?
Twilight Sparkle awoke to the buzzing of her morning alarm. Groggily, she blinked up at the ceiling. She had not slept well at all. Probing about her night table, she found her smartphone and silenced it. She was so very tempted to go back to sleep, but her well-ingrained Crystal Prep Academy discipline dictated otherwise.
As she sat up in her bed, she winced at a sudden pain in her belly. She turned on her night table lamp, donned her glasses and pulled up her shirt. Just below her navel, she found a tiny bright red bump that was tender to the touch. An insect bite? Spike never had fleas. Perhaps she needed to spend some time deep cleaning her room. She gave the mark no further thought as she rose from her bed.
Right about now, her dog Spike would have been greeting her. Following the Friendship Games, and the increased attention she got, it became much more difficult to conceal his presence. Thankfully, her parents were willing to look after him for the time being. Still, she longed for her furry little friend's company.
Twilight shed her clothes as she trudged into her bathroom. Even the ice cold water did little to wake her up. Once she had donned her Crystal Prep Academy uniform and prepared her bookbag, she walked out her door. Here and there, Academy students were emerging from their dorm rooms. Before, many of her classmates did not even notice her. The most she would usually receive were looks of contempt whenever she bumped into somebody by accident. Now, however, all of them afforded her a little more space as she walked the halls. It was a small perk of being one of the six students who secured Crystal Prep's latest Friendship Games victory.
She made her way down to the Academy cafeteria. After getting her usual bowl of oatmeal and cup of hot tea, she sat down at an empty table all by herself. As she squeezed a packet of honey into her tea, she found herself struggling to remember what assignments she had been working on the night before. I'd better make doubly-sure that I did not forget anything. One by one, she checked each of her homework assignments. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found that all of them were complete, yet she still had the peculiar feeling that she was missing something.
"Morning, Twilight!"
Twilight glanced up from her notebooks to find her classmate and fellow Friendship Games finalist, the ever-bubbly Lemon Zest. Only now did she notice the rock music leaking from Lemon's constantly blaring headphones - normally, she could hear it coming ten meters away.
"Oh, good morning, Lemon Zest."
"Hey, congratulations!"
Twilight cocked her head. "On what?"
"I heard your transfer to the Everton Independent Study Program was approved!" Now Lemon returned her puzzled look. "Wasn't that why you were called to Principal Cinch's office yesterday?"
Twilight felt a shiver go down her spine. In all the time that she had been at Crystal Prep, she had never liked going to Principal Cinch's office, even when it was to receive good news. The very thought of that place always literally gave her the chills. It was always freezing cold in there.
Lemon's confusion now turned to concern. "You okay?"
"I'm fine. Just...a little under the weather."
"Well, I hope you feel better. I'm gonna go grab some breakfast. See ya around!" With that, Lemon sauntered off.
"Have a good one."
As she ate her breakfast, Twilight found herself pondering the previous day. It was much like any other school day - nothing unusual stood out in her mind. However, the time between the end of her classes up until her waking up this morning was a complete blur. If what Lemon just told her was true, she would have definitely remembered going to Principal Cinch's office. It was disconcerting, to say the least.
The first-period bell snapped her back to reality. Hastily, she finished up the last of her oatmeal, downed the rest of her tea, and made it to her Advanced Placement English class just in time. Normally an attentive student, she found it very difficult to focus on her teacher's lecture. Throughout the entire morning, she simply could not stop wondering about the gap in her memory.
With fourth-period came her least favorite class: Physical Education. Today, Coach Rommel had them running continuous laps around the soccer pitch. As usual, Twilight brought up the rear. Much to her surprise, however, her classmate Indigo Zap was not too far ahead of her. As Crystal Prep Academy's star athlete, Indigo normally would have overtaken Twilight several times on a jog. Today, however, she lagged behind nearly half of their classmates.
"C'mon, Zap!" barked the coach. "You helped us win the Friendship Games, but that doesn't mean you get to slack off!"
Indigo cursed under her breath as she quickened her pace. Twilight overheard some of her classmates whispering to each other once Indigo was out of earshot.
"...probably been partying with Lemon Zest..."
"...sure that's not all they're doing..."
"...heard she was sent to Cinch's office the other day..."
After their run, the students returned to the locker rooms to change back into their Academy uniforms. Twilight had just opened her locker when she was startled by a sudden clang. She glanced over her shoulder to find Indigo fuming nearby. The blue-haired jock quickly noticed that she was staring at her.
"What?"
Twilight was taken aback but managed to find her tongue. "Are...you okay, Indigo?"
Indigo glared at her for a moment before softening her gaze. "Yeah, I'm fine," she sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Just having an off day, I guess."
As Indigo pulled off her P.E. shirt, Twilight glimpsed a tiny pink bump on her abdomen. Right below the navel. Twilight's eyes widened. It was just like the mark she had woken up with this morning! Once again, Indigo noticed Twilight staring at her.
"It's nothing," Indigo said fingering the sore on her belly. "Something probably bit me."
Both girls continued changing in silence, but Twilight could not stop thinking about the marks on their bodies. Was it just a coincidence? The chances of Indigo - anybody - getting an insect bite in the exact same location seemed exceedingly slim! She decided against asking any further about the mark, lest Indigo think she was crazy.
It was now lunchtime. Twilight's appetite had not improved much since breakfast, even after an entire class period of jogging. She decided to stop by the girls' restroom. As she walked up to the sink, she could hear the sound of drilling through the wall. It sounded like work was being done in a nearby room. She removed her glasses and splashed water into her face. As with earlier, the cold water did little to alleviate her lethargy. As she dried her face, she heard one of the stalls open.
"You look like hell. You didn't pull an all-nighter last night, did you?"
Twilight donned her glasses to find her classmate Sugarcoat impassively staring at her.
"No, just a little bout of insomnia." Before Twilight could say more, they both glanced up at the staccato sound of hammering through the walls. "What are they working on?"
"One of the science labs," said Sugarcoat. "A leak in the ceiling, I heard. Have you eaten lunch?"
"Uh-uh."
Bookbags in hand, the two girls exited the restroom. As they walked down the hall, their classmates respectfully parted ways for them: two of the six students who delivered Crystal Prep Academy's latest Friendship Games victory. It was certainly a step up from being an outcast. Who knew what other doors would soon open for her?
As they rounded a corner, Sugarcoat suddenly stopped in her tracks. Twilight glanced back as her classmate dropped her yellow bookbag and quickly ducked back around the corner. She doubled back to find Sugarcoat, normally the calmest and most composed classmate she knew, quivering against the wall, clutching herself, with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Sugarcoat?"
Sugarcoat whimpered, "Don't let them near me!"
Twilight glanced back up as a pair of men clad in blue painter's coveralls walked by without so much as looking their way. She felt a shiver go down her spine. She could not put her finger on it, she found the very sight of the two men - specifically the way their dust masks and safety goggles obscured their faces - very unsettling.
Just then she felt something on her upper lip. She wiped with her fingers, then gazed down at her hand. Her eyes widened in horror. Her fingers were covered in blood. Her blood! She felt a prickling sensation on the edge of her senses as the hallway spun and darkness overtook her.
~~~
I walk into Principal Cinch's office. I don't know why she has summoned me - only that I do not want to be in her office longer than I have to. As I enter, she greets me with an oddly warm smile.
"Twilight, I have some good news," she says as she pulls a letter from her drawer. "Your transfer to Everton has been approved."
Principal Cinch hands me the letter. Sure enough, it is from Everton's director confirming my acceptance into its Independent Study Program. My heart leaps. This was everything that I could ever hope for! Everything that I could ever dream of!
"Thank you so much, Principal Cinch!"
"You have more than earned it. Gifts such as yours deserve to be nurtured their fullest potential. Now, if you would kindly look this way, please."
As I look up from the letter, there is a bright blinding flash of light.
~~~
Twilight awoke to find herself staring up at a plain white ceiling. Even without her glasses, the smell of disinfectant told her that she was in the Academy infirmary. Slowly, she sat up in the cot and took a moment to get her bearings. The last thing she remembered was Sugarcoat freaking out at the sight of the workers, then suddenly getting a nosebleed before passing out. She had never seen Sugarcoat look so terrified. And then there was that dream she just had...
"How are you feeling, Twilight?"
She glanced up to find the hazy form of the school nurse approaching her. The nurse handed her her glasses, which she promptly put back on.
"What...happened?"
"It appears you and Sugarcoat both suffered a severe allergic reaction," said the nurse, her face lined with concern. "Probably from all the dust particles the workers had on their suits."
Twilight furrowed her brow. She did not know about Sugarcoat, but she was certain that she herself had no allergies (that she knew of, anyway). She glanced over at the other cots only to find them empty.
"Where is Sugarcoat?"
"Principal Cinch escorted her back to her room. She has excused you both from your remaining classes today. I strongly suggest going back to your room to rest."
The nurse handed her a hall pass signed by Principal Cinch. After gathering up her book bag, Twilight left the infirmary. She gazed up at a clock as she walked the halls of the Academy. Sixth-period was almost over, and soon, so would the entire school day. She decided to heed the nurse's advice and returned to her room. Sugarcoat would no doubt be resting in her room as well. Hopefully, she was okay.
She spent the next hour lying in her bed, unable to truly rest. There was simply too much on her mind. The marks on hers and Indigo's bellies. Sugarcoat having a panic attack. Her sudden nosebleed and fainting. So many strange things going on. The final bell of the school day came and went, and she soon heard the familiar bustle of her classmates returning to the residence hall. She was about to begin changing out of her uniform when a knock came on her door. She opened up to find her classmates Sour Sweet and Sunny Flare, both of whom look very concerned.
"Hey, Twilight," said Sour. "We heard what happened to you and Sugarcoat."
"Are you alright?" asked Sunny.
"I'm okay," Twilight replied. "Just...a little groggy."
"By any chance, have you seen Sugarcoat?" asked Sour.
Twilight blinked. "She's not in her room?"
Sunny shook her head. "We just checked."
"She's not answering her phone either."
"If you see her, would you please tell her to call us?"
"Um, sure."
Sunny gave a little smile. "Thanks. Hope you feel better." With that, she and Sour walked away.
Twilight remained in her doorway, pondering what they had just told her. Something was not adding up. According to the nurse, just before she had awoken, Principal Cinch escorted Sugarcoat back to the latter's room. She never actually saw Cinch - only the nurse. But why would the nurse mislead her? She pulled the hall pass out of her pocket. The writing on it was definitely Cinch's. Now that she thought about it, why would Cinch bother with escorting a student back to the residence hall when the task could have been delegated to one of the precepts or another student?
There was only one way to find out what was really going on.
***
Twilight gathered her resolve as she approached Principal Cinch's office. The last time she could remember making this trip was when Cinch pressed her into participating in the Friendship Games. She took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door. When no answer came after sixty seconds (which she counted in her mind), she opened the door and poked her head inside. Principal Cinch's office was as she had always seen it: bookcases lining the walls on both sides, filled not only with books, but numerous trophies, award plaques, and framed certificates. And, as always, the ever-present chill hung in the air. There was no sign of Principal Cinch.
Twilight walked further into the office. Why was it always so cold in here? It was as though there was a constant draft in the room. Curious, she held her hand up toward the air vent but could neither feel nor hear any air blowing through it. Where was the chill coming from?
Just then, she noticed a yellow bookbag lying on the floor by one of the bookcases near Cinch's desk. It looks like Principal Cinch brought Sugarcoat here instead of her room. But why?
She perused the books on the shelves before her. There were numerous titles on leadership, biology, and psychology. One book, however, seemed grossly out of place: a cookbook titled "Salivation." Curious, she pulled the book out, when she heard a sudden mechanical click. She staggered back, staring in awe as the bookcase began to slowly swing outward, revealing a dimly lit corridor behind it.
Twilight would not have much time to think, as the bookcase began to slowly return to its former position. Gathering her courage, she stepped forward into the freezing corridor as the bookcase closed shut behind her. Cautiously, she moved forward. The only light in the corridor came from small bulbs lining the floor. After making a turn, she found herself in front of a large plain wooden door.
She opened the door to find herself in a stark brightly-lit white room. The only sound was the faint ambient hum of the overhead fluorescent lighting. To the side were three chairs lined up against the wall. On the other side of the room were a file cabinet, a simple desk, and a rolling chair. Beyond these, was an empty doorway leading someplace just as well-lit. The desk was devoid of any adornments or effects save for a single file folder.
Curious, Twilight opened the folder. Inside was a letter-sized photograph of herself, along with her fellow Friendship Games finalists - Lemon Zest, Sugarcoat, Sunny Flare, Sour Sweet and Indigo Zap - each of them proudly wearing their medals. Her own face, along with those of Indigo Zap and Sugarcoat were each circled in red ink. Oddly, Sour Sweet's face had been both circled and crossed out. A handwritten note below the overlapping marks read: "Mental health concerns." Twilight recognized the flowing script as Principal Cinch's handwriting. Following the photo were what appeared to be their individual student dossiers. On Indigo's dossier was a sticky note that read: "Outstanding athletic ability." Sugarcoat's dossier likewise had a note attached that read: "Highly perceptive." The note on Twilight's dossier read: "Extraordinary scientific aptitude."
Twilight closed the folder. Principal Cinch had clearly singled out herself, Indigo, and Sugarcoat for something, but what?
Continuing her search, she went through the doorway in the corner to find herself in a larger room. Lining the walls were several stainless steel cabinets, long-necked lamps, equipment booms, and rolling tables. At the far end of the room, an ivory curtain had been draped across the floor. It was like a hospital examination room, right down to the sterile scent of disinfectant.
What is this place?
Twilight pulled open a drawer from a nearby cabinet. Inside was an array of various medical supplies: bottles of rubbing alcohol, specimen collection vials, boxes of cotton swabs, biohazard bags, disposable gloves, and antiviral facemasks. For some reason, she found herself feeling rather uneasy the very sight of the masks. Not unlike the painters' dust masks earlier.
The next cabinet she came to was a little smaller and cold to the touch. As she opened the top drawer, she was greeted by a waft of cold air. Inside this drawer were a dozen vials - four rows of three. Each row was labeled with a four-digit number. For some reason, instead of being sequential, the numbers seemed to progress in increments of four. Each vial contained a dark red liquid and was labeled with a unique six-digit number. One, in particular, piqued her curiosity. She was certain that she had seen its number before...
The blood drained from her face. She had seen the number before! It was her Student Identification Number! She glanced back at the four-digit row numbers, and realized, to her horror, that each of them was actually a year. A year during which the Friendship Games took place!
In that terrible moment, she realized that she had been in this room before...
~~~
Principal Cinch leads me through the corridor to a brightly-lit white room. Waiting for us are two nurses, both of whom are clad in medical scrubs and facemasks. They escort me to a larger room where they measure my height, weight, body temperature, and blood pressure.
I know that something is not right, but I am powerless to resist. No matter how much my mind cries out, my body will not respond! I can do nothing as they remove my clothes and drape me in a light blue medical examination gown.
~~~
Twilight quickly replaced the vial and shut the drawer. She still could not remember what transpired here the day before, but the mere thought of it sickened her to the very core of her being. She had to get out of here!
As she turned around, she saw near the curtain a chair upon which lay a neatly-folded Crystal Prep Academy girls uniform - blazer, shirt, skirt and all. She walked up to the chair to find a familiar pair of glasses atop the stack of clothes. She walked up to the end of the curtain and pulled it back.
Twilight gasped. Lying on a medical examination table, clad in a light blue hospital gown was Sugarcoat. She hurried to her classmate's side. Placing her fingers on Sugarcoat's neck, she breathed a small sigh of relief when she found a pulse. Sugarcoat's eyes were closed, but she was definitely breathing. A swab of cotton was taped to her left arm.
"The smart ones are always the most curious."
Twilight whipped around to find Principal Cinch standing less than three meters behind her. Before she could act, Cinch aimed what appeared to be a penlight toward her. There was a bright flash of light and Twilight felt every muscle in her body suddenly go limp. She collapsed to the floor like a rag doll. No matter how desperately she willed it, her body would not respond. From where she lay, she could see Cinch walking unhurriedly toward her - like a predator closing in on its wounded prey.
Then she remembered...
~~~
I lay on the examination table. I can only squint my eyes against the bright lights overhead as one nurse lifts my gown up to my sternum and the other drapes a sheet over my hips.
A third figure approaches. This person too is clad in medical scrubs. Even with the facemask and surgical cap, there is no mistaking those piercing fuschia eyes.
~~~
"You should be honored, Twilight Sparkle," said Cinch as she produced an alcohol swab and a syringe. "You, Sugarcoat, and Indigo Zap each get to be a part of a far greater legacy." The principal slowly kneeled down to look her square in the face before adding, "Just like your brother."
Twilight would have screamed if she could. Now she really felt sick. Tears welled up in her eyes as Cinch lifted up her skirt and began to swab her thigh with the alcohol pad.
"Oh don't worry, dear," Cinch cooed as she flicked the barrel of the syringe. "When you wake, this will all be nothing but a bad dream."
Twilight whimpered as she felt the needle jab into her flesh. The last thing she saw was Cinch's cruel smile as everything faded to black.
***
Twilight Sparkle awoke to the buzzing of her morning alarm. Groggily, she blinked up at the ceiling. She had the most peculiar feeling - as though she had just awoken from a dream. She was certain that she had been dreaming. Yet, she could not for the life of her remember what she had been dreaming about. What could it have been? Probing about her night table, she found her smartphone and silenced it.
Resisting the urge to go back to sleep, she rose from her bed and trudged into her bathroom. As she slipped out of her pajamas, she noticed a small, very faint patch of pink skin below her navel. Probably an insect bite. She would definitely take time to deep clean her room later today. She gave the mark no further thought as she stepped into the shower.
Author's Note
For a LONG time, I've been wanting to write a story that involved a dark secret within Crystal Prep Academy. After numerous aborted attempts at a giallo/slasher-style fic, I decided to go with something a bit more insidious.
The cookbook's title is a direct reference to one actually authored by Cinch's voice actor Iris Quinn. This scenario was inspired by the X-Files episode Ascension and the 1977 version of Suspiria, as well as Cool Air by H.P. Lovecraft. Hope you enjoyed my first foray into horror!
