fardell24

3rd February 2025
Excerpt from: Mirror Mirror – Stuck in 1919
Jo watched in horror as the cricket ball went through Louisa’s window. ‘Oh no!’ she thought. “The Mirror!”

All three of them ran into the house.


Excerpt from: Mysteries of Aurora
She shook her head. ‘Not yet. Urbs Aeterna first, although it was one of the last major cities to fall to the Vikings.’ She stood up and looked around that floor of the Nordic Section. There were hardly any other students there. ‘Maybe that pink girl?’ she wondered. ‘But it’s not likely she would be here today either. But I’ll keep an eye out for her next week.’
She turned back to her notes.

Urbs Aeterna fell in 943, well over a century after the Viking conquests began.

‘Well, it had already fallen to the Romans. I’m certain that lessons were learned from the beginning and end of the Roman period.’

Note: Check records from AD 96 and 436.

‘Not too much at once.’


Excerpts from: Spider Quinn
When she got to the ground she thought again about Daria’s offer. ‘It is a good idea.’ She then heard Quinn’s voice in the kitchen. ‘Better be off!’ she thought as she dashed off towards the street.

As soon as she was out of sight of the Morgendorffers she hid behind some trees and changed to the Enigma. ‘Now, there is sure to be something happening, somewhere,’ she thought as she headed down Glen Oaks Lane.


After midnight, Daria snuck out as Dafoanairi as usual, rappelling out of one of her bedroom windows and heading to the laneway.

‘If Anders wants to interview SpiderGirl, it is only a matter of time before she wants to interview the other four of us too, including Sandi and I. That’s something I don’t want. The full publicity of the media isn’t what we want, nor would it be good for Lawndale.’

---

“Daria, is it?” Mrs. Morris asked.

“Yes,” Daria answered. “I’m sorry for the shock that Quinn and I must have given you.”

“We didn’t realise that he had been sneaking out to the cemetery.”

“That still doesn’t excuse your husband threatening us with a gun. He’s lucky my mother has decided not to press charges.”

“Yes, Peterson gave him a long earful about that,” Mrs. Morris said. “I’ll be out in the hall.”

“Thanks,” Daria said before turning to William. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine. It’s all a blur from when SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon appeared in the basement until I reverted in Osborn’s room.”

“So, you didn’t see Dafoanairi and the fourth vigilante?”

“Only briefly,” William answered. “But I’m sure that’s not why you’re here.”

“No, I brought you some light reading,” Daria said as she handed over some books.

“Edgar Allen Poe? How is that light reading?”

“I figured ruminating on The Raven might give you a slightly different perspective. Besides, some of his detective stories are there too.”

“Are you sure you want to give me these?” William asked.

Daria shrugged. “I have additional copies, and various stores in Lawndale and Oakwood sell the others.”

“Thanks, actually I do remember some things. I did hurt Ninja Talon, and tried to push through the fourth vigilante’s forcefield. Why doesn’t she give out her name, I wonder?”

“She wants to lie low, I guess,” Daria said quietly. She was thankful for the low lighting that would hide any discomfort she might have shown.

“Probably.”

“Anyway, enjoy those books.”

“You’re leaving?” William asked.

“Shortly. Why did you want to see me?”

“I thought we could get to know each other.”

“No. It was still creepy, leaving those poems on my father’s grave.”

The Picture
There was a picture that Jo wanted to draw. But she wasn’t sure. ‘No one would understand,’ she thought, as she arrived at Tama’s flat. She wanted to at least talk to him about it.


Tama thought about it after Jo asked him. He then said. “I would go for it. It doesn’t matter that others don’t understand. Isn’t that what art is about? Especially that abstract art that newspapers talk about all the time?”

“But this isn’t abstract art,” Jo argued. “It’s more like a portrait.”

“Then I’m sure you’re going to do well with it. I have seen your other portraits, remember? You showed me soon after you arrived at school.”

“True,” Jo considered.

“So, you’ll do well with it.”

“So, you agree.”

“Yes!” Tama said in an encouraging tone.

“Thanks,” Jo said with a smile.


So, when Jo got home later, she began on her latest project. She knew it was going to be difficult as she didn’t have a reference as she did with her other portraits. She sighed, feeling responsible. That intensified her resolve. ‘She will be remembered,’ she thought as she started on the portrait. A portrait of Jade Coigley.

Comfort
Louisa looked in the mirror. The strange thing was happening again. But that wasn’t what was important. It looked like Jo was rather upset. ‘But what to do?’ She remembered what happened earlier, when Jo had tried to write on the mirror with that strange pen. She reached out, and the mirror rippled.

Something then happened. There was a strange pulling sensation and Louisa found herself in a room that looked like her room, but wasn’t. She then approached the crying girl.


Jo looked up as the other girl sat next to her on the bed. She sat up.

After a short while, they hugged. “You can tell me,” Louisa said. “When you’re ready.”

Jo wanted to tell her about Mia and Jesse, but she wasn’t sure how to begin.

“Something happened?” Louisa asked.

Jo nodded and more tears fell from her eyes. “Mia and Jesse,” she said, her voice breaking. “My friends, are in the hospital.”

“Oh!” Louisa let out.

Jo sobbed some more.

Louisa hugged her again.

“They were poisoned.”

“That’s not good.” Louisa said as she looked around.

“By a drum at the bottom of a well,” Jo added.