Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT Rainbow snorted in alarm. "No, Sophia! You can't run away! I know you're missing Clover but you belong here. Just tell the teachers Valentina is lying." Sophia hugged herself. "Valentina's parents are governors. No one will believe me. I have to go." "You don't!" Rainbow shook his head and jumped to his feet. "I'll help you clear your name." Sophia shook her head. "No." Rainbow stamped a hoof. "Stay or I'll tell the teachers and then they'll stop you leaving!"

Sophia gasped. "You'd really tell the teachers?" Rainbow nodded. "I'm not going to just let you go. You're my best friend." "Friends don't break each other's trust!" exclaimed Sophia. "Friends don't run away from each other!" snapped Rainbow. Fighting back more tears, Sophia ran from the stables. Just when she didn't think things could get worse, she'd argued with Rainbow! She didn't know what to do. She looked at the clock, high on the outside of the hayloft. There was still enough time to go back to the dorm for her things and leave before anyone woke. It would take ages to get home but she couldn't bear to stay at school any longer. Sophia hurried across the grass towards the school building. In the distance, she noticed a tall figure dressed in dark trousers and a cloak walking towards the lake. Something about the

stealthy way the person was moving made Sophia duck down behind a bush. Who was that? What were they doing so early in the morning? Reaching the lakeside, the figure stopped and looked around. Sophia peered out over the top of the bush. With lightning speed, the figure reached into a pocket and scattered something into the lake. The moment it hit the water, the lake bubbled and hissed. The person watched for a moment then hurried towards a side door in the school. A sour smell rose in the air.

Sophia cried out in dismay as the water turned a sickly shade of yellow. She jumped to her feet, anger boiling in her stomach. Who was under the cloak? Why would anyone want to do such a dreadful thing to Sparkle Lake? Everyone knew the whole of Unicorn Island depended on its water. There was only one way to find out what was going on. Sophia followed the figure into the school. The corridor was empty but a trail of wet footprints led straight to the hall. Sophia peeked inside. Early morning sunlight streamed through the domed glass ceiling illuminating the empty room and making the magical map shimmer. Sophia stared around, her eyes coming back to the map. There was no one here. Had the mysterious figure used the map to escape? Her footsteps echoed as she crossed to the middle of the hall. There were several splodges of coloured lake mud on Sophia's side of the

barrier but it was impossible to tell if the map had been used or not. "Sophia!" a voice hissed. "What are you doing?" Sophia spun round. "Ava! Why are you here?" "I was looking for you. I saw your bed was empty and then I found this!" Ava held out the note that Sophia had crumpled up. "How could anyone write such mean things? I thought you'd run away." Ava gave Sophia a hug. "I was about to," said Sophia truthfully. "But that's not important now. We need to talk!" She pulled Ava along the corridor, until she reached a secluded alcove. Ava glanced out of the window. The lake had turned mustardy yellow. "Eeew!" Ava's eyes widened. "Why is the lake that colour?" Quickly, Sophia told Ava everything. Ava was shocked. "You mustn't run away, Sophia. I'd miss you tons. Everyone in our

dorm would. Everyone likes you, apart from stupid Valentina, and everyone knows that you wouldn't harm the lake." Looking into Ava's earnest eyes, Sophia felt her confusion and unhappiness fade slightly. "Go to Rainbow and tell him you're sorry," urged Ava. "He'll be feeling awful that you've argued." Sophia nodded. "I will," she decided. "But