Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT When Olivia woke up she found she was in a thatched hut with straw on the floor and a boarded-up window. Her head felt fuzzy as she scrambled to her feet. The words her attacker had spoken came back to her. "Be good and you'll be returned to your parents safe and sound." Olivia groaned. Her parents had often warned her that someone might try to kidnap her in order to get a ransom from them– a large sum of money in exchange for her release. But they'd told her she would be absolutely safe at Unicorn Academy. Ms Primrose and all the other teachers would

protect her. Olivia banged on the door. "Let me out!" Anger and fear gave her extra strength but no matter how hard she walloped the door it wouldn't open. Exhausted, she finally gave up. Who had kidnapped her? She thought back to what had happened. Was it Ms Nettles who had put the sack over her head and brought her here? She remembered how someone had touched her head and said words that had made her pass out. It hadn't sounded like Ms Nettles' sharp, high voice at all. But if it wasn't Ms Nettles, who was it? She shook her head. Right now, the important thing was getting out of here. She tried to prise the wooden board away from the window but although she worked until her fingers were sore, it wouldn't budge. She thought about Snowflake. Surely her unicorn would realise there was something wrong when she didn't turn up to get her ready

for graduation. They'd bonded and promised to have no more secrets. Snowflake would know that she would never just disappear without telling her what she was doing. Olivia sank to the floor. Oh, Snowflake, she thought. Please come. Olivia had nearly given up hope of a rescue when she heard the clatter of unicorn hooves accompanied by the sound of voices. She rushed to the door and banged on it. "Help! Help!" she shouted. "Olivia, is that you?" Someone rattled the door handle. Relief made Olivia dizzy as she recognised Scarlett's familiar voice. "Yes! Someone trapped me in here!" "Don't worry," called Scarlett. "We'll soon have you out. It's locked but Blaze can burn a hole in the wood. Stand back so she doesn't

burn you by mistake." Olivia stood well away from the door. There was a muffled crack and a flash followed by the smell of burning wood. Red-gold flames crackled through the door, burning a hole. Olivia worried the whole shed might catch alight but when the hole was large enough for her to climb through the flames died down.

Helped by several hands, Olivia ducked out through the hole. She blinked and took a deep breath of the fresh air. Snowflake was instantly at her side, pushing her muzzle in Olivia's hair and whickering softly. Olivia flung her arms around her. She'd never been so pleased to see her in all her life. "Oh, Olivia, I'm so glad you're OK," whickered Snowflake. "When you didn't come to the stables to get me ready, I knew something bad had happened. I just knew it." Layla took up the story. "We asked Ms Nettles where you were. She said that all students not graduating were in the library with Ms Rosemary. But when we looked, you weren't there and no one had seen you. That's when we knew something was wrong." "Rainbow used his magic that lets him see things that are far away and we saw you in this shed," said Sophia. "What happened?" demanded Isabel.

"Wait, let's not talk here," said Layla quickly. "Whoever locked Olivia in might come back at any time." They headed through the Tropical Garden until they found a quiet mango grove and then Olivia told them everything. "But why would someone want to kidnap you, Olivia?" said Ava. Olivia felt herself start to tremble. Her moment had finally arrived. "Well," she said slowly. "There is a reason. I know I should have told you sooner, but I was scared you wouldn't be my friends any more. I'm not exactly who you think I am…" When Olivia finished explaining, everyone stared at her. "You thought you couldn't tell us this because we wouldn't like you?" said Isabel. "That we'd think you were like Valentina?" said Ava, her eyes wide. Olivia swallowed. "Yes." "But you're nothing like Valentina!" burst