Chapter 38: Trial by Fire

The term "initiation ceremony" didn't sit well with me. In fact, the very mention of it made my skin crawl. I eyed the girls warily, watching as one of them, the leader of the pack, emptied a small sack that had been slung over her shoulder. A few glass bottles tumbled out, their contents swirling ominously as she began mixing them with alarming precision. The others stood around her, smirking and whispering amongst themselves as if they were preparing for some grand, twisted performance. "What are they planning?" I wondered, my mind racing. I could feel panic creeping up my spine, threatening to consume me. I forced myself to stay calm, knowing full well that if I let fear take over, the situation could quickly spiral out of control. These girls seemed to thrive on intimidation, and I couldn't afford to show them any weakness. "What are you guys doing?" I asked, trying to sound as bored and nonchalant as possible. My voice came out steady, but inside, my thoughts were anything but c