"In the end, Kate decided she needs some time, some space. She's going to take a six month of, well, 'sabbatical', she called it. Six months, or maybe...a year."There was a tumult of murmurs."But she's not leaving just yet. She'll rejoin us in a day or two – Monday at the latest. She's got to pack her things and straighten out the office, and she and I will have to find someone to come on board and act as business manager. Kate's agreed to train whoever we find for a couple of weeks. And then,. So just to annoy Christine, Kelly blew a bit of smoke her way, smirking faintly as the other girl wrinkled her nose. Christine scowled at that, wondering why all smokers seemed to be so inconsiderate of the nonsmokers around them. She was just about to snap at Kelly when she paused in a brief moment of confusion. A faint shimmer passed through the air of the courtyard, almost completely unnoticed. Several of the students paused where they were, feeling as though something wasn't quite the. "Yes, of course. I've made sure with each of them so far. Although I didn't check with you two, which I really should have. Can you two get me a doctor's certificate by the end of the week? Ideally in enough time that I can present it to your fathers as well" They both hit me fairly hard for that one."You really checked?" Kitty asked."Well, actually no," I admitted, "but each had their own unique circumstances which made it unlikely they'd be infected with anything. They all either got tested. Outside the storm raged and forced her up against the walls with pealing paint.The roof began to leak and small puddles appeared on the floor. She found herself confused on which way to turn. She moved just in time to avoid being buried in the fallen ceiling. A ghostly moaning was coming from the very walls. She wasn't sure if the house was in pain or trying to frighten her.As Mary made her way upstairs to a hall gallery of paintings, she could hear the sound of chains rattling. She paused a.