SELARA POV
The first thing I remember is the feeling of sunlight fighting to reach me, and nothing else.
That thought jolted me awake. I looked around to see clothes scattered all over the floor. Before I could gather my thoughts, my older brother burst into my room without knocking.
"Get out!" I snapped, glaring at him. But he was staring at my legs with a strange, unreadable expression. Feeling uncomfortable, I grabbed a piece of cloth lying nearby and wrapped it around me, finally breaking his gaze. Yet something about him felt off, and I sensed it immediately.
"Selara, Aldric, you're going to be late for school!" my mom called.
I hurriedly followed my brother as we shuffled out of the room. But even as we walked to the bathroom, Aldric kept glancing at me, making my patience wear thin.
"Why are you looking at me?" I asked, irritation creeping into my voice.
"What was on your leg?" he replied, his tone oddly serious.
I stammered, confused and a little scared. "I… I don't understand what you mean."
"You filthy liar! Have you started sleeping around?!" he snapped.
His words hit me like a slap, and the lingering dizziness from sleep vanished instantly. He had never spoken to me like that before, and I couldn't understand what had come over him.
The next twenty minutes passed in silence. My brother packed his things and drove off somewhere, leaving me reluctantly walking to school, still reeling from what he had said.
LIORA POV
The next twenty minutes passed in silence. My brother packed his things and drove off somewhere, leaving me reluctantly walking to school, still reeling from what he had said.
I spotted my best friend entering the school doors, her spirits low. I internally rolled my eyes. "Everything is always about this shit", I thought, but I forced a smile.
I walked up to her and hugged her, watching as her face brightened.
"I thought you weren't coming today, girl," I said, trying to sound cheerful.
"Yeah, I decided to come anyway," she replied, wrapping her arms around my waist.
The bell rang, and we made our way into Mr. Throne's class. The room was already crowded, but we managed to squeeze into a seat in the middle. Selara lowered her head, looking utterly defeated, but I barely paid attention.
Then I noticed Dairus—the IT guy—standing near the front. He looked more put-together than usual, his posture commanding attention.
I smoothed my Afro and stood to say hi, when suddenly a sharp jolt of dizziness hit me. Before I could steady myself, I tripped and fell forward.
The world blurred around me, but I could still hear clearly. Within seconds, Dairus was on top of me, carefully checking if I was okay and giving me CPR to make sure I was breathing properly. My heart raced, not just from the fall, but from the closeness, the intensity of the moment, and the sheer adrenaline. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting myself focus on steadying my breathing while he kept me safe.
My moment was abruptly cut short when Mr. Thorne walked in, and the entire class scattered, leaving me sprawled on the floor looking like a complete fool.
I scrambled to my feet, earning a few muttered comments from classmates, while Dairus shot me a disappointed look.
Lowering my head in shame, I started toward my seat.
But then I saw her—Selara. Her eyes were fixed on me with a bloodcurdling glare, sharp and unrelenting, as if she could pierce right through me. My body froze, a cold, stabbing sensation running through me. Her glare intensified, and the familiar beat of my heart seemed to vanish. Darkness crept in at the edges of my vision, and the world went black.
MR.THORNE POV
"Call 911! Call 911!" I shouted, my heart hammering. Students screamed and dashed in every direction, chairs toppled over, and papers scattered across the floor. Pandemonium erupted around me, a storm of noise and movement.
Amid the pandemonium, only Selara and Dairus stayed behind, standing frozen but alert.
"Is she going to be okay?" Selara asked, her voice low at first, almost soft—but there was an edge to it, a sharpness that made the air feel heavier.
I didn't answer immediately, staring at her, hoping the intensity of my gaze would make her back off. But she didn't flinch.
Her eyes locked onto mine, piercing and unwavering. Then her voice rose, not loud, but impossible to ignore. Strong, commanding, and almost instinctive—like she was speaking from a place deeper than herself. "I expect an answer! I asked if she's going to be alright!"
Even through the chaos, everything seemed to quiet around her. My breath caught. Something about her presence, her tone… it felt as if she were unknowingly asserting power over the room, and I realized I had heard that tone and voice before...