The air in my hostel room was sterile and cold, but I barely noticed it. I had been discharged from the hospital earlier that day after the vampire attack and was trying to rest, though my mind kept replaying every detail of last night. My ribs ached with every breath, and the gauze on my shoulder itched under my sweatshirt.
The door creaked open.
"You're up?" Pink stepped in. Her voice was unusually soft, almost hesitant. Her signature pink hair was tied high in a ponytail, and she was already dressed for class in a cherry-red blouse and matching heels that clicked softly on the floor.
"Yeah," I said, glancing over. "Doctor says I'm good to go. Just bruises and scratches."
Pink leaned against the wall, arms crossed over her chest. "Really? That's a shame. I was hoping you'd spend eternity in that hospital. Would've saved me the trouble."
I sighed, too exhausted to play the usual game. "Can we not do this today? Please."
She raised an eyebrow. "Do what? I'm just being honest. You started the drama."
I turned away, sinking deeper into the pillow. My head throbbed.
There was a beat of silence before she added, with a razor-thin smile, "Don't worry, sweetie. This is only the beginning. I'll take it from where the vampire left off."
She grabbed her mini pink bag, slung it over her shoulder, and swept out the door like a storm wrapped in perfume and sarcasm.
God, can this drama just end already?
By third period, Caveroop High was buzzing like a nest of hornets. Whispers zipped across the corridors, fluttering like moths. Everyone had heard something about the vampire attack, though no one knew the full truth only rumors, half-baked stories, and fear.
The intercom crackled to life. Mrs. Adams' voice, smooth but edged with steel, echoed through every classroom.
"Students of Caveroop High, we are aware of an unfortunate incident that took place last night involving two of our students and what has been confirmed to be a Blueblood Vampire. Please know that the school is working closely with local authorities and the Supernatural Affairs Council. Effective immediately, there will be increased security patrols on campus, especially at nights. All students are urged to remain indoors after dark and strictly observe the new curfew. Stay safe. That is all."
As the intercom clicked off, a low hum of murmuring filled the room like bees trapped in a jar. I could feel eyes darting toward me, subtle, but obvious. Whispers turned into glances, and glances turned into silence whenever I moved. She didn't say my name, They knew.
During recess, I slipped out into the courtyard, I needed air. The stone fountain at the center of the square was my temporary sanctuary, chipped, mossy, and old, but quiet then...
"Figured you could use something warm." I heard a familiar voice.
I turned and saw Zack, holding two cups of cafeteria hot chocolate. He handed me one, his fingers brushing mine.
"Thanks," I said, avoiding his eyes. My voice sounded smaller than I intended.
He sat beside me without a word. For a while, neither of us spoke.
"I heard you got discharged this morning," he finally said, voice gentle. "Shouldn't you be resting?"
I gave a faint shrug. "I rested enough. I'm fine."
He looked at me, brow furrowed. "Are you?"
I glanced down at my cup. "Why do you care?"
"Because… I know I said I needed space, but that doesn't mean I stopped caring."
I gave a bitter laugh. "So we're friends now? That's news to me. I thought you hated me."
"I never hated you, Terra," he said quickly. "I was just... trying to get my emotions in check."
"Have you?" I asked quietly, meeting his eyes.
He looked away, exhaling through his nose. "Not really."
Silence again. This one lingered longer but felt less heavy.
"How're you doing?" he asked softly.
I took a long sip of the hot chocolate before answering. "I'll be fine."
Meanwhile, across campus, the old girls' locker room was dimly lit. Dust danced in the air as Jennie paced back and forth, her boots echoing on the cracked tile. Her blue eyes glowed faintly in the flickering lights as she stared into the mirror, chest heaving.
Time was slipping away.
"Jennie, calm down," Sofie said, trying her best to soothe her. Her voice was soft, but her worry was real.
Jennie shook her head, gripping the edges of the sink. "If I don't become alpha soon, it's over. My strength's slipping. I can feel it Sof. Every second I wait, it worsen."
"You saw what happened during the Harvest Moon," Sofie replied. "He's got an army, supernatural strength, absolute control. He's the alpha for a reason. Rebelling could get you killed."
"I don't care," Jennie muttered. She yanked her bag open and pulled out a battered book bound in cracked leather. "There's got to be a way to beat him. A weakness. A loophole."
Sofie sighed but nodded. She knew talking Jennie down wasn't going to work. "Then we need to find out who he is, the real identity behind the mask. Knowing his name, his lineage... it could give us an edge."
Jennie paused. "But how are we supposed to do that?"
"Nemus," Sofie said carefully.
Jennie flinched. "No."
"We don't have a choice. If anyone knows how to traphas dirt the alpha, it's him."
"I'd rather die than crawl back to that bastard," Jennie spat. "I'll find another way."
Later that afternoon, Rejoice knocked lightly on the clinic door. Raymond was alone, preparing herbs and tinctures for his afternoon class. He glanced up when she entered.
"Why are you here?" he asked, his voice guarded.
"I came to check on you," she said quietly. "Are you… alright?"
Raymond gave a tired sigh. "Joy, you shouldn't be here."
"I just wanted to see if you're okay... after the rumor."
Raymond looked down at his hands. "You know that rumor could easily become fact if anyone sees us together right now. Mrs. Adams has already questioned me three times. I'm trying to keep a clean slate after the whole Charles situation."
Rejoice nodded, her expression tightening. "So… what now?"
"I think we need space. Just for a while. Until things settle."
He walked to the door, peeked into the hallway, then turned back. "You go first."
She hesitated, just for a moment, then stepped out.
...
The school hallway was quiet. Most students were in class. Charles had slipped out with a bathroom pass, humming to himself as he rinsed his hands at the sink.
"Charles…"
The whisper made him freeze.
He turned around. "Hello? Is someone there?"
No answer. He shook his head and reached to turn off the tap. As he stepped back, a figure emerged from the shadows.
Annie.
She looked sickly and pale, as though she hadn't slept or eaten in days. Her eyes were wide with recognition.
"Charles," she whispered, stepping toward him, her hands trembling.
He recoiled. "What the hell?"
"It's true," she said, voice quaking. "You're alive. But… how? What did Raymond do to you? Tell me. Please."
He frowned. "Do I know you?"
Her face fell. "Wh-what?"
"I said who the hell are you? And why are you in the boys' restroom? Are you stalking me or something?"
"It's me… Annie," she whispered, voice cracking.
"I don't know any Annie. Are you new here?"
She gasped. "No… what did they do to you?"
He started backing away. "I swear, if you don't leave, I''ll report to the school authorities."
She looked at him with a death stare, her eyes burning with a mix of desperation and fury then, without warning, she lunged.
"What the hell!?" Charles yelled as Annie grabbed both sides of his face.
She pressed her forehead to his, murmuring a chant under her breath. Arcane words filled the air like static.
A flash of light. A flicker of memory.
When it was done, Charles collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Annie staggered back, breathless.
"Donald Pathaway," she whispered. "Of course…"
And with that, she vanished into thin air, like a wisp of smoke.
Minutes later, the final bell rang. The day was over. Sam jogged into the restroom, desperate to relieve himself, but froze when he spotted someone lying motionless on the floor.
"Charles?" he called.
No response.
After quickly finishing up, he rushed to his side and crouched.
"Hey, man. You okay?" he asked, shaking his shoulder.
Charles was deathly cold.
Sam's heart stopped.
"Oh no."