Chapter 7: Shadows in the Hallway
I don't know why, but today felt… heavy. Like the air in the hallways was thicker than normal. Maybe it's the clouds outside. Or maybe it's Crimson Fang. The hum in my backpack has been louder all morning, almost like it's breathing through me.
At lunch, I sat at the usual table, but Kenji wasn't there yet. I watched him walk past the hallway, laughing with the others, but something about the way he looked at me—just for a second—made my stomach twist. His eyes lingered. Not in a normal way. Sharp. Almost… cold.
I kept my head down and unwrapped my sandwich. It was squished and soggy, the peanut butter sticking to the paper. I hate that, but I didn't care. I was too focused on the hum. The sword vibrated against my back. Soft at first, then louder, like it wanted me to notice it. Like it wanted something from me.
Kenji finally sat down across from me. He didn't smile. He just stared at me while everyone else laughed and talked. I could feel the weight of his gaze. Like I had done something he didn't like. But I hadn't done anything, had I?
I tried talking about something stupid. "Did you see the science homework?" I asked. My voice sounded weird even to me. He shrugged and muttered something I didn't catch. Then he picked at his sandwich and didn't say anything else.
The sword's hum got louder. I could feel it pressing against my spine. I wanted to touch it. I wanted to see if it would make me faster, stronger. I wanted the pain to go away. But I didn't. I didn't dare yet.
After lunch, the hallways were quieter than usual. I could hear the echoes of my shoes on the tile. Shadows from the lockers stretched long. I kept thinking about Kenji. About the way he looked at me, about the weight of that stare. And I kept thinking about Crimson Fang. About the hum, about the pulse. About what it wants from me.
I realized something. The sword doesn't just give me strength. It makes me notice things. Tiny things. The way Kenji's hands fidgeted when he thought I wasn't looking. The way the teacher's eyes lingered a little too long on me today. The way the lockers creaked even when no one was near them.
And I started to feel… afraid.
Not scared in a normal way. Something heavier. Something that digs into your chest and makes your stomach ache and whispers that everything is changing.
I think Crimson Fang is changing me.
I think it's changing Kenji too.
And I don't know if I want to know what comes next.