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🪷 LYRA 🪷
Lyra made it to class, but she didn't remember walking there. Every sound she heard made her flinch just slightly before she forced herself to act normal.
She slipped into her seat just before the teacher arrived. Sienna sat beside her, giving her a look that lingered a second too long.
By lunchtime, her head felt lighter. The cafeteria was loud, buzzing with chatter and clattering trays.
Sienna slid into the seat across from her, setting her tray down carefully.
"Okay, let's be real here." she said quietly, not touching her food yet. "Are you really okay?"
Lyra stabbed at her rice without looking up. "I told you I am."
"You sure about that?"
"Yes."
Sienna leaned forward slightly. "Because… someone said something."
"What?"
"One of the girls from Lit class. She said she walked into the bathroom this morning and heard you talking." Lyra's hand stilled. "She said it sounded like you were arguing with someone, but no one was actually there."
Lyra forced a small laugh. It sounded wrong, even to her. "People talk to themselves all the time."
"That's what I said. But she said it wasn't like that. She told some others and they were kind of… joking about it. Saying maybe the new girl finally snapped. Is there something going on?"
For a second, she considered telling her everything. But it would sound stupid.
"I didn't sleep well. I was half-awake. Maybe I didn't realize I was talking out loud."
"Okay," she said. "But if you're not fine, you can tell me. I don't care what anyone says."
Lyra managed a small smile. "I know."
Sienna picked up her fork with a huff. "People are dramatic anyway. Just ignore them."
...
The field was loud and messy, everyone shouting Xavier's name like the game actually decided their future.
Sienna had dragged Lyra there because she wanted to speak to the cheer captain to join in on their cheerleading. The second they arrived, Sienna rushed off, waving and smiling like she already belonged.
Lyra stayed back on the bleachers. She watched the game halfway. Xavier moved confidently across the court and at one point, he looked up toward the stands. Their eyes nearly met, he looked away. She couldn't care less.
Then she saw Kieran. He stood near the side of the court, speaking to the coach. Calm and hands in his pockets.
Lyra sat up straighter. Why was he connected to Eloise? Why the hell was he involved?
The conversation ended. Kieran walked off toward the side exit behind the court.
Lyra stood up without thinking and she followed. The noise of the game faded as she moved farther from the field. The corridor was quieter, and empty.
She quickly stepped behind a wall when he slowed down.
"Come out."
Her heart jumped into her throat. She stayed hidden.
A few seconds passed and she carefully leaned out to peek. But he was gone.
"What the-"
Before she could step out, someone stepped close behind her. She gasped, spinning around too fast and hitting her back against the wall.
"I… I was just… I saw you leaving and followed. I wanted to ask-" she started explaining even before he asked anything.
He started walking again like she hadn't spoken, like she wasn't worth his time.
"Eloise." He stopped instantly. She felt a small, bitter satisfaction. So he did know her.
"Does that name… sound familiar?" she asked.
"Could be anybody's."
"She was a student here a-"
One second he was a few steps away. The next he was in front of her. His hand closed around her neck and pushed her back against the wall.
"How do you know that name."
"I can't-" she choked, grabbing his wrist. "I can't breathe... let go-"
He held her there for a few seconds longer. Just when her vision started to blur, he released her.
She bent forward, coughing hard, dragging in air. Her throat burned.
"I asked a question." She pressed her back against the wall again, still struggling to breathe.
"First…" she coughed, trying to steady herself. "Get me in the high-class dorm, then I'll tell you."
His expression didn't change. "This isn't some sort of bargain. Answer the damn question."
"First answer mine."
"You're pushing your luck."
"Then answer me."
He just stood there, watching her like she was something inconvenient he hadn't decided what to do with yet.
"How do you know that name?" he repeated.
"Because I've seen her."
"That's not an answer."
"But it is. She was in the high-class dorm," Lyra said. "And you were there."
His jaw tightened slightly. That was the only sign she got. Why did she feel he was the only one she could confide in.
His gaze dropped briefly to her throat, where faint red marks were forming from his grip. Then back to her eyes.
"If you value your place here," he said, "you'll forget that name."
"No. You don't tell me what to forget," she continued, steadier now. "She's not just random. She's connected to this school, to that dorm. And to you."
"You think this is some mystery you can solve?" he asked quietly. "It's not."
"Then what is it? Take me there," she insisted. "If I'm wrong, I'll drop it."
"You really don't understand how this works."
"Then explain it."
"This is your last warning," he added. "Drop it."
"And if I don't?"
"Then you deal with what comes next." He turned to leave.
"This whole place is messing with my head," she said suddenly. "It's all messed up," she added. "And everyone acts normal, like I'm the only one who's mixed up. And you...I say one name and you nearly choke me out."
He stared at her, almost a glare. Like he was daring her to say the name again.
"What?" she shot back. "Because I said Eloise?"
That name again. Only this time he didn't touch her.
She laughed dryly. "This school is insane. And you're all pretending it's not."
He finally looked at her properly. "If you think it's that bad," he said, "then leave."
"I can't. Take me to the high-class dorm."
"No."
"Why? Because you don't want me to see something?"
He had already turned halfway when she said it.
"Her freaking ghost is haunting me." That made him stop. "You heard me. I sound crazy, I know. But it's only logical you know."
"She's dead," he said again, calmer this time.
"I know that and that's the problem. She's been showing up in my dreams, in the mirrors. I hear that stupid melody everywhere. And now people think I'm crazy because I was...it's creeping me out." she said softly. She was scared, really scared.
She paused, locking eyes with his. He had such beautiful eyes, dark and enticing. Was this really the time to appreciate the beauty before her?
"And she keeps leading me somewhere. To that dorm. You'd probably think I'm crazy, I wouldn't believe if it were me but...I just need to find answers to stop me from seeing her."
"Whatever you think you're seeing," he said, "stay away from the high-class dorm."
"But she showed it to me, showed you. She's connected to it somehow."
"And you're not."
"I don't care. If you know something, just say it."
"What else did she 'show' you?"
"About the dorm, a door with a weird symbol, you...and a basement. I was in the library the other day and the words faded...like contorted to just two words. Basement and melody. I keep hearing the melody from a music box-" she paused when she saw the look he gave her. "I'm not making this up."
"I didn't say you were. Say that again."
"The music box?"
"No. The door."
"With the weird symbol," she repeated. "Like something carved into it. She stood in front of it. And you were there."
"And it didn't cross your mind that she might not be leading you there, she might be warning you?"
"About what?"
"There are reasons why your kind are not in the high-class dorm, that's why there are rules. And even though I don't give a damn about some bullshit rule, you should. Some things in this school stay buried for a reason."
He looked at her throat again, at the fading marks, then back at her eyes.
"If she's really showing you things… then it means she thinks you can see what others can't."
Lyra went still. See what others can't? See her?
Before she could ask, he stepped closer, slowly and deliberately.
His fingers brushed her neck again, lighter this time, tilting her head slightly to the side as if inspecting damage he'd caused.
"It's all red," he murmured.
"T-that's because… you almost choked me to death." His thumb traced just beneath the mark.
She meant for it to sound sharp but it didn't. Instead, it came out uneven.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor and they both turned.
Xavier stood a few feet away, eyes moving from Kieran's hand to Lyra's face.
Kieran's thumb brushed the spot one last time in a gentle caress, which sent a shiver down her spine. He removed his hand slowly, like he wasn't in any rush at all.
Shoving his hands into his pocket, he walked past Xavier without another word.
"Wait-" Lyra called after him, but he didn't slow down. Silence settled once he disappeared around the corner.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" She turned to Xavier.
"I advise you not to get too close to him," Xavier said flatly. "People like him are bad company." And walked away without another word.
What does she getting close to Kieran have to do with him. She looked back down the corridor where Kieran had vanished.
If Eloise was warning her… then warning her about what? The dorm? Basement? The door?
"Damn it." She cussed, the first time in a long time.