EIRA'S POV ✦
It was pitch dark.
Twisted roots sprawled across the muddy ground like the forest itself wanted to drag me down. The woods stretched endlessly into the darkness—ancient, untouched, terrifying.
The cold air slipped beneath my clothes, making me shiver.
Moonlight barely pierced through the dense canopy above, leaving me surrounded by shadows.
"Is... is someone there?"
My voice trembled.
"Mom?"
I took another cautious step forward.
"Mom! Where are you?"
Silence.
A suffocating, endless silence.
My heart pounded so hard it felt as though the entire forest could hear it.
"Adrain...?"
My voice came out weaker this time.
"Adrain, are you here?"
No answer.
"Adrain! Please... say something!"
I swallowed hard.
"Adrain—"
A chilling howl suddenly tore through the darkness.
My entire body froze.
Slowly...
Painfully slowly...
I turned around.
Two dark yellow eyes stared at me from inside the bushes.
Watching.
Waiting.
My breath caught.
"Ad... Adrain..."
"Eira!"
The forest vanished.
"Eira, wake up!"
"Eira!"
My eyes flew open.
Everything was blurry.
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
Then Claira's worried face came into focus.
"Eira?"
She grabbed my shoulders.
"Are you okay?"
My body felt strangely heavy.
"W-water..."
My throat burned.
Claira immediately handed me a glass.
I emptied it in seconds.
She stared at me nervously.
"You were sweating so much."
I wiped my forehead.
My hands were shaking.
"It was just a dream."
"A nightmare."
"What kind of nightmare?"
I looked away.
The image of those yellow eyes flashed through my mind again.
"Nothing."
I stood up quickly.
"We're getting late for college."
Claira hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Right."
"Students."
Mr. Robert adjusted his glasses.
"I want everyone to prepare a file on the bones of the upper limb."
The class groaned.
Mr. Robert ignored them.
"Submission deadline is Tuesday."
RRRRRINGGGG!
The bell rang.
And within seconds everyone rushed out.
But I remained seated.
My thoughts were somewhere else.
That dream.
Those eyes.
Why did they feel so real?
Why did it feel like I had seen them before?
I pressed my fingers against my temples.
At this rate, I was going to lose my mind.
When I finally stood up, the classroom was almost empty.
As I stepped into the corridor, I spotted Claira.
She wasn't heading toward the canteen.
She was going in the opposite direction.
I frowned.
Where is she going?
The DNA test?
Should I follow her?
A terrible idea.
If Adrain caught me snooping around again, he would probably throw me off a building.
I paused.
Then immediately followed her.
Quietly.
Carefully.
Keeping my distance.
One step at a time.
Everything was going perfectly until—
A hand suddenly clamped over my mouth.
My heart nearly exploded.
Before I could react, I was dragged into an empty classroom.
The door slammed shut.
I spun around.
Ready to scream.
And froze.
Adrain.
"You really never learn, do you?"
His voice was cold.
Dangerously cold.
"Adrain!"
I pointed at him.
"I can explain!"
"Oh?"
One silver eyebrow lifted.
"Can you?"
I swallowed.
"Maybe."
His stare didn't change.
Not even slightly.
"I was just—"
"Following Claira?"
I froze.
"...No."
His expression remained blank.
I sighed.
"Okay, yes."
"I knew it."
He folded his arms.
"You are impossible."
"Just let me come with you."
"No."
"Please."
"No."
"I can help."
That finally made him laugh.
A short, humorless laugh.
"You?"
"Yes, me."
I lifted my chin stubbornly.
He took a step forward.
Then another.
And another.
Until he stood directly in front of me.
Far too close.
My breath caught.
His silver eyes locked onto mine.
I couldn't look away.
Couldn't think.
Couldn't breathe.
"You want to help me?"
His voice dropped lower.
Dangerously softer.
I nodded.
For some reason my heart was racing.
A slow smirk appeared on his face.
Then he leaned closer.
His lips brushed near my ear.
"If you really want to help me..."
A shiver ran down my spine.
"Then help me by staying out of trouble."
I blinked.
"What?"
Before I could react—
Something tightened around my wrists.
I looked down.
And froze.
Rope.
Actual rope.
My hands were tied together.
My jaw dropped.
"What?!"
I stared at him in disbelief.
"ADRAIN!"
He looked entirely too pleased with himself.
"Open this."
"No."
"Open it."
"No."
"ADRAIN BLAKE!"
He casually walked toward the door.
My eye twitched.
"Are you insane?!"
"You said you wanted to help."
His smirk widened.
"So help me."
"By staying right here."
My mouth fell open.
"I hate you."
"I know."
"You are the most annoying person on this planet."
"I've been told."
"Untie me!"
"No."
"ADRAIN!"
He opened the door.
"Don't worry."
He glanced over his shoulder.
"The peon will untie you in twenty minutes."
Twenty minutes?!
My soul left my body.
"You crack-brained psychopath!"
His shoulders shook slightly.
The idiot was laughing.
Then he walked out.
The door slammed shut.
And I was left alone.
Tied to a chair.
Furious.
Humiliated.
And already planning several ways to murder Adrain Blake.