 📖 WAN EMPIRE
Curly's POV
The next morning—
RING! RING! RING!
"What's that?" I asked Angela, startled by the loud sound.
"That's the bell for breakfast!" she shouted, jumping up immediately.
"Come on, let's go. We only have two minutes to get there. If we're late, no breakfast for us, and the hall is far."
She grabbed my hand and dragged me along.
When we finally reached the hall, she pulled me to an empty spot.
"Let's sit here."
I sat down beside her and looked around curiously. The hall was large and crowded with girls eating quietly. My eyes searched the room and landed on Sony. She was seated far away from us, alone.
There was something about her that made me curious.
Before I could think more about it, Angela snapped her fingers in front of my face.
"Why aren't you eating?" she asked, dropping her cup of water on the table.
"I will," I replied softly, picking up my food.
Across from me sat Sara. She caught my gaze and smiled gently.
I smiled back.
As I took my first bite, I suddenly felt a strange heaviness in the room. Conversations dropped to whispers. Chairs scraped softly against the floor.
Then I felt it.
Someone's presence.
The entire hall went silent.
I slowly lifted my head.
At the far end of the hall stood a woman dressed in black, her posture commanding, her eyes cold and sharp.
Lady Anna.
Fear crawled up my spine.
She scanned the room slowly, her gaze passing over each girl like we were objects on display. When her eyes met mine, my heart skipped painfully.
She didn't smile.
She turned to the woman beside her.
"Who is that girl?" she asked calmly.
Zara followed her gaze. "That's the new one. Curly."
Lady Anna hummed thoughtfully.
"Interesting," she said. "Bring her to me after breakfast."
My hands began to shake.
Angela leaned closer to me, whispering urgently, "Don't panic. Just do exactly what she says."
I nodded weakly, my appetite gone.
What does she want with me?
And why did it feel like my life was about to change again?