I woke up and checked around me, but quickly I felt a searing pain lance through my chest. When I checked, I seen bandages wrapped tightly around my torso.
This triggered the memory of how this happened that attack. It was weird, that memory felt so hazy in my mind, like trying to grasp smoke with your bare hands.
Just what was that creature in front of me? In all my time of being here, I've never heard of any type of creatures like that. My thoughts were jumbled, racing in circles that led nowhere, but I felt someone staring at me.
So I turned to the side and when I looked I noticed it was that girl. Who called me stupid. She was looking at me with a worried expression, her green eyes swimming with unshed tears. And she looked to be on the verge of crying again.
So I simply turned the other way and ignored her.
"Hey!" She yelled. I could feel the anger in her glances now, like daggers being thrown at the back of my head.
"Don't turn your back on me like that! I came here because I was worried!" She screamed, her voice cracking on the last word.
A nurse rushed in to see what was happening, the door slamming against the wall. When she busted into the room she seen the girl on the verge of attacking Kael, her small fists clenched and trembling.
While Kael was closing his eyes and pretending she didn't exist, his face completely blank. The nurse seen this and immediately walked back out, shaking her head. Muttering something about not being paid enough for this nonsense.
When the door slammed the girl paused then stopped and quickly sat back down, her shoulders slumping. Finally coming to her senses, "Sorry, I'm just very emotional." The girl whispered, her voice barely audible.
Kael didn't move but opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling. "I can tell." He said flatly.
Which made her ball her fist but she quickly stopped herself, taking a deep breath. "It's just… knowing that all of our classmates died and seeing you rush in there and almost die, I just… I don't know how to feel right now and like all my emotions are in a bunch." She sounded on the verge of breaking down, her words tumbling out in a rush.
Kael slowly turned around. And took a good look at the crying girl in front of him, really studying her for the first time. Her hair was a mess, dark circles under her eyes, and her lips were trembling. He sighed, "Look, don't worry about me or our classmates. Because first, they're dead and second, because I chose to go into that classroom because I was curious." He said matter-of-factly.
This made the girl pause, her mouth opening slightly in shock. "How could someone truly think this way?" She thought, her mind reeling. She then looked at the boy in front of her. His eyes held no type of remorse or sincerity. Nor were they dead—they just didn't hold any strong emotions in them. They were like calm water, undisturbed and still.
She was very confused. How could he develop this type of thinking? They lived in the same place and went to the same school. Where in the development could it have gone wrong?
To not have a single ounce of sadness after witnessing all of that is something she just couldn't fathom. And not having an ounce of fear—is he human? Does he even understand what happened?
This boy, she could tell he needed someone. He's never had anyone. She's also never had anyone, so she knows the feeling—that hollow ache of isolation. But she doesn't know if he can even distinguish that feeling himself. He probably can't even name it.
She will become someone he can rely on so he can truly come to understand himself and the human heart. She nodded to herself, determination flooding through her.
Her cheeks lit up in excitement, a flush spreading across her pale face. She's finally decided on something for the first time in her life.
"You're strange. I really can't understand you and I don't know if I want to." She said with a pause, tapping her finger against her chin.
"But from this day on, I'll make it my life's mission to truly understand you." She said resolutely, standing up in a dramatic pose with one hand on her hip and the other pointing at him.
Kael looked up at her antics and she nodded firmly, waiting for his response. "Sure," he said before closing his eyes and falling asleep, his breathing evening out immediately.
She looked at him in anger, her eye twitching. "I just had this big moment and everything and all you have to say is 'Sure'???" She wanted to strangle him then and there but she stopped herself, her hands hovering over his neck.
She couldn't kill her first friend before they got to know each other. "Wait, are we considered friends?" She didn't know how these things went, having never had one before. She wrapped her hair around her finger and twisted it in nervousness, biting her lower lip.
She looked at Kael's sleeping form, his chest rising and falling steadily. The bandages wrapped around him made her stomach twist with guilt. "I should have stopped him." She thought, her fingers still tangled in her hair. "I should have said something before he went in there."
But she knew deep down that nothing she could have said would have stopped him. He did what he wanted, when he wanted, consequences be damned. It was frustrating and confusing and… and she didn't know what else.
The room was quiet except for his breathing. Clara pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as she watched him. "What am I supposed to do with you?" She whispered to the sleeping boy.
He didn't answer, of course. Just kept sleeping peacefully like he didn't have a care in the world.
Clara rested her chin on her knees, feeling the exhaustion finally catch up to her. She had been here for hours, waiting for him to wake up. And now that he had, and she'd made her big declaration, he just… went back to sleep.
"Stupid Kael." She muttered, but there was no real heat in her words. Just tired fondness.
The next couple of days passed in a blur. Kael recovered quickly—faster than the doctors expected, actually. They said something about his constitution being unusual, which made Clara wonder if it had something to do with whatever happened in that classroom.
But whenever she tried to bring it up, Kael would just look at her with those empty eyes and say he didn't remember much. Which was probably a lie, but she didn't push. Not yet, anyway.
Nurse Hadra came by regularly to check on them both. She seemed concerned, more than usual, and kept asking if they were okay. If they needed to talk to someone about what happened.
Clara always said she was fine. Kael never answered at all.
"You two are going to be transferred to a different school." Nurse Hadra told them on the third day. "Since… well, since there's no one left at your current one."
Clara felt her heart sink. A new school. New people. New everything. She glanced at Kael, who was staring out the window, his expression as blank as ever.
"When?" Clara asked quietly.
"In a few days. They're still making arrangements." Nurse Hadra said, her voice gentle. "I know it's a lot to take in, but it's for the best. You two need to be around other children your age."
Clara nodded numbly. Other children. Would they know what happened? Would they look at them differently?
She had a bad feeling about this.
A couple days after the event, they were put into a normal school since everyone except them were killed.
"Kayyy!" A loud whine was heard through the orphanage, echoing off the walls. If you went to see where the noise came from you would notice a little girl holding onto the legs of a young boy, refusing to let go.
He looked down at her with mild curiosity, his head tilted slightly. "Please tell me again why are you acting this way, Clara?" His voice was completely calm despite her theatrics.
She sniffled, tears threatening to spill. "Because we're going to a new school today and I forgot to pick out my outfit!" The little girl said while flailing around dramatically, her arms windmilling.
The boy's eyes raised slightly. "Don't we have like only a couple shirts and pants?" He asked with genuine confusion, trying to understand the problem.
The girl's face instantly contorted into one of horror. "It's not about that! It's about the principle! Today had already started bad so that means it's going to be a bad day!" She said with very bad logic, her voice rising with each word.
Kael put his hand to his chin and thought about that, actually considering her reasoning. "I could see how you could reach that conclusion but the logic isn't sound." He said simply.
She just cried harder, actual tears streaming down her face now.
She kept flapping around till she heard footsteps approaching and she immediately got up, wiping her face frantically. When the footsteps reached the door they stopped. Then the door opened—the person was Nurse Hadra. "Hello, Ms. Hadra." Clara said in the sweetest voice possible, her expression completely innocent.
Nurse Hadra just looked at her then smirked knowingly. "Don't try and stop—I could hear you from across the building." She said with amusement.
Clara's heart dropped. And she started to sweat, her hands becoming clammy, and then looked at Kael who just kept looking forward, completely unbothered.
Nurse Hadra shook her head, stepping into the room fully. "Clara, dear, you're going to be just fine. It's only school."
"Only school?" Clara repeated, her voice going high-pitched. "Ms. Hadra, everyone at the old school is… is…" She couldn't finish the sentence, her throat closing up.
Nurse Hadra's expression softened. She walked over and placed a hand on Clara's shoulder. "I know, sweetheart. I know it's scary. But this is a fresh start. A new beginning for both of you."
Clara glanced at Kael again. He was now staring at the wall, his face expressionless as always. Did he even care about any of this? Did he feel nervous or scared or anything at all?
"Come on you two, you don't want to be late on your first day." Nurse Hadra said, gesturing for them to follow.
Clara took a shaky breath and nodded. She could do this. She had to do this.
She grabbed Kael's hand without thinking, squeezing it tight. He looked down at their joined hands with curiosity but said nothing, allowing her to pull him along.
As they walked down the hallway of the orphanage, Clara's mind raced. "What if they ask about what happened? What if they know? What do I even say?"
Kael's hand was warm in hers, steady and unchanging. It was oddly comforting, even if he didn't understand why she needed to hold it.
They reached the front entrance where Nurse Hadra had prepared their small bags with the few school supplies they'd need. Clara grabbed hers with her free hand, still refusing to let go of Kael.
"Now, I've already spoken to the school. They know about your… situation." Nurse Hadra said carefully. "But they've agreed to treat you like any other students. No special treatment, no unnecessary attention."
Clara nodded, though her stomach was doing somersaults. "Okay."
"And remember," Nurse Hadra continued, kneeling down to look them both in the eyes, "if anything happens, if anyone gives you trouble, you come find a teacher immediately. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Ms. Hadra." Clara said quietly.
Kael just stared at her, then gave the smallest nod.
Nurse Hadra sighed but stood up. "Alright then. Off you go. The school is just three blocks down, you remember from when I showed you yesterday?"
Clara nodded again. She remembered. She had memorized the route, counting every crack in the sidewalk, every street sign, every landmark. Anything to feel more prepared.
They stepped outside, and the morning air hit Clara's face. It was cool, with a slight breeze that made her shiver. Or maybe that was just her nerves.
The walk to school felt both too short and too long at the same time. Clara's stomach was doing flips, her mind racing with possibilities. "What if they don't like us? What if they already know about what happened? What if—"
"You're thinking too loud." Kael said suddenly.
Clara blinked. "I wasn't even talking!"
"I know. But I can tell you're overthinking." He said, still looking straight ahead.
She wanted to argue but couldn't. He was right. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. "I'm just… I was looking forward to making friends. I already made my first friend—you—so I thought maybe…" She trailed off, not finishing the sentence.
Kael glanced at her briefly. "Maybe what?"
"Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to make more." She said quietly, her voice small.
Kael was silent for a moment, his eyes returning to the path ahead. "Friends." He repeated the word like it was foreign to him. "Why do you want more?"
Clara looked at him, surprised by the question. "Because… because that's what people do? We make friends, we spend time together, we're not alone anymore."
"But you have me." He stated simply.
A warmth spread through Clara's chest at those words, even if he said them with all the emotion of someone commenting on the weather. "I know. But… don't you want more people to talk to? To do things with?"
Kael considered this. "I haven't thought about it."
Of course he hadn't. Clara squeezed his hand a little tighter. "Well, I have. And I think it would be nice. For both of us."
He didn't respond to that, and soon they were standing in front of the school gates. The building loomed before them, much larger than their old school. Students were walking in groups, laughing and talking, and Clara felt a pang of nervousness shoot through her chest.
She watched them, these normal kids with their normal lives, probably worrying about normal things like homework and what to eat for lunch. Not about monsters that appeared out of nowhere and killed everyone.
"Ready?" She asked, looking up at Kael.
"For what?" He responded.
She huffed. "For our first day, obviously!"
"I suppose." He said.
Clara took one more deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Okay. Okay, we can do this. It's just school. Just a normal school with normal kids and normal—"
"You're doing it again." Kael interrupted.
"Right. Sorry." She said, shaking her head. "Let's just… let's go."
And they walked through the gates together.
The moment they stepped into the school hallway, Clara noticed something was wrong. The conversations around them died down. Students turned to stare, their expressions ranging from curiosity to something darker—something she couldn't quite place.
"Why are they looking at us like that?" Clara whispered, moving closer to Kael.
Kael noticed it too but said nothing, his face remaining neutral. He simply observed them, his eyes tracking the various students as they passed. Some quickly looked away when he met their gaze. Others continued to stare, whispering to their friends.
They made their way to their classroom, following the directions Nurse Hadra had given them. The stares followed them the entire way, like a physical weight pressing down on Clara's shoulders.
A group of older students stopped talking as they walked by, watching them with narrowed eyes. Clara tried to smile at them, but they just turned away, muttering something she couldn't quite hear.
"This doesn't feel right." Clara thought, her grip on Kael's hand tightening unconsciously. "Something's wrong."
But what? They didn't know anyone here. They'd never been to this school before. So why did it feel like everyone already knew them? Already hated them?
When they entered the classroom, it got worse. The teacher, a middle-aged woman with graying hair and a tight smile, looked up from her desk. Her expression flickered with something—pity? Wariness?—before settling into professional neutrality.
"Ah, you must be our new students." She said, her voice pleasant but strained. "Class, please welcome Kael and Clara."
The classroom went silent. Every student turned to look at them, and Clara felt her cheeks burn under the scrutiny. She tried to smile, hoping to appear friendly, to seem approachable.
One girl with blonde hair in the front row looked her up and down, then turned to her friend and whispered something behind her hand. They both laughed, the sound sharp and cruel.
Clara's smile faltered. "What… what was that about?"
"You can take those two empty desks in the back." The teacher said, gesturing vaguely toward the rear of the classroom.
Clara nodded, still holding Kael's hand as they walked down the aisle between desks. The whispers followed them, soft but distinct enough that Clara could hear snippets.
"…can't believe…"
"…heard about…"
"…only two that…"
Her heart started pounding. What were they talking about? What had they heard?
They reached the empty desks near the back, and Clara reluctantly let go of Kael's hand. She sat down, her movements stiff and uncertain, and placed her bag on the floor beside her.
Kael sat next to her, his posture relaxed, his expression unbothered. How could he be so calm when everyone was looking at them like… like…
She didn't even know what. That was the worst part. She didn't understand why they were being treated this way.
The teacher began the morning lesson, something about history, but Clara couldn't focus. Her eyes kept darting around the classroom, watching the other students. Some ignored them completely. Others kept glancing back, their expressions hostile.
A boy with dark hair two rows ahead turned fully around in his seat to stare at them. His eyes were cold, calculating. He looked at Kael first, then Clara, and she felt herself shrink under his gaze.
"What do you want?" Kael asked flatly, meeting the boy's stare.
The boy smirked. "Nothing. Just wanted to see what you looked like up close." He said before turning back around.
Clara's hands clenched into fists on her desk. "What does that mean?" She wanted to ask, but the words stuck in her throat.
The lesson dragged on. When it finally ended and the teacher announced a short break before the next class, Clara saw her chance.
A group of girls had gathered near the windows, chatting and giggling. They looked nice, friendly. Normal. Clara stood up, smoothing down her shirt nervously.
"Where are you going?" Kael asked, watching her.
"To… to try and make friends." Clara said, forcing confidence into her voice. "You coming?"
"No." He said simply.
"Okay. Wish me luck." She said, giving him a shaky smile.
She approached the group slowly, her heart hammering in her chest. "You can do this." She told herself. "Just be nice. Just be yourself."
The girls noticed her approaching and their conversation stopped. They turned to look at her, and Clara felt her courage waver.
"Hi, I'm Clara! I just transferred here and—"
"We know who you are." One of them cut her off, her tone cold. The others giggled, covering their mouths.
Clara's heart sank. "Oh, um, I was hoping we could maybe be friends?" She said, forcing cheerfulness into her voice even as her hands trembled slightly behind her back.
The girls exchanged looks, their eyes glinting with something mean. Then they burst into laughter. "Friends? With you?" One of them said between giggles. "That's hilarious!"
"Why… why is that funny?" Clara asked, her voice small. She felt her eyes beginning to burn, the telltale sign of tears forming.
"Oh, come on." Another girl said, flipping her blonde hair. "Did you really think we'd want to be friends with someone like you?"
"Someone like me?" Clara repeated, confused. "What does that mean?"
But the girls just laughed harder, turning away from her dismissively.
Clara felt something crack inside her chest, a sharp pain that had nothing to do with physical injury. Her vision blurred slightly as tears threatened to form. She bit the inside of her cheek hard, trying to stop herself from crying. "I see. Sorry to bother you." She said quietly, turning away before they could see her face.
She walked back to her desk, her legs feeling like they might give out at any moment. She sat down heavily next to Kael, who was staring out the window with that same blank expression.
"Kael…" She started, her voice cracking slightly.
"Don't." He said quietly, not looking at her.
She swallowed hard, blinking rapidly to keep the tears at bay. "Why are they acting like this? What did we do?" She whispered, more to herself than to him.
Kael turned to look at her then, really look at her. He had seen the entire exchange, had watched her try and fail, had seen the hurt flash across her face. "I don't know." He said simply.
And he didn't. Kael had noticed the hostility too, the strange looks, the whispers. They were just new students. What reason could there be for this treatment? They hadn't done anything to these people. Hadn't spoken to them before today.
It didn't make logical sense, and that bothered him more than the hostility itself.
Clara wiped at her eyes quickly, trying to be discreet. But her shoulders shook slightly, betraying how close she was to breaking down.
The rest of the morning was torture. Every time Clara tried to interact with anyone asking to borrow a pencil, trying to join a group activity she was met with cold stares or outright rejection. No one would even sit near them during group work, forcing the teacher to pair them together.
During the next break, Clara stayed at her desk, staring down at her hands. She had been so excited this morning, despite her nerves. She'd thought having one friend meant she could make more. That it would be easier.
But this was worse than having no friends. This was active rejection. Active hostility.
And the worst part was not knowing why.
Lunch time came, and the cafeteria was even worse than the classroom. The moment they entered, conversations stopped. Students turned to stare, then quickly looked away, whispering to each other.
Clara grabbed a tray with shaking hands. Kael followed behind her, unbothered as always.
They got their food some kind of soup and bread and Clara looked around for somewhere to sit. Every table seemed to suddenly be full the moment she looked at it, students shifting closer together to take up all the space.
"Over there." Kael said, nodding toward an empty table in the corner.
Of course. The table no one wanted. The table as far away from everyone else as possible.
They sat down, and Clara stared at her soup without eating. She didn't feel hungry anymore. Just hollow.
"You should eat." Kael said, already taking a bite of his bread.
"I'm not hungry."
"You need energy."
"I said I'm not hungry!" Clara snapped, then immediately felt bad. "Sorry. I just… I don't understand. Why do they all hate us?"
Kael chewed thoughtfully. "Maybe they don't hate us."
Clara looked at him incredulously. "Did you not see what just happened? They're treating us like we're… like we're…"
"Different." Kael finished. "They're treating us like we're different."
"But why?" Clara's voice rose slightly, drawing a few glances from nearby tables. She lowered it again. "We haven't done anything to them."
"Not to them, no." Kael agreed. "But maybe to someone else?"
Clara frowned, thinking. "But we don't know anyone here. We've never been here before. How could we have—"
She stopped. A cold realization washing over her.
"The old school." She whispered. "They know about the old school."
Kael looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
"They know that everyone died except us." Clara's hands started shaking. "They think… they think we did something. That we're responsible somehow."
It was the only explanation that made sense. Why else would everyone be so hostile? Why else would they look at them with such suspicion and disgust?
"But that's not fair." Clara said, her voice breaking. "We didn't do anything. We're victims too!"
Kael didn't respond. He simply continued eating his bread, processing this information.
Clara felt tears streaming down her face now, and she didn't bother to stop them. "That's not fair." She repeated, quieter this time.
She had wanted friends. Had wanted a fresh start. Had wanted to feel normal for once in her life.
But how could she, when everyone already decided she was a monster?
The afternoon classes were somehow worse than the morning. Word had spread though Clara didn't know how and now even the teachers seemed to look at them differently. Warily. Like they might snap at any moment.
Clara had given up trying to interact with anyone. She just sat at her desk, head down, trying to become invisible.
Kael, as always, seemed unbothered. He answered when called on, his responses correct but delivered in that same flat tone. He didn't try to engage with anyone, didn't seem to care about the whispers and stares.
Clara envied him for that. Envied his ability to just… not care.
But she cared. She cared so much it hurt.
When the final bell rang, Clara thought she might finally get some relief. They could go back to the orphanage, away from all these people and their judgmental stares.
But as they packed up their things, a group of students blocked the doorway.
There were five of them four boys and one girl, all looking older than Clara and Kael. The tallest one, a boy with spiky brown hair and a cruel smile, stood in the center.
"Well, well, look who we have here." He said, his voice dripping with false friendliness. "The new students."
Kael stopped, looking at them with that same calm expression. "You're blocking the door." He said simply.
"Oh, are we?" The boy's smile widened. "How rude of us."
But he didn't move. None of them did.
Clara felt her heart start racing. She moved closer to Kael instinctively, her hands clenching into fists.
"I'm Marcus." The leader said, gesturing to himself. "And these are my friends. We just wanted to welcome you to our school properly."
There was nothing welcoming about his tone. Nothing friendly about the way they were all looking at them.
"We heard about what happened at your old school." Another boy said, this one with red hair and freckles. "Pretty crazy stuff."
"Yeah." The girl in the group chimed in, her voice sweet but her eyes cold. "Everyone dying like that. Must have been traumatic."
Clara's chest tightened. "We… we don't want to talk about it." She said quietly.
"Oh, but we do." Marcus said, taking a step closer. "See, we're just curious. How exactly did you two survive when everyone else died?"
"It was…" Clara started, but her throat closed up. How could she explain? How could she tell them about the creature, about the impossible horror of that day, when they were already looking at her like she was guilty of something?
"We were lucky." Kael said flatly.
Marcus laughed. "Lucky? That's what you're going with?"
"It's the truth." Kael responded, his expression never changing.
This seemed to anger Marcus. His smile dropped, replaced by a sneer. "You know what I think? I think there's something wrong with you two. Something not right."
"That's your opinion." Kael said simply.
"You don't even care, do you?" The red-haired boy said, stepping forward. "Everyone died and you're just… standing there. No emotion. Nothing that's what I hate about you otherworlders."
"How I choose to express myself isn't your concern." Kael replied.
Kael heard the comment about otherworlders but chose not to comment on it.
Clara could feel the tension rising. She tugged on Kael's sleeve. "Let's just go. Please."
But Marcus moved to block their path completely. "I don't think so. Not until we get some answers."
"We don't owe you anything." Clara said, finding her voice despite her fear. "We just want to be left alone."
"Left alone?" The girl in the group laughed. "You come to our school, after what happened, and you want to be left alone? That's rich."
"What happened wasn't our fault!" Clara shouted, tears forming in her eyes again. "We didn't do anything wrong!"
"Then why are you the only ones who survived?" Marcus shot back. "Explain that."
"I… we…" Clara couldn't find the words. How could she explain something she barely understood herself?
"That's what I thought." Marcus said, his voice triumphant. "You can't explain it because you're lying."
"We're not lying!" Clara insisted, but her voice wavered.
Kael still hadn't reacted, his face completely blank. This seemed to infuriate the group even more.
"What's wrong with you?" Marcus directed his anger at Kael now. "Are you even human? Do you even feel anything?"
Kael tilted his head slightly, as if genuinely considering the question. "Yes." He said finally. "I feel things."
"Yeah? Like what?"
"Right now? Mild annoyance that you're blocking the door." Kael said, his tone as flat as ever.
Marcus's face turned red. "You think you're funny? You think this is a joke?"
"No. I think you're wasting time asking questions we've already answered." Kael responded calmly.
"You smug little—" Marcus raised his hand, and for a moment Clara thought he might actually hit them.
But a teacher walked by just then, glancing into the classroom. "Is everything alright here?"
The group immediately backed off, plastering on innocent smiles. "Yes, sir." Marcus said sweetly. "We were just getting to know the new students."
The teacher looked suspicious but nodded. "Well, don't stay too late. Building closes soon."
Once he was gone, Marcus leaned in close to Kael, his voice dropping to a whisper. "This isn't over. Not by a long shot."
Then he and his group finally moved out of the way, allowing Kael and Clara to pass.
Clara grabbed Kael's hand and practically dragged him out of there, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst from her chest.
They didn't stop until they were outside the school, the afternoon sun bright in Clara's tear-filled eyes.
"That was…" She couldn't finish. Her whole body was shaking.
"Hostile." Kael supplied.
"Yeah." Clara laughed, but it came out more like a sob. "Really hostile."
She wiped at her eyes again, frustrated with herself for crying so much. But she couldn't help it. Today had been awful. Worse than awful.
"I just wanted to make friends." She whispered. "Is that so wrong?"
Kael looked at her, his head tilting slightly. "No. It's not wrong."
"Then why…" Her voice broke. "Why does everyone hate us?"
"Fear." Kael said simply. "They're afraid of what they don't understand."
Clara looked up at him, surprised. That was… actually insightful. More than she expected from him.
"Do you think it'll get better?" She asked hopefully.
Kael was quiet for a long moment. Then, "I don't know."
It wasn't the answer she wanted, but it was honest. And somehow, that made her feel a little better.
They walked back to the orphanage in silence, Clara still holding Kael's hand like a lifeline.
Tomorrow would be another day at that school. Another day of hostile stares and cruel words.
But at least she wouldn't be alone. She had Kael.
And maybe, for now, that was enough.
The next day started much the same. Clara woke up with a knot of dread in her stomach, and no amount of dramatic outfit-choosing could make it better.
"Do we have to go back?" She asked Kael as they got ready.
"Yes." He said simply.
"But they hate us there."
"They hate us here too." Kael pointed out, gesturing vaguely at the orphanage. "We're just more visible there."
Clara couldn't argue with that logic, even though she wanted to.
The walk to school felt even longer than yesterday. Every step was heavy, filled with reluctance. Clara kept hoping something would happen—maybe the school would be closed, or they'd get sick, or literally anything that would give them an excuse not to go.
But nothing happened. And soon they were walking through those gates again, entering that hostile territory.
The stares started immediately. But today, they felt different. More intense. More… expectant.
Something was going to happen. Clara could feel it in the air, that electric tension that made her skin prickle.
"Kael." She whispered. "Maybe we should just skip class. Hide somewhere until—"
"No." He said firmly. "We can't let them control our actions with fear."
"But—"
"If we run now, they win. And tomorrow will be worse."
Clara wanted to argue, but again, he was right. Running would only make things worse.
So they went to class.
The morning passed without incident, though the whispers were worse than yesterday. Clara caught snippets of conversations—
"…going to do something…"
"…after school…"
"…teach them…"
Each one made her stomach twist tighter.
By lunch time, Clara could barely eat. She just pushed her food around on her tray, her appetite completely gone.
"You're thinking too loud again." Kael observed.
"Can you blame me?" Clara shot back. "Everyone's planning something. Can't you feel it?"
"Yes." Kael said calmly. "But worrying about it won't change anything."
"How can you be so calm?" Clara asked, frustration seeping into her voice.
Kael thought about this. "Because being afraid doesn't help. Whatever happens will happen. We'll deal with it then."
Clara wished she could think like that. But she wasn't built that way. She felt everything—the fear, the anxiety, the dread. It all churned inside her, making it hard to breathe.
The afternoon classes crawled by. Clara kept glancing at the clock, watching the minutes tick down to the final bell.
Part of her wanted it to come quickly, just to get whatever was coming over with.
Part of her wanted time to stop entirely, to freeze them in this moment before things got worse.
When the bell finally rang, Clara's whole body tensed.
"Kael." She whispered. "Maybe we should leave through a different exit—"
But it was too late.
The same group from yesterday was already blocking the doorway. But this time, there were more of them. At least ten students, all wearing the same hostile expressions.
And Marcus, their leader, was grinning.
"Ready for round two?" He asked, cracking his knuckles.
Clara felt her blood run cold.
This was going to be bad.
"Please." Clara said, trying to keep her voice steady. "We don't want any trouble. Just let us pass."
"Oh, but we do want trouble." Marcus said, his grin widening. "See, yesterday you made me look bad in front of my friends. And I don't like looking bad."
"You made yourself look bad." Kael said flatly.
The grin dropped from Marcus's face. "What did you say?"
"You heard me." Kael responded, his tone completely neutral. "Your actions are your own responsibility."
Marcus's face flushed red with anger. "You really think you're something special, don't you? Just because you survived that… that thing at your old school."
Clara's heart skipped. How did he know about the creature?
"We know all about it." Another student said, as if reading her mind. "My dad's a police officer. He told me everything."
"The whole city knows." A girl added. "You two are famous. The otherworlders who survived the massacre."
Clara felt like she'd been punched in the gut. The whole city knew? Everyone?
No wonder everyone hated them. No wonder they were treated like monsters.
"That term again what did it mean?" Thought Kael.
"We didn't do anything wrong." She said weakly, but even to her own ears it sounded unconvincing.
"Sure you didn't." Marcus sneered. "That's why everyone else died and you two walked out without a scratch."
"I was injured!" Clara protested. "Kael almost died!"
"Almost doesn't count." The red-haired boy said. "You're still here. They're not."
Kael hadn't reacted to any of this. He just stood there, calm and unbothered, watching them with those empty eyes.
And that, more than anything, seemed to enrage them.
"Say something!" Marcus shouted, shoving Kael hard. "Show some emotion! Be human for once!"
Kael stumbled back a step but his expression never changed. "No." He said simply.
"No?" Marcus repeated, his voice dangerously quiet.
"I don't take orders from you." Kael clarified.
That was the last straw.
Marcus pulled his fist back, putting all his weight behind it. "Fine! If you won't show emotion, maybe I'll beat it out of you!"
The punch came fast, aimed directly at Kael's face. Clara screamed, reaching out to help, to do something—
But then—
"Move right."
The voice was clear, commanding. Kael's head jerked to the side, his body following without conscious thought. He shifted right, and Marcus's fist sailed past his face by mere inches.
Kael blinked, stunned. That voice—it had been so clear. So certain. And his body had just… listened.
Marcus stumbled forward from the momentum, nearly falling. He caught himself, spinning around with fury in his eyes.
"How did you—" He threw another punch.
"Duck."
Kael dropped low, and the fist passed over his head.
"What the—" Another punch.
"Left."
Kael moved left.
Clara stood frozen, her mouth hanging open in shock. Kael was dodging every hit. Every single one. His movements were minimal, efficient, like he knew exactly where each punch would be before it came.
"How are you doing that?!" Marcus screamed, trying again and again. But Kael kept dodging, his expression shifting from blank to confused to… something else. Something like wonder.
The voice in his head—it was guiding him. Telling him where to move, when to move. And his body was responding perfectly, without hesitation.
But how? How was this possible?
The red-haired boy stepped forward, his face twisted with anger. "He's just getting lucky! Let me show you how it's done!"
He closed his eyes, and Clara felt a shift in the air. Power gathered around him, visible as a faint blue glow that covered his entire body.
"He's using an ability!" Clara shouted, her voice panicked.
The boy's eyes snapped open, now glowing with that same blue light. He grinned. "Let's see you dodge this."
And then he moved.
He was fast—impossibly fast. Much faster than any normal person should be. Kael didn't have time to react, didn't hear the voice. The glowing fist connected with his stomach before he could blink.
"Kael!" Clara screamed.
The impact sent Kael flying backwards. He hit the ground hard, sliding several feet before coming to a stop. He gasped for air, clutching his stomach where the punch had landed.
"Kael!" Clara ran toward him, dropping to her knees beside him. "Are you okay?"
He couldn't answer, still trying to catch his breath. The pain was intense, radiating from his stomach through his entire body.
The red-haired boy stood over them, his body still glowing. "Not so tough now, are you?" He pulled his fist back, preparing to strike again.
Clara threw herself over Kael protectively. "Stop! Please!"
But the boy didn't stop. His fist came down—
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"
Everyone froze.
A teacher stormed into the classroom, his face red with fury. He was tall, with gray hair and stern eyes that took in the scene immediately—Kael on the ground, Clara crying over him, the group of students with the red-haired boy's fist still glowing.
"All of you!" The teacher's voice boomed. "Principal's office! NOW!"
"But sir—" Marcus started.
"I don't want to hear it! I saw what happened!" The teacher's eyes blazed. "Using oaths to assault other students? Do you have any idea how serious this is?"
The red-haired boy's glow faded quickly, his face going pale. "I… I didn't mean…"
"NOW!" The teacher roared.
The group scattered, running from the room. But not before Marcus shot Kael one final venomous glare. "This isn't over." He mouthed.
The teacher knelt beside Kael and Clara, his expression softening. "Are you alright, son?"
Kael nodded slowly, finally able to breathe again. His stomach throbbed with pain, but he didn't think anything was broken.
"Let's get you to the nurse." The teacher said gently. He helped Kael to his feet, supporting most of his weight. "Can you walk?"
"Yes." Kael managed to say, though his voice was strained.
Clara grabbed his hand, squeezing tight. Her face was streaked with tears, her whole body trembling. "I'm sorry." She whispered. "I should have done something. I should have helped."
"It's fine." Kael said, and surprisingly, he meant it.
Because something had happened back there. Something important. That voice it had guided him, helped him dodge attacks he shouldn't have been able to see coming.
What was it? Where did it come from?
And more importantly… could he use it again?