🌹 THE ROSEGLID INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Episode 8 — "Cracks"
At
Roseglid International High School
rumors moved faster than people.
By morning—
everyone had seen the video.
Vanessa's livestream.
Ash.
The bridge.
The tension.
The words.
Section A whispered.
Section B analyzed.
Section C dramatized.
Section E laughed.
Section F?
Watched.
Ash walked through the corridor like nothing changed.
Like eyes weren't following her.
Like voices didn't lower when she passed.
"Fame looks good on you," Blake said as she entered the classroom.
Ash dropped her bag.
"Jealous?"
"Obviously," he grinned.
Kai added, "You went viral before us. That's unfair."
Ash sat down.
"Try harder."
Noah leaned closer slightly.
"You're trending."
She looked at him.
"…I should be concerned?"
"Depends," he said calmly. "Public opinion is divided."
She smirked.
"When is it not?"
Across the room—
Damien Alexander Sinclair
didn't speak.
Didn't joke.
Didn't react.
But his eyes?
Stayed on her.
The teacher walked in, already irritated.
"Phones away!"
No one listened.
"NOW!"
A few did.
Most didn't.
"Ashylene," the teacher snapped, "care to explain your behavior yesterday?"
Ash leaned back.
"Which part?"
Snickers.
The teacher slammed the desk.
"The fight. The video. The disruption."
Ash shrugged.
"Self-defense."
Vanessa's voice cut in smoothly.
"Is that what we're calling it now?"
All eyes turned.
She sat there, perfect as ever.
Like nothing touched her.
Ash tilted her head.
"What are you calling it?"
Vanessa smiled.
"Attention seeking."
The room tensed.
Ash stood up slowly.
Walked forward.
Stopped in front of Vanessa's desk.
"Say that again," she said calmly.
Vanessa didn't hesitate.
"Attention. Seeking."
Silence.
Sharp.
Waiting.
Ash leaned slightly closer.
"You spilled a drink on me," she said softly. "You went live."
Vanessa smiled.
"And you gave me content."
A pause.
Then—
Ash laughed.
Low.
Unbothered.
"Then post this too," she said.
And walked away.
Back to her seat.
Like she already won.
The teacher sighed heavily.
"Enough. Both of you. Sit down."
Vanessa did.
But her eyes?
Stayed on Ash.
Lunch felt different.
Not loud.
Not relaxed.
Tense.
Ash walked in with Noah.
Paused when she saw the stares.
"…what?" she muttered.
Noah replied, "Increased attention."
"Annoying."
They moved toward the usual table.
The boys were already there.
Blake waved.
"Celebrity's here."
Ash sat.
"Keep talking and I'll charge you."
Jett leaned forward.
"You good?"
She nodded.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Kai shrugged.
"Vanessa's not done."
Ash smirked.
"Neither am I."
Damien sat across from her.
Silent.
Watching.
She noticed.
Of course she did.
"…you gonna stare all day or contribute something?" she asked.
He didn't look away.
"You're not bothered."
She raised a brow.
"Should I be?"
"People are talking."
"People always talk."
He leaned forward slightly.
"This is different."
She met his gaze.
"Then they should talk louder."
Blake whispered, "She's insane."
Noah replied, "Confirmed."
But Damien didn't smile.
Didn't react.
Because something—
still didn't add up.
After lunch—
the corridors filled again.
But this time—
Ash didn't go back to class immediately.
She walked.
Alone.
Until—
she wasn't.
Vanessa appeared beside her.
Walking at the same pace.
Uninvited.
"You're handling this well," Vanessa said lightly.
Ash didn't look at her.
"Disappointed?"
Vanessa smiled.
"Just curious."
"About?"
"How long it lasts."
Ash stopped.
Turned.
Finally looking at her.
"Try me."
Vanessa stepped closer.
Voice lower now.
"You don't belong here."
Ash's expression didn't change.
"Neither do you."
Vanessa laughed softly.
"I built this place."
"No," Ash said calmly. "You just got comfortable in it."
That hit.
Vanessa's smile tightened.
"You're temporary."
"Then why are you trying so hard?"
Silence.
Then—
Vanessa stepped back.
Smiling again.
But colder now.
"We'll see," she said.
And walked away.
Ash stood there for a second.
Still.
Thinking.
Then—
she shook it off.
And kept walking.
Near the staircase—
Damien watched everything.
Every word.
Every reaction.
He stepped forward.
Blocking her path.
"Why aren't you reacting?" he asked.
She sighed.
"…you again."
"Answer."
She looked at him.
Really looked.
"You want me to break?" she said.
"No."
"You expect me to?"
"No."
"Then what?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Because he didn't know.
She stepped closer.
Lowering her voice.
"You're waiting," she said.
"For what?"
"For me to slip."
That hit.
Because it was true.
His jaw tightened.
"You're hiding something."
She smiled faintly.
"And you're obsessed with it."
Silence.
Then—
his phone buzzed.
Again.
He glanced at it.
A message.
Unknown.
"She's lying to you."
Another message.
"Check the storage room. Old building. 5PM."
His expression changed.
Slightly.
But enough.
Ash noticed.
"…what now?" she asked.
"Nothing."
She didn't believe that.
But didn't push.
"Careful," she said.
"You're getting predictable."
And walked past him.
5PM.
The old building stood quiet.
Abandoned.
Mostly.
Damien walked in slowly.
Every step echoing.
The storage room door—
slightly open.
He pushed it.
Slowly.
Inside—
darkness.
Dust.
And—
something on the table.
A file.
He stepped closer.
Opened it.
Photos.
Documents.
More headlines.
More proof.
And one page—
clear.
Readable.
"Valyne Family Incident – Survivors Identified."
His breath slowed.
Eyes scanning.
A name.
Ashylene Rae Valyne.
And under it—
another.
Status: Memory loss reported.
Silence.
Everything clicked.
The attitude.
The deflection.
The walls.
"…so you don't remember," he whispered.
Behind him—
a floorboard creaked.
He turned.
Fast.
But no one was there.
Just the door.
Slightly moving.
And outside—
footsteps fading.
Damien looked back at the file.
Then toward the door.
Mind racing.
Heart unsteady.
"Who's playing this game?" he muttered.
Far away—
on the rooftop—
Ash stood alone.
Wind brushing past her.
She looked down at her hand.
At the faint mark on her wrist.
From where he grabbed her earlier.
Her fingers tightened.
"…why does it feel like I forgot something important?" she whispered.
The wind didn't answer.
🌹 END OF EPISODE 8