ARIAWhispers envelop the walls around us, growing louder and louder. Nobody expected me to throw chilli powder mixed in the water at him.“Is she crazy?”“Weren't they dancing so close two days ago?”“She must have done something wrong to get on Jay's bad books. He wouldn't have announced her as the target without a damn strong reason.”“Were they dating?”“No way, she must be clinging to him.”Rage flashes in his green eyes, tightening his veins against his skin. He clenches his jaws, closing his fingers into a fist.As I drop the bucket, a thumb sound echoes through the whispers, silencing every mouth.His eyes are glaring into mine as if he is ripping my soul into a thousand pieces, torturing the last essence of me in his mind. I am not afraid.A chuckle cuts through the silence, drawing everyone's attention to the second floor. As my head follows the direction of others, I see him, leaning forward on the railing, holding onto a playful gaze in his piercing blue eyes.He is enjo
ARIAHe reveals himself, standing on a bench, glaring into my eyes. In a flash, the entire academy is gathered around us. The canteen is overcrowded.Ella holds my palm tightly, anxious.Grabbing a red marker, one of his disciples stands before my picture on the screen and draws an X on my face.I am completely taken aback by the madness.“When Jay announces a target, the entire academy goes after the student, bullying them to the point they leave forever,” Ezek whispers into my ear.He mentioned the punishment but I didn't expect it to be so severe.Every head turns to me.“What should we do, Hailey?” Ella quickly slides behind my back, and so does Ezek.“You guys are safe. He's only targeting me.” I assure both of them. Still, they refuse to come out and stay hidden.An arrogant smirk comes across his face and he pulls the hoodie, covering his blonde hair, threatening me with his gaze.The war has begun.After the drama in the canteen, I step into my classroom and perch on my seat.
ARIA I wake up in his bed, confused and curious. Sitting up, my gaze looks around but he is nowhere near me. The room is still the same but warm and cozy. My eyes notice the room heater. As my gaze climbs up to my own body, bandages and band-aid catch my eye. He has even treated my wounds. *What's with him?* A click sound draws my attention to the door, and he steps inside. The moment our eyes meet, a wave of tingling sensation crawls over my shoulders. “You good?” He asks, coming closer. My head nods in response. “Last time your friend dropped my clothes on the floor outside my room. Is that how you repay someone’s kindness?” “Ehm…She didn't want to enter.” He stands before me, casting a shadow on my head and slightly making me nervous. The room is covered in his scent. “What's with the special treatment?” I ask directly, no twisting it around. “Congrats. You passed the test.” He whispers, bringing his face closer to mine. I suddenly find myself on the edge,
ARIAI see the huge red gates in front of me. They're powerful even in the darkness of midnight. The two other applicants seem strong and extremely confident, both of them are male.All the members of the disciplinary committee are standing behind us, getting ready for the death test. As the red gates open, my eyes look in his direction.He is already staring at me.Inhaling a deep breath, I turn my head to the gates and enter the woods. The other two applicants follow behind me.The leaves on the trees are shaking, making eerie noises. I don't know if the birds are leaving their nests or if something scary is lurking in the darkness.Each tree appears to be a monster.While my feet are taking slow steps, the other two cross past me, running ahead, completing among themselves.They aren't bothered about me. Maybe they don't see me as a competition…at all.Suddenly, a groan, stronger than a wolf's, echoes through the woods. The two applicants stop before me but I quickly sneak behind a
ARIAA mischievous smile glints on his lips.“Have you heard about the hell gates near the dorm building?” “The girls are always talking about it.” My lips answer softly.“The hell gates lead to a river through the narrow road in the woods. No one has ever come back alive from there.”“We have three applicants. You all need to enter the hell gates and come back with a white flag hidden somewhere near the river.”“If one of you manages to survive, you'll join the disciplinary committee.” “Are you crazy?” My brows furrow.Smiling, he takes steps to the heater. “Is this a test, or bullying?”“You guys simply want us dead.” He squats down on the floor and turns on the heater. Slowly, a heat replenishes the walls, slashing through the silence.“Jay Manchester wants the ancestral ring back, or he would make my life hell, but to get the ancestral ring, I have to pass your death test.”“Tell me honestly…” “Did you two join hands against me?”He looks into my eyes and stands up.“If you'r
ARIAI hold onto his shirt tightly, finding my balance in the cold water. As my eyes look up, he is already looking into mine.Silence surrounds us, stirring curiosity in me. The water is moving beneath us, making soft noises through the stillness of the room. Neither he is speaking a word nor do I dare.My face can feel the warmth of his breathing.The closeness reminds me of the night in the woods. He was on edge, clashing with his wolf. That night, his hands explored all of me, wrapping me in scent.I felt his strong kisses on my neck, on my shoulders, and on my breasts. He wanted to devour me.Even my top was ripped off.*Why isn't he mentioning that night? Was it that casual for him?*I waited for him to come to me and apologize but he never came.The sharp pin in my grip drops into the water, drawing his attention. He glances at it, then quickly lifts his gaze to my face.A droplet of water rolls down his face, tracing the sharp, pointed features.“Care to explain?” He mutters