Chapter 7 Omega Reborn

I sat on my bed, eating a simple dinner of leftovers I'd brought up from the kitchen. The food was bland, but I was too preoccupied to care. My mind was racing with thoughts of the bus ride to Moonridge Academy, and what lay ahead.

Just as I was finishing up, I heard a knock at the door. Before I could respond, Brielle burst into the room, a triumphant smile on her face.

"Well…" she said, her eyes scanning the room. "Looks like you're all packed up and ready to go."

I felt a surge of annoyance at her intrusion, but I tried to keep my cool.

"Yeah, I'm leaving," I said, my voice flat. “Already missing me? Came to say goodbye?”

She didn’t reply me just a snort. Then, her eyes landed on my suitcase, and she laughed.

"Looks like you've been planning this getaway for a long time," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "You've got everything packed up and ready to go. You're really running away, aren't you?"

I felt a pang of anger at her words, but I refused to rise to the bait.

"I'm just starting fresh," I said, trying to keep my voice neutral.

Brielle's smile grew wider. "You're going to need more than just a fresh start to get out of the mess you've made," she said, her voice venomous. "You're going to need a miracle."

“Too bad the miracle came very early.” I forced a smile. “I’m leaving, remember? To a new school and if you wanna know, like you’d care anyway. It’s a boarding school and very big and beautiful, way more than your school the one I got expelled from because of your little schemes.”

Brielle's smile faltered for a moment, and I saw a glimmer of something else in her eyes - something that looked almost like guilt. But it was quickly replaced by her usual smug expression.

"You think you're so smart, don't you?" she said, her voice dripping with venom. "You think you can just leave and start over, and everything will be fine."

I felt a pang of anger at her words, but I tried to keep my cool.

"I'm not trying to be smart," I said, my voice calm. "I'm just trying to get out of this toxic situation."

Brielle's eyes flashed with anger, and she took a step closer to me.

"You think you're so innocent, don't you?" she spat. "But you're not. You're just as guilty as the rest of us."

“Fuck! You’re the one who slept with my boyfriend and I forgive you for that,” I felt a surge of confusion at her words. "Or what are you talking about?" I asked, my voice rising.

"Yes! I'm talking about Adrian," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "I slept with him, so? You thought you were so in love with him, didn't you? But I saw the way he looked at me, the way he talked to me. And I knew I could take him from you."

“Old news.” My heart felt like it was going to stop. "You stole him from me and I don’t care." I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Brielle's smile grew wider. "I didn't steal him," she said. "He was always mine. You just didn't see it."

I felt a wave of pain wash over me as I remembered the way Adrian had changed towards me, the way he had started to pull away. I had noticed it but ignored. And now I knew why. Brielle had been manipulating him, using him to get back at me.

"And now you're expelled," Brielle said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "It's perfect, really. You're finally getting what's coming to you."

I felt a surge of anger at her words. “I’m sure you did more than just lie about me. You said something to the school.” My voice started to raise. "You had a hand in this, didn't you? To make my life a living hell?" I asked, my voice rising.

Brielle's smile faltered again for a moment, and I saw a glimmer of guilt in her eyes. "Maybe I did," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was jealous of everything you had, Isla. You got everything so easily. The attention, the love, the admiration. I wanted it all for myself. You wouldn’t blame me for suddenly wanting the attention you always cherished."

I felt a wave of shock wash over me. "What did I ever do to you?" I asked, my voice shaking with emotion. "We were never like this. What changed? I thought we were best friends, or at least, stepsisters who got along."

Brielle's expression twisted in anger.

"You really don't remember, do you?" she spat. "You really don't remember how you used to flaunt your perfect life in front of me? How you used to rub it in my face how much better you were than me?"

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. "I don't remember doing any of those things," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I thought we were friends, Brielle. I thought we had a good relationship."

Brielle's laughter was cold and mirthless. "You were always so oblivious, Isla," she said. "You never saw anything beyond your own little world. But I'm glad you're leaving. If you weren't, I was planning to make this house more than a living hell for you."

I felt a chill run down my spine at her words. I knew I had to get out of there, away from Brielle's toxic influence and manipulation. I grabbed my suitcase and stood up, my heart heavy with emotion. I was done eating or waiting.

"I'm glad I'm leaving too," I said, my voice firm. "I'm glad to be getting away from you and your poison."

I tried to walk out of the door, but Brielle grabbed my arm, her grip tight.

"Wait," she said, her eyes fixed on mine. "What's going on with your eyes? They're glowing yellow."

I felt a surge of anger at her touch, and I tried to shake her off. "Let go of me," I said, my voice low and menacing.

But Brielle just held on tighter. What was she doing? Trying to stall? One of her schemes again?

"No, tell me what's happening," she said, her voice laced with curiosity.

I didn't answer her, didn't even look at her. I just pushed her away, trying to get her off me. But my push was stronger than I intended, and Brielle flew across the room, hitting the wall with a loud thud. She slumped to the ground, knocked out cold.

I felt a wave of fear wash over me as I rushed to her side. "Brielle, oh my god," I said, checking to see if she was breathing. She was, thankfully.

As I stood up, panic rising inside me, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror hanging on the wall. And what I saw made my blood run cold.

My eyes were glowing yellowish red, like embers from a fire. And my hands...my hands had claws. Long, sharp claws that looked like they belonged to an animal.

I stumbled backward, my mind reeling. What was happening to me? What was going on?

Before I could process any further, I heard my father's voice calling out to me. "Isla! Isla, what's going on?"

He rushed into the room, his eyes scanning the scene before him. He saw Brielle lying on the ground, and then his gaze landed on me. For a moment, he just stared at me, his eyes wide with fear.

I didn't wait to find out what he was thinking. I grabbed my bag and ran past him, ignoring his calls for me to stop.

I just kept running, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't know what was happening to me, but I knew I had to get out of there. Fast.