Zara I couldn’t get the memory of that kiss out of my head. No matter how hard I tried to bury it under layers of homework, uniform ironing, or the endless mindless chatter of classmates, it kept resurfacing. Haunting me in the quiet moments between dawn bells and breakfast announcements. Why did he kiss me? Why did it feel like my entire soul splintered under that touch? I hated him for it. Hated the way his lips claimed mine without permission. Hated the furious, twisted longing that rose in my chest when his thumb brushed over my bottom lip. But more than anything, I hated how it left a mark on something deep within me. A mark that throbbed with yearning whenever I remembered his scent. Or the feel of his hair slipping through my fingers as I clung to him for one foolish heartbeat. I hated it. And I loved it. “Zara? Are you even listening?” Eliana, my classmate’s sharp voice cut through my thoughts like a blade, shattering the haze swirling in my mind. I blinked up at her
Jace The piano keys were cold under my fingers. I pressed them down, one by one, creating a discordant, broken melody that mirrored the ache in my chest. The music room was empty, dim light filtering through the tall arched windows, casting golden stripes across the polished floor and ivory keys. Dust motes floated lazily in the late afternoon sunbeams, swirling with every flick of my wrist. My reflection stared back at me from the glossy black surface of the grand piano lid. My hair was ruffled, my uniform tie loosened at my throat. My eyes looked tired. Angrier than I wanted to admit. The door slammed open behind me. I didn’t need to turn to know it was her. Her scent rushed in before her footsteps, and that cloying sweetness that always made me grit my teeth. Alex. She walked in with that practiced grace, her pleated skirt swaying around her thighs, blazer hugging her slim frame. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, her fingers gripping her elbows so hard her knuckle
Atlas The grand marble halls of Blackwood Academy had never felt colder. My footsteps echoed across the vast corridor as I walked, each step steady, measured, and forced. The polished floors gleamed under the golden sconces lining the walls, reflecting fragments of my expressionless face back at me. My reflection looked tired. Outside the arching windows, the sky was darkened with gathering storm clouds, the gardens cast in a murky twilight. Thunder rumbled somewhere far beyond the forest, a low growl that vibrated through the stones under my feet. It felt like a warning. I adjusted my tie as I neared the Headmaster’s office, my fingers trembling slightly despite my iron grip on my emotions. The heavy oak doors loomed ahead, carved with intricate glyphs that flickered faintly. Students weren’t allowed past this point without an appointment. But I wasn’t just a student, was I? As I reached for the brass handle, memories surged unbidden, ghosts of a past I spent years trying to bur
Atlas The sound of her flats scuffing against the marble floor was the only thing that filled the silence between us as I led her away from the courtyard. I didn’t loosen my grip on her wrist, and she didn’t try to pull away. Her fingers remained curled under my palm, trembling slightly, so small it made something cold twist in my chest. We moved past the rose garden, its blossoms drooping. I stopped near the carved stone fountain where the roses draped over its rim, petals floating in the stagnant water. The scent was cloying, sweet to the point of nausea. I released her wrist abruptly. She stumbled back a step, rubbing at the reddened skin where my grip had been. Her wide eyes lifted to my face, searching, afraid, hopeful, and broken. The sun caught her features, illuminating her small nose and trembling mouth, her eyes dark with unshed tears. There was dirt smudged across her cheek where she’d fallen earlier. Her lips parted like she was about to speak, but the words died as
Zara I could hear my breathing, harsh and ragged, as I watched him swallow hard and look away. We walked to the edge of the east courtyard, away from the bustle of students streaming toward the lunch hall. The marble fountain beside us gurgled softly, water splashing over moss-stained stone, filling the silence between us. Jace let go of my wrist and ran a hand through his hair, his eyes darting away as if searching for the right words. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead, carrying the faint scent of pine and smoke from the kitchen chimneys. “That night… after you passed out,” he began, his voice cracking slightly, “I… I didn’t just leave you there.” My heart squeezed painfully in my chest. “Then what happened?” He closed his eyes for a moment, taking in a shaky breath before meeting my gaze again. “When Alex said she’d send someone to come get you… I didn’t believe her. I returned later and waited. I stayed close, hiding by the rose archway. Minutes passed… no one came.
Zara My breath came in ragged gasps. My legs burned from the adrenaline, and every footstep seemed to echo louder in the empty hallway. I had to get out, away from that suffocating room, away from the professor’s words still lingering in my ears. My fingers tingled as I pressed them against my lips, trying to wipe away the phantom touch of his stale breath when he leaned too close. The corridor lights flickered overhead, painting white stripes across the walls as I ran. Every flicker felt like a spotlight on my shame. On my fear. I turned the corner too quickly, my shoes skidding on the polished floor. And then—Bang! I slammed straight into someone, hard enough that I stumbled back and fell to the ground. My elbow smacked painfully against the tiles, sending shockwaves up to my shoulder. I braced myself for impact, but instead, I landed on something warm and firm. A muffled curse followed as a warm hand gripped my arm, steadying me. “Zara!” The voice was familiar—Jace. M