LOGINANASTASIA'S POV My mornings started the same way these days. Dragging myself out of bed and wishing I could just not go to school, getting ready in regular clothes that did nothing to flatter my body and then walking to school earlier than everyone else. The morning walk helped to clear my head or so I thought, I lied to myself that it was helping when it wasn't. My head could never be clear, I could never understand why Zain decided to hurt me. I could never understand how he became like Jed and proved me wrong, I really thought he was different. I thought he cared but as usual I was never right when the twins were involved. For two days, I had tried to talk to him. To find out what had gone wrong, what I did wrong. For two days, I processed everything over and over again in my head, desperate to understand where I had gone wrong, where things had gone wrong but there was nothing. My mind was blank, things had been smooth and good, we were having a good time until we weren't an
ZAIN'S POV Ana was late today or perhaps I was early. It crossed my mind to knock on her door as I passed but I thought otherwise, she probably was busy with something and I needed to start up the car anyways. I stepped out of the house and closed the door behind it but didn't hear it lock into place. Turning back, I almost bumped into Jed and I found myself jumping back immediately. "You scared me for a moment there, I didn't even hear footsteps." "Sorry about that. Can we talk?" Jed looked serious which was weird. "Umm, sure. What's up? Why are you all serious this morning?" I stifled a laugh to lighten the mood but he wasn't haven't it and so I straightened up, this was probably important. "Remember the bet we had?" He continued. "What about it? Is there a problem?" I asked confused about where this was going. "Precisely. You have an unfair advantage." I laughed at this statement, classic Jed. Of course he was feeling inferior and not up to the task and he wanted to
ANASTASIA'S POV "Bye babe," I gave Zain a peck on the lips and slipped away happily. The hallway was quite empty and usually I would be worried something was up but today, all that was in my head was Zain and his likely proposal. My locker opened without a hitch and thankfully today there was no drama going on, it hadn't been tampered with. I hummed softly as I selected my books for the day. "Someone seems happy today," Uriel's voice called out from behind me. "What's the occasion?" "Nothing, just happy I guess," I responded. Lying wasn't my forte and I hoped Uriel hadn't spotted my clear giveaways as I fiddled with the hem of my top. "Are you sure?" She pestered. "Of course. Let's get to class, shall we?" I closed my locker shut and intertwine my arm with hers. I wanted to tell Uriel so badly but I feared I'd jinx it, it would be embarrassing if it eventually didn't happen as planned. We settled in our seats quietly and the teacher walked in shortly after. "Let's contin
ANASTASIA'S POV I crossed off a date from my self drawn calendar, it was officially a week to prom. It felt surreal and I couldn't wait. It came with different emotions, excitement and sadness about not getting to do this with dad but regardless of how I felt, I was ready for it. My red shoes shone brightly at the corner of the room, they looked magical. I could picture myself in them, struggling to balance for the first few seconds due to how high they were and then absolutely killing it the entire prom. I rushed to the drawer, my second favourite part of the room every day starting yesterday. Pulling it open, my jewelry laid there. The stones were shiny, almost blinding me even and I just couldn't help but imagine how elegant I would look in them. All that was left was my dress. Thinking about it has me sighing and settling into the nearest chair, my shoulders were slumped as I pondered over my chances of actually getting what I wanted. The dress looked so beautiful on paper
ANASTASIA'S POV "Argh," I groaned in pain as I shifted in bed. The morning light was bright but not blinding, my curtains were closed which was weird. I struggled to recall the events of the previous day and Zain came into memory, he must have made me comfortable, the thought brought a smile to my face. Zain cared about me so much and he always tried his best to make me comfortable, it felt good. The clock struck 8 and a sound reverberated through the room. "Fuck," I muttered. There was school today and I had overslept. I tried to get out of bed and my body reminded me that it was fragile this morning. A loud horn sounded outside, repeatedly and I recognised it as Uriel's. "Fuck," I muttered as I tried helplessly to get out of bed against all odds. Luckily for me the horn stopped but she was still out there, I needed to tell her to go without me. My phone was far on the edge of the table opposite me but my body pain wouldn't let me do the slightest as move. I considered screami
ZAIN'S POV An unsettling feeling lingered at the back of my mind, I had searched the hallways yet Ana was nowhere to be found. Uriel's call did nothing to help my anxiety, it simply made it worse. She sounded like it was urgent and she was panicking, Ana wasn't one to pull a disappearance stunt and she would have located me by now. Not being with me or Uriel meant trouble especially after the events of the morning. Just then, a junior passed me. She looked at me and glanced away, quickening her steps. It felt weird. "Have you seen Anastasia?" I asked and she shook her head. Something about her felt odd and so I called after her again. "Have you seen Anastasia?" I repeated. "Yes," her index finger pointed in the direction of the back of the school before she ran off towards the exit. "Come back," I shouted after her but it was too late. Just then, I heard a scream I presumed to be Ana's and rushed towards it. All I saw was Maisie being held up by her minions as she clutched he







