Semua Bab "He saw me when no one did": Bab 1 - Bab 9

The cafeteria felt colder today. Not because of the air conditioning, but because of the way everyone looked through me — like I wasn’t even breathing. I sat alone again, my tray untouched. I wasn’t hungry. Hunger felt like a luxury when your heart was always fighting to survive.I could feel Carter’s stare from across the room.He wasn’t even pretending anymore. The way he watched me made my skin crawl. Like I was something he owned, something no one else could touch. I kept my head down, counting the seconds until lunch would end. Until I could get away.I told myself not to look for him — not to look for the one person who hadn’t said a word to me, but who somehow said the most.But my eyes moved on their own, scanning the room.And there he was.Kade sat with his back against the far wall, hands resting on the table, eyes fixed on a book. Alone. Always alone. Just like me.But unlike me, he didn’t seem lost.He was still.That stillness made my heart ache.Someone bumped into my c

The room was eerily quiet. The tension in the air hung heavy, thick enough to feel in your chest. No one spoke, too afraid to utter a single word, all eyes trained on the spot where Kade had just slammed Carter in front of the entire class. Maren’s heart raced in her chest, the weight of the situation pressing down on her like a brick.She couldn’t process what had just happened. No one had ever stood up for her like that—not like Kade had. No one had ever cared enough to do something about Carter's torment. And the way Kade had looked at her just before walking out—like she mattered.Then, Kade stood up. His voice broke the silence, as if the weight of his words could shatter the stillness around them.“It was me,” Kade said, his tone firm and unapologetic. “I punched Carter for being a dumb ass, as usual. He deserved it, and I’m happy to be punished for it if that’s the way it’s going to be. I’m not mad I did it, I’m not guilty for doing it, or feel I was wrong to do so.”He paused,

Maren stared down at the second note in her trembling hands.“Maybe it’s Carter. Maybe it’s not. You’ll never know, no matter how much you try. Which I love — seeing you try, and never find out. This is a fun game.”Her heart dropped, and a cold sweat gathered at the back of her neck.This wasn’t Carter.She knew it.This wasn’t his voice — not the Carter she knew. He was cruel, sure. Aggressive. A bully. But he wasn’t clever. He didn’t talk in riddles. He wouldn’t try to sound cryptic — wouldn’t dangle doubt like bait in front of her.And yet… who else could it be?The words echoed in her mind as she crumpled the notes into her pocket, glancing quickly down the hall. Nothing. Just the sound of lockers clanging, conversations fading, footsteps dragging toward the exits. Everyone going home. Everyone moving on.Except her.She didn’t want to go home. She didn’t want to go anywhere.Outside, the sky was gray — the kind of gray that matched her mood exactly. Maren sat on the concrete edg

The room was silent, save for the faint hum behind the mirror.Maren stood still, every breath slow, her fists clenched at her sides. She’d yelled until her throat was raw. Slammed on the doors. Demanded answers through the thick stone walls. But none of them came. Not the shadow one. Not the fire boy. Not the smirker or the doll-faced creep.And definitely not Kade.All she had now… was the mirror.It hovered near the far wall — not hanging, but floating, tethered to nothing. Every few minutes, it flickered like static, and then his image would appear again. Bruised. Bleeding. Screaming her name.Was it real?Or was she going crazy?Maybe that was the real trick here — not kidnapping, not threats. Just isolation and madness.Her fingers twitched.She couldn’t be going crazy. Not yet. Not now.She stepped closer to the mirror again, heart pounding. Kade’s mouth moved, but no sound came through.Her hand lifted. Stopped inches from the glass.“I’m sorry,” she whispered, eyes stinging.