The Voice in the Walls

The sound didn’t just come from the walls, it felt like it was inside my head, vibrating in my teeth and rattling my bones. The piano kept hitting those same heavy notes, Thump. Thump. Thump., matching the rhythm of the voice.“Did you hear that?” Kai hissed, pushing off the piano and looking around like something was gonna jump out of the shadows. “That wasn’t an echo. That was real.”Ryder was on his feet instantly, pulling me up beside him. The mark on my arm was blazing now, bright enough to cast silver light across the dusty room. “It’s the link,” he said, his voice tight. “They’re using the mark to talk directly to you. To all of us.”“I can feel it,” I gasped, pressing a hand to my temple. “It’s like… static. And screaming. And they’re angry.”“You think you can hide the book?” the voice boomed again, echoing from every corner. “You think you can stop what is already written? Elena failed. Marcus failed. And you will rot in the dark just like them!”“Shut up!” I shouted back, s

The Morning After

The sun was barely peeking over the treetops, but it felt wrong bright and cheerful, like the world hadn’t almost ended just a few hours ago.I was sitting on the steps of the main building, wrapped in a blanket someone had shoved at me, staring at my hands. They were still trembling slightly, and every now and then a spark of silver would flicker across my skin before fading away.“You okay?”I looked up to see Ryder walking toward me. He looked like he’d gone ten rounds with a bear hair messy, clothes torn, fresh bandages wrapped around his arm but his eyes were clear.“Define okay,” I mumbled. “My hands feel like they’re made of lead, my head is spinning, and I just found out there’s an army of people who look normal but want to kill me. So… yeah. Peachy.”He sat down next to me, leaving just enough space so our shoulders weren’t touching, but close enough that I could feel the warmth coming off him.“They didn’t get in,” he said quietly. “Thanks to you. And Kai. The dome is holdin

The Choice

The screen went black, but the image was burned right into my eyes. Grandma’s face, her voice, that mark on her wrist that was exactly like mine.She was alive.And she wasn’t trapped or suffering like everyone said. She was… waiting.“Is this real?” Zara whispered, breaking the silence. “Is she actually alive?”“I don’t know,” I said, my voice sounding far away. “But she looked real. She sounded real.”Kai was staring at the blank screen, his fists clenched. “My great uncle must be there too. If she’s alive… he has to be.”“We can’t trust this!” Mr. Sterling shouted from the doorway. “It’s a trick! Silas is manipulating the signal, he’s using her image to lure you in!”“Then why did she sound so sad?” I turned around, facing them all. “Why did she say they didn’t tell me the whole truth? What if you guys are hiding something? What if opening the door isn’t just about destroying things?”Professor Thorne stepped forward, her face pale. “Maya, please. Think about this logically. The ot

The Door Opens

“Maya, don’t!” Ryder’s voice was sharp, desperate, but I couldn’t stop. Not with Lila standing there, trembling like a leaf, waiting for me to save her.I walked forward, my boots crunching on the dry leaves, until I was standing right in front of the twisted archway. The Door of Roots hummed under my hands, vibrating like a living thing, hungry and waiting.“Let her go first,” I said, my voice sounding stronger than I felt.Silas smirked. “After. Once the door is wide open. We don’t take chances, Key.”I glanced at Lila one last time. She nodded at me, tears streaming down her face. “It’s okay, Maya. I’m okay.”I turned back to the door, took a deep breath, and placed my palms flat against the rough bark.Instantly, the mark on my arm flared to life bright, blinding silver. It didn’t just glow this time; it poured out of me, flowing from my skin straight into the wood.Love is the key, I thought, even though my heart was breaking. Please, let this be the right thing.The door roared.

All Chapters of Mystic Grove Academy: The Alpha’s Mark: Chapter 11 - Chapter 14

The Voice in the Walls

The Morning After

The Choice

The Door Opens