Victor's jealousy had always been something he could control, a quiet simmer beneath his otherwise dominant persona. He had a way of keeping everything in check, maintaining his reputation as the untouchable guy at school, the one nobody dared challenge. But ever since Alex came back, and especially after seeing him with Naomi, Victor's composure was slipping, unraveling in ways that shocked even him.At lunch, Victor sat at his usual spot, surrounded by his loyal followers, Jake and Emily. His eyes, however, were glued to the far end of the room where Alex and Naomi sat, laughing together. The sight of them made his blood boil, the tight grip on his fork threatening to bend the metal."Look at them," he muttered through clenched teeth, his voice dripping with disdain. "It’s disgusting."Emily, ever the observant one, raised an eyebrow. "You’re really letting this get to you, huh? I thought you didn’t care about that whole Alex thing."Victor’s eyes darkened as he watched Naomi lean i

The Shadow Circle's chamber was filled with an unsettling quiet. Silas paced at the head of the room, his patience thinning.Raven glanced at Malachai, uneasy. “Silas, we’ve been watching them for a while now. They’re moving carefully. Alex has Lila, and she’s been covering their tracks.”“That’s the problem,” Silas snapped. “You’re watching. We’re sitting back while the boy grows stronger. And Lila? She’s making him dangerous.”Malachai shifted, his deep voice calm but calculated. “We underestimated her. She’s using skills we didn’t account for.Silas stopped pacing, his eyes cold as they met Malachai’s. “Underestimated? That’s what you tell me now? What you call underestimating, I call incompetence. Alex and Lila should’ve been in my grasp long ago.”Raven stiffened, but didn’t speak. Silas’s temper was notorious, and she wasn’t about to provoke him further.“Alex’s power,” Silas continued, ignoring their silence, “it’s growing. The amulet responds to his emotions—rage, fear, all of

As Alex’s world faded into black, the sound of Silas’s mocking laughter lingered in his ears, a cruel reminder of his failure. When his eyes fluttered open, everything was cold. His body ached, his wrists bound tightly in chains. The faint flicker of dim torchlight cast eerie shadows on the stone walls around him. He was in a cell, deep within Silas’s lair.Groaning, Alex tried to move, but the chains rattled with his effort, reminding him of his helplessness. His mind raced, replaying the events in his head. Silas was right there, taunting him, breaking him down bit by bit. And worse, Astra—someone he thought he could destroy—was somehow tied to the death of Grandma Chen. He hung his head low, feeling the weight of his own decisions. *I should’ve told Lila. I should’ve told Samira. What was I thinking, coming here alone?* His fists clenched as guilt gnawed at him. Suddenly, a voice broke through the silence, low and cold.“You’re awake.”Alex’s head shot up, eyes narrowing as Silas

The hallways buzzed with energy, students huddled in groups, whispers spreading like wildfire. As Samira and Ryan walked through the halls, they could hear snippets of conversation trailing behind them."Did you hear? Alex Chen’s gone missing.""No way. Seriously?""Yeah, no one’s seen him for days. He’s probably in some serious trouble."Ryan shot Samira a worried glance. "It’s everywhere already," he muttered.Samira clenched her fists, keeping her head down. "I figured it would spread fast, but this is ridiculous."A group of girls passed by, whispering louder than they realized. "Do you think he got into a fight with Victor again? Maybe he’s hiding."One of the girls scoffed. "Hiding? From Victor? Alex would never. He probably just ran off because he couldn’t handle the pressure."Ryan narrowed his eyes, his voice low. "I should say something. Set them straight.""Don’t," Samira warned, pulling him back. "Let them talk. We don’t need to give them more reason to gossip."Ahead of t

The hallways of East Ridge High were alive with chatter and excitement. It was extra-curricular week, and the energy was contagious. Posters for various activities were plastered on every wall, students rushed between rooms for sign-ups, and laughter echoed off the lockers. It was as if the disappearance of Alex had faded into the background. "Can you believe it? Dodgeball tournament starts tomorrow!" one student said, grinning at his friend as they passed by Ryan, Samira Naomi.Naomi glanced at Ryan, her brow furrowing. "It's like everyone’s forgotten... about Alex."Ryan grunted in response, his jaw tight. “Yeah, it’s like he never existed. Just gone. Poof. And everyone’s excited about dodgeball.”Samira sighed, running a hand through her hair. "We should’ve heard something by now, right? I mean, he wouldn’t just vanish without a word. Not to us."Ryan stopped in his tracks, his fists clenching. “It’s like no one cares! How can they just move on like this? It’s been weeks, Naomi!”