Silas stood in the dark chamber, focusing his energy on the amulet’s connection to Alex. His eyes gleamed as he began weaving illusions through the bond. "It’s time to see just how far your emotions will take you, Alex Chen," he whispered.Through the shadows, he projected the vision: Astra lying on the ground, bloodied and broken. Her chest barely rising as she struggled to breathe. The scene shifted, showing Astra standing over Grandma Chen’s lifeless body, holding the blade that had ended her life.---Alex gasped, jolting upright in bed. His heart pounded, eyes wide as the horrific image burned into his mind.*No... she was part of it?*Without a second thought, Alex grabbed the amulet and stormed out of the room. He didn’t wake Lila or Samira, not even considering it. This was personal now. He had to face Astra—alone.---In the dim, cold cavern that served as Silas's lair, Alex arrived, fists clenched tight. His breath was ragged, his mind clouded with anger and betrayal."You,"
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
Lila paced back and forth, her fists clenched tightly as her mind raced. The normally composed martial artist was clearly shaken. Samira sat on the edge of the couch, her knee bouncing anxiously as she glanced at the door for the hundredth time that evening. Naomi leaned against the wall, arms folded, her eyes narrowing in deep thought, while Ryan hovered by the window, glancing outside as if expecting Alex to suddenly appear.Samira finally broke the tense silence, her voice trembling. "He’s never been gone this long without telling us. Something’s wrong."Lila stopped pacing, turning to face Samira. "I know. I’ve felt it too. But wherever he is, he’s not going to just disappear without reason."Ryan frowned, still staring out the window. "Maybe he just needed some time alone? You know Alex, always taking things on his own shoulders."Naomi shook her head. "No, not this time. He would’ve said something. This is different.Ryan turned, his brows furrowed. "So, what are we saying here?
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
Victor leaned casually against a locker, his arms crossed, a smug smirk on his face as a small group of students gathered around him. The chatter in the hallway quieted as Victor raised his voice just enough to be heard."Yeah, Alex ran off. Guess he finally realized he couldn't handle the heat. Not everyone can," Victor said with a confident grin, tossing a glance at a few onlookers. "I mean, it was only a matter of time. He’s been trying to play tough, but we all know who really runs things around here."One of his friends, a lanky kid with an eager-to-please attitude, nodded vigorously. "Yeah, man. You showed him. Probably couldn’t deal with you anymore."Victor shrugged, his smirk widening. "It’s not like I tried that hard. He just couldn’t keep up."A few of the students murmured in agreement, nodding along. Ryan, who had been standing nearby with Naomi, overheard the conversation and clenched his fists. His face twisted with anger as he stormed over to Victor. "You’re really f
The bell for lunch echoes through the crowded hallways of East Ridge High School. Students stream out of classrooms, filling the corridors with a cacophony of laughter, chatter, and the occasional shout. Among the sea of faces, one stands out: Alex Chen, a 17-year-old with a slight build, dark eyes, and an air of quiet caution. Alex clutches a stack of textbooks to his chest, his head down, eyes scanning the floor as he navigate the bustling crowd. Alex has learned to move through the hallways like a ghost, slipping between groups, always trying to avoid drawing attention. Despite his best efforts, the attention he desperately wish to evade always finds him. Today is no different. As Alex approaches his locker, his heart begins to race. The knot in his stomach tightens with each step. He knows what’s coming, but he cling to the faint hope that today might be different—that maybe, just maybe, he will be left alone. But as he near the row of lockers, that hope is crushed. Victor Vex,
After the long day at school, the walk home feels endless to Alex. Each step seems to drag on as he replay the events of the day in his mind, the humiliation and fear gnawing at his insides. The sky is overcast, the gray clouds hanging low, as if reflecting the heaviness in Alex’s heart. By the time he reach the familiar, modest two-story house, he is emotionally drained, barely holding himself together.Alex’s home is one of the few places where he feel safe. The worn wooden steps leading to the front door creak under his weight as he climb them, his fingers brushing against the peeling paint on the banister. Taking a deep breath, he push open the door and step inside, the warm, familiar scent of his grandmother’s cooking wrapping around him like a comforting blanket.Inside, the house is quiet, save for the soft hum of the old refrigerator and the distant ticking of the clock on the wall. Alex drops their bag by the door, his shoulders slumping as he feel the weight of the day full
The warmth of the congee and the comfort of Grandma Chen’s words had soothed Alex, allowing them to momentarily forget the day’s horrors. As they prepared for bed, Alex felt a small sense of calm wash over him, a fleeting hope that sleep might offer a brief escape from the relentless bullying that had haunted his waking hours.The bedroom was a sanctuary, small but cozy, with posters of favorite bands and bookshelves filled with well-worn novels lining the walls. The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast a warm light across the room as Alex changed into pajamas, his movements slow and deliberate. The events of the day still weighed heavily on his mind, but the comforting routine of getting ready for bed helped to ease some of the lingering tension.As he slid under the covers, Alex’s thoughts drifted to his friend, Samira—a fiery, fiercely loyal girl who had stood by Alex’s side through thick and thin. Samira had been suspended from school for two weeks after standing up to Victor in a w