Red POV

Have you ever felt like your thoughts are a safe haven, shielding you from the harshness of reality? I have. In the quiet of my mind, there are no dangers lurking, no threats to my life.

"Why am I even here?" I whisper to myself, feeling the weight of my situation bearing down on me. "Why can't I just be normal? Why can't I have a typical teenage life, with parties and fun, instead of facing death in this messed-up school?"

Negative thoughts swarm my mind, making it hard to see why I'm here. But then I remember. My parents. I came to this school for them, to uncover its secrets. I need to push past these dark thoughts and face reality, or I'll drown in despair.

"Do you think she'll wake up soon?" I hear Avery's voice, followed by another woman's uncertain tone.

"I'm not sure. Whatever happened must have really shaken her," Ana replies, her voice heavy with guilt.

"It's not your fault, Ana," Avery tries to comfort her. "This wasn't anyone's fault. It just happened."

I know I need to wake up now. Goodbye, peace. Slowly, I open my eyes, wincing at the bright light. I still feel weak, but hunger gnaws at my stomach. Gathering my strength, I open my eyes again, seeing Ana and Avery by my side.

They're both in their school uniforms, but it's clear they haven't been to class. Ana's silently crying, leaning on Avery's shoulder, while Avery comforts her.

"Hey," I croak, my voice barely audible, but I need to connect with them.

They turn to me, surprised. Ana rushes over, hugging me tightly.

"I thought you said no touching," I joke weakly, trying to lighten the mood.

"Fuck that," Ana whispers back, tears still falling. I raise my weak hands to comfort her as best I can.

"It's alright, Ana," I say softly, barely audible. She lets go of the hug and looks at me, her makeup smudged from crying.

"Don't blame yourself, okay?" I reassure her. She nods slowly, but I can tell she's still feeling guilty. Turning to Avery, who's been watching quietly, I wonder if she wants to come closer after seeing Ana's emotions. She hesitates, rooted to her spot.

"So, Blood witches aren't big on hugs, huh?" I joke weakly, trying to lighten the mood.

She nods slowly. "But do you want one?" I ask. She nods again, and I smile faintly.

Avery approaches me slowly and gives me a gentle hug, not as tight as Ana's.

"Just don't wander out in the dark like that again," she whispers, hoping I won't hear, but I do.

"I won't," I promise quietly. She lets go and joins Ana, both watching me.

"How did I get here?" I ask, aware of my own weight and the strain it might have caused them.

"First..." Avery hands me a glass of water, which I gratefully drink. "Thank you," I say, placing the glass down. I try to stand, feeling a bit shaky from my weakened state.

"Are you sure you're okay to stand?" Ana worries. I insist I'm feeling better and just need to stretch.

"To answer your question, Avery cast a spell to bring you here," Ana explains, and Avery nods.

"Oh... thanks," I reply, still processing.

"We also called your guardian. He was here earlier," Ana informs me.

Uncle J.

"Oh... I hope you didn't tell him what happened," I say, fear creeping into my voice.

"Of course we did, Red. That's what guardians are for, and he seemed genuinely worried," Ana says.

"Yeah, it was like you were his long-lost niece about to kick the bucket or something," Avery adds.

Oh, the irony.

"I need to go to his office," I say firmly, my voice a mix of determination and nervousness.

"Are you sure?" Ana asks, concern clear on her face. "You must be hurting."

"You haven't eaten anything yet," Avery adds, her worry matching Ana's.

"And you still need more rest," Ana insists.

"I'm okay, really," I assure them, feeling grateful for their care. They're here for me, just like Aunt May would have been if she were still around. It warms my heart.

"Alright," Avery concedes, rolling her eyes. "But change first." I glance down and realize I'm still in my pajamas.

"No problem, we brought your uniform. Get dressed, and we'll wait outside," Ana says, tossing me my clothes before they leave, giving me a hug on their way out.

.........

Walking through the halls with Ana and Avery, I'm grateful no one else knows what happened to me, except for my guardian, of course.

"Sorry, Red. We would've come with you, but he scares me, and we skipped class," Ana explains, trying to justify their absence.

"Yeah, but tell us what happened," Avery adds, smiling as she grabs Ana's hand, urging her to go to class.

"I see you're awake," a familiar voice interrupts.

Oh no, not him again.

"I heard that," the voice responds, seeming to sense my thoughts.

'Ignore him. Don't let him make you feel weird here,' I tell myself.

"How are you feeling?" the voice asks, trying to start a conversation.

"Look, mister, since you're always ignoring me, you should know I'm fine," I reply shortly, not wanting to talk more. I'm almost at my uncle's door, and I want to focus on what's ahead.

As I near the door, I hear raised voices and swearing from inside. Surprisingly, it's not my uncle—it's someone else, their voice deep and angry, sparking my curiosity.

I strain to hear the conversation, but the words are hard to make out. "You're gonna regret that," the voice suddenly booms, catching me off guard.

"What do y-" I start to say, but the door swings open, and I crash into something solid. I stumble back, holding my head in pain. But something's not right. There's no wall in front of my uncle's door.

I slowly lift my head and freeze. Standing before me is someone... stunningly beautiful.

I try to look away, not wanting to seem weird, but it's hard. We're face to face, just inches apart, and I can't help but be captivated. Is it his soft dark brown hair? Or his perfect face that looks like a masterpiece? His straight nose and strong jawline, with lips that could make anyone swoon.

And his eyes... They're mesmerizing, a deep, enticing blue that I could stare into for hours. I don't mind staring; they remind me of the deep blue sea.

I know he notices me staring, and his face shows annoyance. Then he speaks.

"Move," he orders, and I feel a strange sensation ripple through me as if I'm responding to his voice.

I'm speechless and can't move as he brushes past me with more force than needed. He leaves without another word.

I stay frozen, trying to understand what just happened. Then I hear my uncle's voice, and he rushes over, looking worried.

"Are you okay?" he asks, guiding me away and closing the door.

"Um... I think so," I reply, still processing.

"Who was that?" I ask, surprised at my sudden boldness.

"That's why I wanted to talk to you," my uncle says, sounding suspicious.

"About what?"

I have a sinking feeling about his answer.

"He'll be your new guardian," my uncle reveals.

"My what?!" I blurt out, surprising him. "But why? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, you didn't. It's just..." My uncle pauses, searching for words.

"Seeing you hurt, I made a decision. If someone's after you and they know you're here, you need protection."

"But I'm safe with you," I argue, unsure how to feel.

"I know, but he's one of the best fighters. I trained him myself. He won't hurt you."

It's not fear that bothers me; it's the mix of emotions seeing him again stirred up. And I hope I don't have to face it again anytime soon.

Hope you enjoyed this Chapter ❤️