"The world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters. We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are."
-Sirius Black, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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Maya stared at her reflection in the mirror, her hands bracing the sink. Cold water dripped from her fingers, her breathing uneven. She had left her friends at the dance to calm down, but the unease in her chest hadn't faded. Her mind wouldn't stay still.

"Enjoy it while it lasts, remember I said you'd be alone. After all I warned you about the dance. It'll have been better if you hadn't come"

Her mind spun, replaying the last hour. Someone wanted Ava's crown. That was the big plan? All those cryptic texts leading up to... that? It felt stupid. Ridiculous. Was that just it? Unless it wasn't about the crown at all.

Maybe it was a distraction.

Maybe someone else was meant to go missing tonight.

Kylie? Ava? Layla? Eleanor? Jayda?

Her?

Tessa was missing now. So what was the possibility someone wasn't next?

Maya bit the inside of her cheek, her mind still racing. Someone had been watching her for weeks. This wasn't just some petty sabotage—this was personal. But why? Why her?

The thought sent a shiver through her. She turned on the tap again, letting the cold water run over her wrists, grounding herself. She inhaled deeply. Exhaled. She needed to be calm. She couldn't look afraid. It was a dance. She was here to have fun. Or, at the very least, protect her friends from whoever was trying to ruin this night and make sure they failed.

So she couldn't look scared. She couldn't be scared.

This was supposed to be a dance. A fun night.

She would enjoy it. She should enjoy it.

Maya pulled out a lip gloss from her bag, unscrewing the cap with steady hands. If she looked composed, maybe she'd feel it. She swiped the gloss over her lips, pressing them together-only for it to slip from her grasp.

It hit the tiled floor with a soft clack.

She bent to pick it up, and that's when her phone chimed. Again.

Right. Another text. Were they not tired?

A wave of unease washed over her as she unlocked the screen. A familiar prickle of anxiety crawled up her spine.

"Meet me upstairs at the garden. Now. Fast."

Her blood ran cold. Her fingers hesitated over the screen.

That was a trap. That had to be a trap.

Another text followed immediately.

"P.s: I'm only trying to help."

"Help? Really? What am I, two?" Maya muttered under her breath, shutting her phone. She clenched her jaw. Right. Because that's believable. Her fingers tightened around her phone as another message came through.

"Well, you're smart. Look into the mirror."

A sharp chill settled in her bones.

Instinctively, she lifted her gaze- slowly, almost against her will.

And then she saw it.

A figure.

Behind her, in the reflection, stood a figure clad in a black bodysuit.

Watching.

She nearly screamed.

No skin. No features. No sound.

Just an unmoving, faceless presence.

The figure stood unnervingly still, their body language unreadable, like a statue carved from shadow. The black bodysuit clung to them, featureless and smooth, making it impossible to tell their shape or even their breathing. No eye holes, no skin visible-just a blank, seamless surface that made them seem more of a thing than person. Yet, the way they tilted their head-just slightly, almost curiously-sent a chill down Maya's spine. It wasn't just the silence that was unsettling. It was the deliberate way they moved, slow and measured, like they were studying her reaction. Like they already knew what she was going to do before she did it.

The figure didn’t just stand still—they loomed. The dim bathroom light didn't reflect off them, as if the black bodysuit swallowed it whole. When they tilted their head, it was slow, deliberate, almost like they were savoring her fear. And though they hadn't taken a single step yet, Maya swore she felt the air shift, as if something unseen had crept closer.

Her throat clenched, a cold weight pressing against her ribs like a vice. The edges of her vision blurred, her breath stuttering as if the air had thickened into something she couldn’t swallow. Her knees locked, but her fingers twitched.

Maya spun around, stumbling backward until her back hit the sink. She needed something solid, something real to hold onto.

Her heart slammed against her ribs, her pulse roaring in her ears. Her eyes darted around, searching for anything-anything she could use as a weapon.

Her heels.

Right. Her heels.

If she had to, she would stab them with a stiletto.

She reached down, fumbling to yank off her heel. A weapon. Anything.

Oh god, oh god, was she about to die in a school bathroom? Was this another scream movie?

The person didn't move.

"Who are you?" she forced out, her voice steadier than she felt. "If you're going to kill me, just do it already and stop staring."

The figure still didn't move.

Maya gritted her teeth. "Who are you?" she demanded. "If you're going to kill me, just do it already and stop staring." She repeated.

The silence stretched. Then the figure tilted their head slightly. And then—

Laughter.

Low. Amused.

They were laughing?

Maya's breath hitched as she blinked.

Seriously? Was this funny to them?

"What the actual fuck?" she whispered, her nails digging into her palm.

She blinked again, and the figure took a step forward.

"You're funny, Rossi-Smith," they murmured. The voice was disguised, distorted-neither male nor female, just... eerie.

Maya tightened her grip on her shoe. "Don't. Move."

"I said don't fucking move," Maya hissed, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "Who the fuck are you?"

But they did. Another step.

"I don't have time for introductions," they continued, their voice low but urgent. "You don't either. You're in danger, Maya. Nothing I do will stop it. It's inevitable."

Inevitable.

The word sat heavy in her chest.

The figure moved closer.

Inevitable.

"Stop moving," she snapped, her hand tightening around her purse strap. "Explain why you keep texting me. Why were you at my window? Tapping? Showing up at the mall? Stalking me? And what the hell was that with Ava? Was that you? Was that your people?"

"Maya, you need to-"

"How do you know my name?" she cut in. "Of course you do. You've been watching me. I hate you. If you touch me, I swear-"

"Maya."

Her name came softer this time. Almost... gentle.

"Just listen."

Maya swallowed, forcing herself to stand straighter. "Explain."

The masked figure shook their head.

"You wouldn't believe me."

Maya's fingers twitched. "Try me."

The figure exhaled, almost like they were debating what to say next.

The figure exhaled again, as if exasperated. "They're coming for you," they said simply.

Her stomach dropped.

"Who's they?"

"They are. They just are."

"They never stop. They're always watching." The figure continued.

Her heart pounded. "You're not making sense. Who the hell is 'they'?"

"They're just they."

They?" Maya’s voice cracked. "You keep saying ‘they’ like I should already know. Who are they? Why me?"

The figure didn't answer immediately. Instead, they let the silence stretch, as if weighing the cost of the truth. When they finally spoke, it was quiet. Measured.

"You're the last piece of the puzzle, Maya."

Maya’s stomach twisted. "What puzzle? I don’t—" She cut herself off. The words felt too big, too dangerous. But the figure only nodded, as if she'd already answered her own question.

"Who's they? Answer me!"

The figure took a step back, their presence suddenly feeling farther away.

"You're their final piece"

Final piece?

"You are the final piece. Rather, the main piece. It finally makes sense to them."

"Them?" She was confused. She went pale.

"Just know this, you're stronger than you think. You are."

A sick feeling settled in Maya's stomach. "Who?"

"Who's coming after me? Why do you keep talking cryptic?"

No response.

"Why are you warning me?"

A hesitation.

You're their final piece."

"Final piece?" Maya whispered.

"Their main piece, Maya."

A cold rush of fear prickled down her spine. What was with the repitition?

"Why are you telling me this?" she demanded. "Why warn me at all?"

The figure hesitated again.

"Because..." the voice wavered. "Because I have to."

Maya's heart pounded.

"Because... because-"

"Because what?"

"I just have to, Maya." Their voice was almost... sad.

The air around them felt heavier.

"I'll see you soon."

That was not an answer.

Her stomach flipped. "What do you mean? What do you-"

She took a step forward, gripping the heel tighter. "Why did you send me those texts? Why were you watching my window? Why did you tap on my wall? Why were you at the mall? Why-"

"I have to go."

They didn't want to answer her, so why should she trust them?

The figure turned toward the window.

Maya's breath hitched. "Wait-"

Too late.

In one swift movement, they climbed onto the ledge and disappeared.

Maya rushed forward, gripping the windowsill-but when she looked down, there was nothing. No sign of them.

How-

How was that even possible?

She moved back and stood frozen, watching as the curtains swayed gently in their absence.

Her phone vibrated in her palm.

"Trouble in paradise?"

She tightened her grip on her phone and it chimed again.

"Hiding in the bathroom till now? Coward much?

Maya's stomach dropped. Her breath caught.

Not the same number. It was never the same number.

A new sender.

Or just another one.

A trap? Or mind game?

Not just one person.

There were more. More.

Afterall the person that just left said someone was after her. 'They were after her'

Why?

Maya barely had time to process the warning before-

The bathroom door swung open, and a group of girls entered, their laughter shattering the silence.

Maya shoved her phone into her purse, forcing her feet to move. She needed to get back to the dance. Act normal.

She needed to get back to the party.

She needed to find Ava.

She pushed past the girls, barely noticing as she bumped into someone.

She looked up.

Piercing blue eyes met hers.

Kevin.

Right. Ava had told her to ask him to the dance. That had completely slipped her mind.

Or maybe...not.

"You okay..you look like you've just seen a ghost." He said looking to the side.

"I'm so sorry," she said quickly. "I wasn't looking at where I was-"

"Hey, it's okay," Kevin smiled. "You look gorgeous, by the way."

He had a nice smile. Warm. Genuine.

Maya forced a small smile in return. "Thank you."

There was a slight pause before he scratched the back of his neck, looking almost... nervous.

"Um, if you don't mind," he started, "would you like to dance with me?" He stretched out his hand.

Maya hesitated.

For a split second, she thought about the figure in the mirror. The texts. The warnings.

But Kevin wasn't them.

This was normal.

This was real.

Everything in her screamed no, that she should leave, run, disappear-but Kevin wasn't the problem.

She bit her lip before placing her hand in his.

"I-um. It would be a pleasure."

She needed to breathe.

He grinned, as he led her to the dance floor.

The lights dimmed, casting golden hues over the crowd. The music slow and intoxicating. Around them, couples swayed, lost in their own worlds.

Her friends were dancing too-Layla with someone she barely recognized, twirling under the chandelier's glow, Eleanor laughing at something Jayda had said. And Ava-

Ava was talking to Devon, their smiles easy, their conversation light. He won king.

For a moment, everything looked normal.

Except it wasn't.

Maya's stomach twisted again.

She couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming.

Something big.

"Earth to Maya," Kevin's voice pulled her back.

She blinked up at him.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she exhaled. "Yeah, I am."

Kevin placed a hand on her waist, leading her in slow circles. "You sure you're okay?"

Maya forced herself to nod. "Yeah."

But even as she said it, the feeling remained.

Something was about to happen.

His brows furrowed. "I, um, wanted to ask you to the dance," he admitted. "But... you always vanished after school. And I don't know, it never felt like the right time."

Maya tilted her head. "You noticed?"

He let out a soft laugh. "Of course I did."

For the first time that night, Maya smiled.

But it faded as a new sound reached her ears.

Distant at first. Then louder.

Yelling.

From outside.

The music stopped.

People turned, murmuring.

Maya's stomach twisted.

Something was happening.

Again.

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Omg we have chapter 13?! Well I'm so sorry for not updating religiously. I really apologize.

I don't even know how to explain it but I'm back now.

Anyways what do you think of this chapter? Thoughts?

And omg the new cover is literally so beautiful! It's by meha-k! She's so badass, you should check her out!

Don't forget to vote and share!