Darkness swallowed the world around her.
Her breath came in ragged bursts, each step pounding against the cold, wet ground. The air reeked of iron and smoke. Blood trickled down her forehead, blurring her vision as she stumbled through the ruins.
Don't look back.
Behind her, the sounds grew louder—twisted cries that scraped against her soul. They were calling to her.
"A....lex… he..lp us…"
The voices were broken, distorted—familiar tones warped into monstrous echoes. She froze for a heartbeat, the names of her friends trembling on her lips. But the figures that emerged from the shadows were no longer them. Their eyes glowed with a feverish light, bodies bent and twisted by corruption.
Her stomach turned. She couldn't raise her blade against them. Not them.
"Ple.. ase…" one of them rasped, the voice almost human.
Tears burned her eyes. She turned away, forcing her legs to move even as her heart shattered with every step. The chorus of pleading voices followed her into the dark, begging, screaming, clawing at the last fragments of who they once were.
And she ran— Not out of fear for her life, but because she couldn't bear to destroy what was left of theirs.
Her legs burned, but she didn't stop. Not until—a giant wall, cracked and damp, blocked her escape.
Her trembling hand reached out to touch it, the chill seeping into her bones. Slowly, she turned around.
And then—
---
Alexandra splashed water onto her face and stood in front of the mirror. For a long moment, she simply breathed, trying to steady her heartbeat.
Her skin was damp with sweat, hair clinging to her temples. The mirror showed what she tried not to remember—her body, slender but strong, marred with old scars.
And just above her collarbone, a faint brand marked her skin: 000.
Her gaze lingered on it. Then, with a flick of her fingers, a faint shimmer rippled across her body. The scars and brand vanished, hidden beneath a camouflage spell.
She exhaled softly and gave herself a light slap on both cheeks.
"Smile, Alex," she murmured to her reflection. "It's your birthday, remember?"
A faint grin curved her lips—forced, but it was enough.
---
Downstairs, the aroma of toasted bread and coffee filled the kitchen.
"Happy birthday, my dear child!" Laura beamed, wiping her hands on her apron before planting a kiss on Alex's forehead.
Alex chuckled, taking a seat at the table. "You already wished me, Laura."
"I know," Laura replied with a proud grin. "But you're eighteen now! I can't believe how fast you've grown."
"Really? I'm glad to know that." Alex smiled, then hesitated. "Um… did father call you?"
Laura's expression faltered. "No, he didn't. But you know how busy he is."
"It's fine." Alex shrugged, forcing another small smile. "Honestly, it's better this way."
Laura sighed but said nothing more.
---
After breakfast, Alex packed her bag and got ready for school. Laura dropped her off near the gate, where her friends were waiting.
"Morning, everyone!" Alex greeted, waving.
"Morning, birthday girl!" Daniel teased, reaching to ruffle her hair.
"Hey—hands off the hair!" she laughed, stepping back.
"Leave her be, Dan," Daman's calm voice cut in. The tall boy smirked as he joined them. "It's done nicely. I bet it took her ages to tie it. Remember when she tried to braid mine? I looked like I'd been electrocuted."
"Ah, my 'devilishly handsome' boyfriend, mocking me first thing in the morning. " Alex retorted with a playful glare.
"Still calling me that, huh? " he chuckled, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "Happy birthday."
The teasing melted into quiet warmth. "Thanks," she murmured, cheeks faintly pink.
Nearby, Rosalind sighed dramatically. "Tsk tsk. Young love."
"Let them be," Natalie chuckled, tugging her away. "It's her day, after all."
---
As they entered the school grounds, greetings followed her from every direction.
"Happy birthday, Alex!"
"Hope you have a great day!"
She smiled politely, offering brief thanks. Some students handed her small gifts or notes, which she accepted with practiced grace.
She wasn't popular just for her looks—though she had a natural poise that drew attention. What made her stand out was her confidence, the quiet strength she carried. People admired her not for perfection, but for presence.
"Looks like someone's still the school's favorite." Rosalind teased, looping an arm around her shoulders.
"Well," Alex smirked, "it is my birthday."
Just then, a tall girl with dramatic flair pushed through the crowd like she was making her grand entrance on stage.
It was Elena, head of the drama club—bold, expressive, and someone who considered herself as a true admirer of Alex.
"Alexaaaandraaa~! Happy Birthday, my radiant muse!" Elena sang, drawing gasps and laughter from nearby students. She held out a bouquet of white lilies like a sacred offering and clasped both of Alex's hands. "May your brilliance continue to blind us mere humans—especially me!"
Before Alex could even react, a shadow loomed between them.
Daman.
He gently pried Elena's hands off Alex without saying a word, expression calm but firm—the kind of calm that made people step back.
Elena blinked, then scowled. "Oh, for heaven's sake! You again? Can't you let me have one moment with her?"
"That's my girlfriend you're trying to serenade, Elena. " Daman replied flatly.
Elena put a hand on her hip, glaring. "Jealous much?"
"Possessive." he corrected, dead serious.
"Damn you, thief!" she huffed, tossing her hair and stomping off in theatrical defeat.
"One day, Alex, you'll see my devotion was the purest of all!"
Alex tried, and failed, not to laugh. "Thanks for the wishes, Elena."
"Hmph!" Elena flounced away, still muttering about "heartless men and stolen treasure."
Rosalind snorted. "Honestly, I'm shocked she didn't break into a musical number."
Alex sighed. "Don't give her ideas."
"Alright, show's over," Natalie said dryly, already walking ahead. "Let's get to class before she comes back for an encore."
---
In class, things were calm—for about five minutes.
"Hey, Alexandra."
The voice was laced with fake sweetness.
Alex then saw Catherine, one of her classmates, perching herself right on Alex's desk like she owned it.
"Oh, this'll be good…" Rosalind whispered to Natalie, who rolled her eyes.
Catherine crossed her arms. "I saw you with Daman earlier. Didn't I warn you to stay away from him?"
Alex exhaled through her nose, unamused. "I don't recall agreeing to follow your warnings."
Catherine clicked her tongue. "You…! Daman is the most popular boy and I'm the most popular girl in school! Everyone knows I'm the best match for him. But no—you just had to swoop in and steal him!"
Alex blinked, genuinely baffled. "Wow. That's a whole new level of delusion."
A few students nearby stifled laughs. Catherine's eyes widened in offense.
"I didn't steal anyone, Catherine." Alex continued, tone firm but calm. "If Daman's not interested in you, that's not my fault. Maybe try aiming for someone who's at least mildly reciprocating?"
A murmur rippled through the classroom—some amused, some sympathetic.
"Oh, playing innocent now, huh?" Catherine shot back. "Pretending to be the good girl while stealing everyone's attention. You're despicable!"
Alex stood slowly, her chair scraping against the floor. The sound silenced the whispers instantly.
At 5'11", Alex towered over Catherine, who barely reached 5'2". The height difference made Catherine look like a child picking a fight with her babysitter.
Alex tilted her head, voice dripping with sarcasm. "You know, Catherine, if you had dated Daman, people might've mistaken you for his kid. I'm serious—he's taller than me."
Laughter erupted around them. Catherine's face turned scarlet.
"H-how dare you—!"
"Relax, Catty." Alex said, unfazed. "If you're that into him, just confess already. I'll even play cupid for you."
That was the final straw. Catherine sputtered, at a complete loss for words, while whispers broke out again:
"She's always like this with Alex."
"Maybe she just wants Alex's attention more than Daman's…"
Catherine caught snippets of the whispers and fumed harder.
"Ugh! You're impossible!" she snapped, storming off before Alex could say another word.
Rosalind slid over the moment Catherine left, grinning from ear to ear. "That. Was. Beautiful."
Natalie shook her head but couldn't hide her smirk. "You do have a way of settling things without throwing punches now."
Alex chuckled softly. "It's my birthday. I'm trying to be civilized."
---
Later that morning, during the break, Daniel dropped by from Daman's class with his usual grin. "So, word on the street is, Alex almost caused a duel of love in Class A?"
Alex sighed. "If by duel you mean a one-sided monologue from Catherine, then yes."
Daman, standing beside him, quirked a brow. "She still at it?"
"Still?" Alex snorted. "You make it sound like it ever stopped."
"Let me guess," Daman said dryly, "You called her short again."
"Nooo." Alex said innocently, eyes glinting. "I just pointed out that she'd look like your kid if you ever walked together."
Daniel burst out laughing. Daman pinched the bridge of his nose but couldn't hide the amused smirk tugging at his lips.
"Sometimes," he muttered, "I forget you're the insane one between us."
"Who said I wasn't?" Alex replied, flashing him a grin.
---
Later that day, Daniel and Daman were nowhere to be found.
Alex had a hunch about what they were up to but didn't say a word. They weren't exactly subtle — and neither were her other two friends.
Rosalind and Natalie were whispering more than usual, throwing each other panicked glances every time Alex looked their way.
"I feel like reading." Alex said casually, closing her locker. "You guys coming to the library?"
"Uh—uhm—" Rosalind started, fumbling with her bag. "I have swimming practice, Alex."
"Me too!" Natalie blurted out a little too fast.
Alex turned toward her with an amused look. "You started swimming too, Nat? Since when?"
"Well… last week...?" Natalie replied, her voice shrinking.
"Hm. Interesting." Alex gave her a long, suspicious glance, then smiled. "Alright then. You two go swim your hearts out. I'll be in the library."
They practically fled down the hallway, laughing awkwardly as they went.
Alex shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "They're terrible at lying."
---
The library was quiet — the kind of silence she craved. Golden sunlight filtered through the high windows, catching the dust in soft, drifting motes.
Alex found her usual spot near the back corner, where the afternoon light always pooled across the desk. She set down her bag, took out a random book, and opened it, pretending to read.
But her gaze didn't stay on the page. It drifted toward the window, where voices and laughter echoed faintly from the courtyard outside.
A gentle smile ghosted her lips. They're probably running around trying to pull something together. A cake, maybe. Balloons, if Dan's involved.
Her reflection flickered faintly on the windowpane — calm eyes, steady expression, no trace of fatigue or sorrow. She'd learned to maintain that smile, even when she didn't feel it.
Still, there was warmth in her chest, a quiet comfort in the thought of her friends — their clumsy attempts at secrecy, their shared laughter, their simple normalcy.
It was enough.
Even if they forget the gifts… even if the day passes quietly, that's fine. They're here. That's what matters. That's what she thought.
Her fingers idly traced the spine of the book. The pages were blurred — she wasn't reading, just lost in the quiet rhythm of her thoughts.
'I am keeping my promise.' she thought.
'I'll do my best... To smile.'