Her breath came in ragged gasps as she stared at the mirror, unable to calm herself. Fury surged through her veins, burning hotter with every second, until she thought she might rip the entire room apart. Her hands shook, her body trembled, and the anger coiled inside her like a storm about to break.
She squeezed her eyes shut and clawed at the bedsheets, fists tightening in the fabric as she fought to steady her breathing. It didn't help. Nothing helped. With a sudden scream of frustration, she snatched the nearest picture frame and hurled it against the wall. The glass exploded into a thousand glittering shards, but she didn't care. The need to destroy, to smash everything around her, was overwhelming.
"It's your fault," she hissed at her reflection, teeth clenched. "This is all happening because of you!" The words tore from her throat as a scream, her voice cracking as tears welled in her eyes. "If you hadn't died… if you hadn't left me, everything would have been easier. You ruined me!"
Her face crumpled, and she collapsed onto the bed, hiding behind her hands as sobs ripped through her chest. She cried until her body shook violently, hysterical and raw. She had hoped the long month of vacation would help her heal, would let her forget. She had prayed for strength before returning to the boarding school. Instead, the pain had returned with double the force.
Now she felt worse than ever.
Joseph's words gnawed at her like poison. He had mocked the only heirloom she had from her mother, the one thing she cherished most. He had done it deliberately, and she had seen the cruel spark in his eyes — the twisted satisfaction he took in her pain. Why? Why had he turned on her again when, before the break, they had finally begun to understand each other?
"You won't humiliate me," she whispered hoarsely, punching the mattress with both fists. "I won't let you take pleasure in my suffering."
She lay back, spreading her arms across the bed, her eyes wide and unblinking as she stared at the ceiling. Slowly, a smile curled across her lips. It began as soft, almost innocent, but within moments it warped into a manic grin. A laugh bubbled up, sharp and jagged, growing louder and more frantic until it filled the room.
"You won't gloat over me forever," she said to the empty air, her voice trembling with a strange determination. "I'll drag you down to the very bottom. No one will humiliate me in front of everyone again. Enough." Her eyes narrowed, hardening like steel. "I'll become exactly like my sister. I'll follow her example. And then you'll learn how it feels, Dark Prince."
She rolled onto her side, propping herself on her elbow. Her gaze landed on Jin's butterfly pendant resting nearby. The fury in her chest softened as her eyes lingered on it.
"It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice tender for the first time that night.
*
She slammed the tray of food down on the table so abruptly that Tom flinched. His spoon rattled against the edge of his bowl as he lifted his gaze to her, concern clouding his eyes. One look at her face was enough. She was furious. It was the kind of fury that meant she had woken up already in a foul mood.
"Hi, wife. Is something wrong?" he asked cautiously, studying her movements as she tore open the carton of strawberry milk with almost brutal force. "Still so angry? I haven't seen you like this since the beginning of the year."
"That's what you'll see every day now," she replied coldly, scanning the cafeteria. Across the room Jimmy was seated with Mariah, while the other two were nowhere in sight. "Jin isn't eating breakfast?"
"He argued with Joseph again," Tom admitted, stirring his food without appetite. His spoon clinked against the bowl as he spoke. "He probably doesn't feel like coming. Joseph picked a fight last night because Jin didn't like that your birthday got ruined. Honestly… I think they've been fighting more and more lately. It wasn't like that before."
"Do you think it's because of me?" Hannah asked bluntly, her eyes locking on him. She didn't need his answer; his guilty hesitation already gave it away.
"You made it clear to me," she muttered.
Tom frowned, his concern deepening. "Are you okay? You're acting strange… like you're not yourself."
"And why should I be myself?" she snapped, slamming her cutlery onto the table. "Should I stay docile, like a lamb, and let everyone keep trampling on me?"
Several heads turned. Curious eyes flicked toward them, hungry for drama.
"I don't know what's gotten into you," Tom said bitterly, disappointment cutting through his voice. "First Joseph, and now you. It's impossible to talk to either of you." He shoved back his chair and left the cafeteria without another word.
Hannah felt the weight of the stares around her, the way whispers spread like fire whenever she drew attention. They always thrived on what didn't concern them, always ready to gawk when the school's so-called star stumbled. She gritted her teeth and focused on her meal, refusing to give them more satisfaction.
But then he appeared. He slid casually into the seat beside her, his very presence prickling her nerves. His mocking smile made her blood boil.
"I thought you hated me again," she muttered, glaring at him. "Shouldn't you sit at another table?"
"This is my seat," Joseph said flatly, not even glancing at her. "If you're going to mouth off, at least make sense. If you don't like it, move."
Her anger flared.
"I won't listen to you. You may have a hook on me, but you're the type who'd reveal my secret even if I obeyed you, aren't you?"
He rested his chin in his hand, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Here's the thing. You never know when I'll decide to completely destroy your school life."
Her chest tightened. "Why are you doing this again? I thought we started getting along. I thought you were on my side."
"When did I say that?" He leaned back in his chair with careless ease, his tone sharp with cruelty. "Because we talked? You actually believed I'd forgive you? That our deal was over? No. I told you I'd make your second semester hell, and I intend to keep my word. You should've done better on the exam."
Hannah stared at him, bewildered. She wished she could crack open his mind, see what twisted logic made him this way.
"Then why did you stand up for me? Why did you do it when you came back to school? I don't understand."
"Because I'm the only one who deserves to enjoy your suffering," he said softly, his eyes narrowing. "It's mine to cause. Do you know why? Because I have a reason."
Her heart lurched. "What reason? I've done nothing to you. We didn't even see each other all holiday."
His smile turned sour, venom dripping from it.
"Because of you, someone died." His voice cracked like a whip. He jabbed a finger at her, his face darkening, his words sharp as knives. "Because of you. You should never have been born. Not you. Not your sister. Take her example—and disappear."
The words pierced her like daggers. Her breath caught, her chest ached, as if his hatred had struck straight into her heart. He rose from the table with cold finality, shoving his chair back, and walked away without another glance.
Hannah remained frozen in her seat, the echoes of his cruelty burning in her ears, leaving her alone with thoughts she wished she could silence.
*
Hannah measured with her eyes the woman who stood before them, smiling warmly. The director had brought her to their floor, introducing her as the new caregiver. She was beautiful—striking, even—and, more importantly, her expression radiated friendliness. Yet Hannah's thoughts darkened almost immediately. Appearances could deceive. Their previous supervisor had also seemed kind, only to reveal a nature far more cunning than anyone had expected.
The newcomer's short brown hair was tucked neatly behind her ears, each one adorned with delicate earrings. Her large, round eyes gave her an open look, and her oval face framed a beauty that seemed flawless. It was easy to imagine that no man could resist her.
"Do you have any idea who she is?" Hannah whispered, noticing the spark of recognition—and the smile—on her older friend's face.
"She attended this school in the past," Mariah explained, her voice tinged with excitement. "She was a legend here, incredibly popular among the students. Every boy wanted her. But you know what the best part is?" Her eyes widened with glee, as though she could hardly contain the secret. "She's Halsey's older sister. You know who I mean—Joseph's ex-girlfriend."
Hannah blinked in surprise.
Mariah seemed to know the woman well. When the new caregiver glanced in their direction, she raised her hand and subtly crossed her fingers, as if greeting an old friend with a private gesture.
"Were you close with Halsey?" Hannah asked cautiously.
"We were good friends," Mariah replied, her smile never fading. The arrival of the new supervisor had clearly lifted her spirits. "Maybe not inseparable, but we talked about everything."
Hannah considered this in silence."Let's say I understand."
"It's wonderful that she decided to take this opportunity and return here as a supervisor," Mariah continued, her voice brimming with optimism. "The director remembered her well, and I think that helped her outshine the other candidates. Ashley is the kind of person who gets things done. You'll see how great she is."
Hannah puffed out her lips in mild skepticism, then nodded."Since you praise her so much, she must indeed be great."
As the girls began dispersing to their rooms, the young woman stepped forward and embraced Mariah in greeting.
"You've grown into such a beautiful woman," Ashley said warmly. "Two years apart, and I can hardly believe the change. I'm astonished."
"I could say the same about you," Mariah replied with a bright smile. "You've given us quite the surprise. Just tell me—was there a particular reason you decided to work here?"
"There was." Ashley's voice softened, and Hannah watched her closely, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Despite what happened to my sister, I have only good memories of this place. I missed it."
"And Halsey? How is she?" Mariah asked. Hannah felt like an intruder in the conversation, yet leaving without a word would have been rude. She waited, silent and still.
"She's doing well," Ashley answered. "She only recently revealed the truth to us. We know now that it was the previous caregiver who drove her away. It was because of Joseph, wasn't it? Halsey told me that woman was jealous of him."
Mariah nodded grimly."And what about that devil himself?"
"After your sister left, he became unbearable. Impossible to be around. I think her leaving scarred him more than he cared to admit."
Ashley bit her lip and nodded faintly."I'll have to greet him. I've missed that rascal."
Only then did her eyes drift toward Hannah, who had been standing silently at Mariah's side."You must feel uncomfortable listening to us gossip like this. Forgive me. I'll leave you now—it's time I attended to my duties. I do hope we'll remain on good terms."
With a final warm smile, she walked away.
"If Halsey is anything like her, I'm not surprised Joseph lost his head over her," Hannah murmured.
Mariah's eyes gleamed with conviction."We couldn't be more fortunate. Ashley will be the best caregiver this school has ever had."
*
In the evening, Hannah decided to buy herself a drink from the vending machine, so she made her way toward the cafeteria. On the way, she passed groups of students who were already returning to their rooms, their chatter fading as they disappeared behind closing doors. Soon the corridor emptied, the echo of her own footsteps filling the silence. She did not mind. Fear no longer clung to her as it once had.
During her first semester, she had lived in constant dread—haunted by the malice of the envious guardian and, worse, the mysterious entity that had begun appearing in her room. Those nights had nearly broken her. But now? She had grown used to the atmosphere, hardened by what she had endured. The shadows no longer terrified her the way they had before the holidays.
She dropped coins into the vending machine and listened to the mechanical whirring as the can rolled into the slot. Pulling it out, she felt the chill of condensation against her palm. She turned to leave, but froze mid-step. Something flickered at the edge of her vision.
Hannah narrowed her eyes at the door leading to the kitchen. She could have sworn she had seen someone slip through—someone cloaked in black, with a hood pulled low over their face.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. It wasn't her concern. Shrugging it off, she turned toward the exit.
The corridor stretched ahead, quiet and still. Yet again, the uneasy sensation prickled at her skin—something shifting behind her back. She spun around, her pulse quickening. No one was there.
Had someone decided to play a trick on her?
Her heart leapt to her throat, and she instinctively pressed a hand against her chest. That was when Joseph appeared, stepping into view.
"Do you think this is funny?" Hannah snapped, her voice trembling with the aftershock of fear. "Don't you know how traumatized I was during that first semester? Are you planning to carry on your ex-lover's twisted games—stalking me through the halls?"
Joseph arched a brow, his tone clipped and dry."What are you talking about? If you're so frightened, maybe don't wander around alone at this hour."
She studied him carefully. He was dressed in black, yes—but there was no hood on his sweatshirt.
A wave of confusion washed over her."Never mind," she muttered, biting her finger nervously before hurrying away.
Her footsteps quickened, echoing up the stairwell as she climbed. She fumbled with the lock to her room, her fingers unsteady, and finally pushed the door open. The moment she stepped inside, she leaned against the wall, her breath ragged.
She needed a moment. Just one breath.
"It's definitely not what I'm thinking," she whispered to herself, closing her eyes. She inhaled deeply, willing her heart to slow. But when she opened them again, her legs gave way beneath her.
She collapsed to the floor.
On her bed sat a figure, clad in black. His posture was almost casual, but the sight froze her blood. Slowly, he turned his head toward her, and with deliberate calm, he lowered his hood.
Hannah's lips parted, but no words came. Her entire body locked in terror.
"It's about time we got to know each other, don't you think?"
Her mind screamed against it, but her eyes told her the truth.
It was impossible.