The first thing Kailey remembered was the smoke–thick, choking, curling through the corridors like fingers dragging her under.
Then the voice.
Low, Calm, and Fierce.
" You're listening now, right? I'm here. Breathe".
She didn't see a face. Just darkness. And the glint of a pendant against a firelight.
Then–nothing.
Kailey jolted awake,heart racing, her breath catching in her throat like it always did whenever she have this same dream. Fire. Heat. That voice.
She blinked at the black ceiling aboke her. Not Fire. Not Smoke. Just the car. Just Now. She Looked at her siblings and then at her mom who was driving.
Phew! Thank goodness. I breathed a sigh of relief. Velmont High was less than an hour away.
She rubbed her eyes and glanced out the window. Trees blurred past in streaks of green and gold. Somewhere beyond those woods, a life she hadn't chosen waited her. A New School. New rules. New people.
And maybe – Answers.
Because no one ever told her who saved from the fire.
No one... but the voice.
The boy's voice.
Kailey touched her chest instinctively, fingers brushing the edge of the pendant she always wore. She didn't know why she kept it close. She didn't even remember where she got it.
************
They finally arrived at Velmont High gates/courtyard
Kailey comes down from the car, suitcase in hand. The school's towering gates rise before her like something out if an elite fairytale–beautiful,cold and intimidating.
So this is where it begins. New life, new rules. No room for mistakes.
"Little pumpkin are you ready?" Kelvin said from behind me. I looked at him and nodded my head. We said our goodbyes to mom and she left.
I walked through the gates with my siblings, heart pounding. Students in sharp uniform passby– some glance our way others barely notice.
"Who is she? she's really pretty" a boy said glancing at Kailey
"Woah!" Another exclaimed "That's what we call beauty and her hazel eyes and raven black hair just compliments her pale skin. She's a real goddess"
I looked over at everyone and everywhere we passed each steps really hard, and I couldn't hide how nervous I was. This would be my first ever boarding school and I really don't know how to adapt. But with my siblings here I'm sure it won't be that much of a headache. I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder and looked up to see Vanessa giving me a big smile "It's going to be fine kelvin and I are here for you" with that I breathe in and followed them.
Stepping into the new life that awaits me and maybe the end to this 'Smoke and Silence'.