Aiden
"Quick, Aiden!" Milo shouts as we run into the woods from the hunters. "Quick, let's hide here," I suggest, pointing to a bush. Milo and I huddle together and wait. Six months have passed, Montrevere is not the same without Selena, I am not the same without her. I miss her so much, the beast inside her too, and she's chasing me. "Hey, Aiden, are you okay?" Milo asks, putting his hand on.
"Yeah, I'm fine" I reply with a slight smile. "The hunt will be over soon and none of the hunters have found us! Theba is a record!" Milo shouts triumphantly. "Yeah, that's right." "I'll be home now." Milo nods and we both stand up from the bushes. "See you tomorrow, man!" he says, patting me on the shoulder. I walk through the forest, and the moon shines high, reflecting everything around. The hunt isn't the same without Selena, as if it's lost its charm since she left. Six fucking months and there's no sign of her.
When I get to my house, my phone suddenly rings in my pocket. When I take it out, I see an unfamiliar number. Who is this? Selena? I pick up, my hands shaking. "Hello?" Nothing is heard on the other end except heavy breathing. "Selena, if it's you, tell me!" Nothing, just silence. "Whoever you are, this is not fun!" I scream and hang up the phone.
My heart races as I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at my phone in disbelief. Was it really Selena? I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. It can't be. She's gone. I jump as a loud knock echoes through my room. "Aiden, are you okay?" my mother calls from outside the door. I hesitate for a moment before opening it and greeting her with a weak smile. "Hi, Mom" I say quietly.
"I'm fine, Mom" I repeat, trying to sound convincing. "I'm just tired." She looks at me skeptically, but she doesn't let go of me. "Well, if you're sure..." she trails off, giving me a concerned look before turning to leave. As soon as I leave, I close the door and lean against it, sighing heavily. My mind is still reeling from the mysterious call. Was it really Selena? Or was someone just playing a cruel joke on me?
I wake up in the morning, I barely slept last night. I get up and go into the bathroom to take a shower. Who could it have been? Selena? It's all so confusing. A minute later I'm wrapping myself in a towel and walking out of the bathroom. Then my phone rings again. When I pick it up this time, it's Milo, and I breathe a sigh of relief. "Hey dude, I'm downstairs! Let's go to Montrevere together!" Milo suggests. "I'll be right back, I just need to get dressed."
As I hurriedly get dressed, my mind is still racing with questions about the mysterious phone call. Could it have been Selena? The thought sends a shiver down my spine. Despite everything that's happened between us, I can't deny the lingering feelings I have for her. I shake off the thoughts and rush downstairs to meet Milo. "Took you long enough" he jokes, giving me a playful nudge as I join him at his car.
We drive to campus in comfortable silence, with Milo occasionally glancing at me with a curious expression. I know he senses something is bothering me, but I'm not ready to talk about it yet. Not until I get more answers. When we arrive at Montrever, the atmosphere is different than usual. There's an electric buzz in the air, and whispers follow us as we make our way through the hallways.
As we enter the classroom, the noise level drops significantly. Students who were previously chattering amongst themselves fall silent, their eyes fixed on us. We choose seats near the back of the room, and I can feel the weight of everyone's stares boring into my back. "What the hell is going on today?" Milo leans in and asks quietly. I shrug noncommittally, not wanting to draw any more attention to ourselves.
Professor Robin enters the lecture hall, but not alone. Everyone falls silent and a tense silence falls. "Hello students, this is Lyra Moreau, the new student!" he said. I glanced at Lyra furtively and she was tall, slender. Her blond hair was tied in a perfect bun, and her brown eyes suddenly fixed on me. "Who is she?" Milo pondered.
Lyra comes in and sits behind us. "Hi, I'm Lyra" she introduces herself. Milo and I look at each other and smile. "I'm Aidan, and this is Milo." "I've heard a lot about Montrever" she replies bluntly. "Well, I guess so. It's full of secrets." I shift awkwardly in my chair, unsure of what to say.
As I sit there, unable to move, Lyra leans in closer, her breath hot on my ear. "I heard about you" she whispers, her voice barely audible. "About what happened with Selena." A shudder runs down my spine at the mention of her name. How does Lyra know about that? About us?
Lyra's words hang heavy in the air, and I can feel Milo tense beside me. "How do you know about that?" I ask, keeping my voice steady despite the turmoil churning within me. Lyra smirks, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Everyone knows about Selena and her obsession with you, Aiden. It's hard to keep secrets in this place."
I feel the color drain from my face as Lyra's words sink in. Everyone knows about Selena and me? The thought makes my stomach churn uneasily. Before I can respond, the professor begins his lecture, effectively silencing our conversation. Throughout the class, I can feel Lyra's gaze burning into the back of my head. It's unsettling, knowing that she seems to have some sort of agenda involving Selena and me.
As the lecture ends, I quickly gather my things, eager to escape Lyra's prying eyes. Milo follows suit, sensing my discomfort. "Let's get out of here," he mutters, walking beside me as we exit the classroom. The hallway is full of students, but I have a sudden urge to be alone. "I need some fresh air" I tell Milo, heading for the nearest exit.
As I push open the doors leading to the courtyard, the cool evening breeze greets me, offering a brief respite from the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside. The sky is painted with hues of orange and pink, signaling the impending sunset. I lean against the wall, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "Hey." Lyra's voice startles me, and I turn to see her standing a few feet away, her expression unreadable.
"Hey" Lyra says again, taking a cautious step closer. "I didn't mean to freak you out earlier." I let out a shaky laugh, running a hand through my hair. "It's just... a lot to take in, you know?" Lyra nods understandingly. "I can imagine. Listen, I'm not here to cause any trouble. I just... I had to meet you. To see if everything they say about you is true." My eyebrows furrow in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Lyra takes another step closer, her heels clicking softly on the pavement. "They say you're special, Aiden" she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "That Selena wasn't just obsessed with you because of your looks or your reputation." I swallow hard, my heart pounding in my chest. "And what do you think?" I challenge, meeting her gaze defiantly. She smiles enigmatically, closing the distance between us.
Lyra reaches out, her fingers brushing lightly against my cheek. Her touch sends an electric shock through me, and I can feel my breath hitch in my throat. "I think you're incredible" she whispers, her eyes locked onto mine. "And I want to get to know you better." Without waiting for a response, she leans in and presses her lips firmly against mine.
I push Lyra away and look at her with a frown. She is not Selena and never will be. "Lyra look..." I start, a little nervous. "I don't care about you or anyone else. Whatever you heard is true, but everything is different now so don't do it anymore." Lyra lets out a laugh and I raise an eyebrow slightly. "You know, Aidan? If I become the new legend of Montrever, I will ruin Selena if she ever comes back." Her words surprised me. "What do you want, Lyra?"
"Nothing" Lyra finally responds, her expression darkening. "But you'll regret it someday, Aiden. You'll realize what you missed out on." With that, she turns and storms off, disappearing into the crowd of students milling about the courtyard. I watch her go, a sense of unease settling over me. Something about Lyra's words feels ominous, like a warning of things to come.