I didn't know why.
It didn't even make sense.
But it felt like…
Something was pulling me toward her.
Like an invisible force I couldn't fight.
"I'll be back," I said suddenly.
"Wait,where are you going?" Ethan asked.
But I was already walking away.
Following her.
She moved quickly through the hallway, her steps calm but purposeful, like she already knew I would come after her.
"Leona!" I called.
She didn't stop.
My chest tightened.
I quickened my pace.
"Leona, wait!"
This time… she stopped.
Slowly, she turned to face me.
Her expression was unreadable.
Calm… but intense.
"You shouldn't follow me," she said quietly.
I frowned, slightly out of breath. "Why not?"
She looked around briefly, making sure no one was nearby.
Then her eyes returned to mine.
"Because you don't understand what you're doing."
Something about her voice sent a chill down my spine.
"Then explain it to me," I said.
For a moment, she didn't respond.
It was like she was thinking… deciding something.
"You feel it, don't you?" she finally asked.
My heart skipped.
"…Feel what?"
She stepped closer.
Too close.
I could hear my heartbeat louder now.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
"That pull," she whispered. "Like something is drawing you to me."
My eyes widened.
"How do you "
"Because I feel it too."
Silence.
Everything around us faded.
"What is this?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
She looked at me… and for the first time
Her expression softened.
"It's not something you can run from," she said.
"And it's definitely not something you're ready for."
I shook my head. "Stop talking in riddles. Just tell me what's going on."
Her jaw tightened slightly.
"No," she said.
My frustration rose instantly. "Why not?"
She took a step back.
And just like that… the warmth between us disappeared.
"Because the moment you know," she said softly,
"…your life won't be normal anymore."
I let out a small, bitter laugh.
"News flash," I said, "it already isn't."
For a second
I thought I saw something in her eyes.
Fear.
Then it was gone.
"Stay away from me, Aaizah," she said firmly.
My heart dropped.
"What?"
"If you don't…" she continued, her voice quieter now,
"…you're going to get hurt."
Before I could respond.
She turned and walked away.
This time…
I didn't follow.
I just stood there.
Trying to understand what just happened.
But one thing was clear
Whatever was going on between me and Leona…
It wasn't normal.
And deep down…
I had a feeling it was only the beginning.
....
I was heading back to class when the feeling hit me again.
Like someone was watching me.
I stopped walking.
Slowly, I looked around.
Nothing.
The hallway was empty.
I'm just overthinking, I told myself.
But deep down… I knew I wasn't.
Somehow, I had taken a wrong turn and ended up in the school basement.
The air was colder here.
The lights flickered slightly above me, casting long shadows on the walls.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
My heartbeat quickened as I walked forward slowly.
Each step echoed louder than it should have.
Why does this place feel so… wrong?
Then
A sound.
Tap.
I froze.
"Hello?" I called out, my voice shaky.
No response.
Tap… tap…
It was coming from behind me.
My breath caught in my throat.
Slowly… I turned.
Nothing.
But I could feel it.
Someone was there.
Watching me.
My chest tightened, panic rising fast.
Without thinking, I turned and started walking faster.
Then faster.
Until I was almost running.
I didn't stop until I finally reached the staircase and rushed back upstairs.
Only when I got back to the main hallway did I breathe properly again.
What was that?
I didn't wait to find out.
I went straight back to class.
When I got there, Ethan was already waiting for me.
"Hey, man, where have you been?" he asked.
"I was starting to think you got lost… or worse."
I forced a small laugh, dropping my bag.
"Yeah… something like that."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"I thought maybe that creepy girl got to you."
I frowned slightly.
"You mean Leona?"
He shrugged. "Yeah. People don't mess with her."
I looked away.
"No… I'm fine," I said quietly.
But I wasn't.
The rest of the day went by slowly, but I couldn't focus on anything.
My mind kept going back to the basement.
That feeling.
Those sounds.
It didn't feel human.
Finally, the closing bell rang.
I packed my things quickly and headed outside, where my mom was already waiting for me.
"How was your first day?" she asked as I got into the car.
"It was… okay," I said.
As we drove off, I told her about everything.
My new friend, Ethan.
The school.
And then…
Leona.
I told her about the strange connection.
The way I felt drawn to her.
The things she said.
"It's like… something is pulling me toward her," I admitted.
The car went quiet.
I glanced at my mom.
Her hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel.
"Mom?"
She didn't answer immediately.
And for the first time…
I saw fear in her eyes.