I didn't even spare Grayson a second glance.My feet carried me forward,jaw tight, eyes fixed straight ahead as I walked away from him.Whatever he had to say, I wasn't interested. Not today, not after everything.
"Hi baby".
Bianca sugary voice sliced through the air behind me.I froze,then turned despite myself.
She was already there-pressed against Grayson,her lips locked on his that looked far way too practice.
My stomach twisted.When she finally pulled back, her eyes found mine and her lips curved into that famismil, poisonous smile.
"Oh the outcast is back,"she said sweetly.
The shock must have shown on my face because she titled her head, feigning concern.
She reached out like she was going to Pat cheek.Before her fingers brush my skin,I slapped her hand away hard.
" Don't touch me".
Bianca eyes widened for a split second,then narrowed. I let out a bitter laugh.
"Wow,Bianca.I never knew you took people's leftover."
Her face flushed deep red, mouth opening and closing like a fish out water. I didn't wait for her comeback.I turned on my heel and kept walking, heart hammering in my chest.
I couldn't go to class.Not like this. My throat burned, eyes stinging with tears I refused to let fall in public.
Instead,veered towards the library, slipping through the heavy doors and weaving between the tall shelves until I found a quiet, shadowed corner far from everyone.The moment I was alone,the tears came.I slid down the walls,knees to my chest.trying to muffle the sobs against my sleeves.
Then the floor vanished.
One second I was sitting there, the next my body was tumbling forward.I let out a sharp cry as I hit something hard-stairs that definitely hadn't been there before.
Pain bloomed in my head and shoulder as I rolled down a few steps, groaning while I rubbed the sore spot on my temple.
When I finally pushed myself up, blinking through the dizziness, the stairs behind me were gone...just disappeared. In their place a solid stone wall.
I was in a narrow passage way,dimly lit by flickering torches mounted along the walls.The air smelled old and earthy, like it hadn't been breathed in centuries.
"Hello?"My voice echoed back to me,small and shaky.
No answer.
Heart racing,I had no choice but to move forward.The Hallway stretched on,cold and silent except for the scrape of my shoes on the stone.
After what felt like forever,I stopped in front of a large frame photograph hanging on the wall.
It showed a group of girls students standing on the academy field,all smiling brightly at the camera.
My breath caught.
There,in the middle row, was my mom-younger,with the same warm eyes and easy smile I remembered from old pictures.
"Mom..."I whispered, reaching out. My fingers brushed against the glass.
A sudden flash of dark purple erupted from the photo.
I jerked back,but it was too late.The swirling energy shot straight through me, wrapping around my body like a bubble. A powerful force slammed into my chest, knocking the air out of my lungs.
The world tilted.
My knees buckled
Then everything went black