The school corridor felt unusually quiet that day, even though students still moved around, their voices echoing faintly in the distance. To everyone else, it was just another normal morning—but for Lila, everything had changed. The noise faded into nothing as her mind focused on a single name.
Mrs. Carter.
Step by step, she walked toward the principal's office, her expression calm but her thoughts sharp and unyielding. When she finally stopped in front of the door, she hesitated for only a moment before knocking.
A voice came from inside, steady and composed. "Come in."
Lila pushed the door open and stepped inside. The office looked the same as always—organized, quiet, almost too perfect. Mrs. Carter sat behind her desk, her posture straight, her presence calm. She looked up, meeting Lila's eyes, and a faint, knowing smile appeared on her lips.
"I knew you would come," she said softly.
Lila closed the door behind her, her gaze cold and unwavering. "You know a lot more than you're saying," she replied directly.
Mrs. Carter studied her for a moment before leaning back slightly. "Then ask," she said.
Silence filled the room, thick and heavy, before Lila finally spoke.
"Where is Adrian Noir?"
For a brief second, something shifted in Mrs. Carter's expression.
"…Where did you hear that name?" she asked carefully.
"Answer me."
The firmness in Lila's voice left no room for avoidance.
A long pause followed before Mrs. Carter took a slow breath.
"…He belongs to the past," she said.
A faint, almost bitter smile touched Lila's lips.
"No," she said quietly. "He's still alive."
The air in the room seemed to grow colder.
Mrs. Carter's eyes sharpened slightly as she looked at her. "…You've gone further than I expected."
"I want the truth."
Another silence.
Then, slowly, Mrs. Carter stood up and walked toward the window, her back facing Lila.
"Do you think you can handle it?" she asked.
"I can."
A soft, almost sad laugh escaped her.
"I used to say the same thing…"
For a moment, she said nothing more. Then, quietly—
"That night… I didn't want to kill anyone."
Lila's eyes darkened.
"Then why did you?"
Mrs. Carter closed her eyes briefly.
"…Because I was forced to."
The words hung heavily in the air.
"Adrian…" she continued, saying his name like it carried years of regret. "He didn't stop. He wouldn't stop."
Her voice lowered.
"He only meant to target your father…"
"But everything went out of control."
Lila's heartbeat quickened.
"…My mother," she whispered.
Mrs. Carter's voice softened, filled with guilt.
"I couldn't save her."
Silence fell again.
"You helped him," Lila said.
"Yes," Mrs. Carter admitted. "Because at that time, I thought I was doing the right thing."
Her hands tightened slightly.
"But I was wrong."
"I couldn't stop him…"
"So… I saved you."
Lila stood still, absorbing every word, even as something inside her threatened to break.
"And Aria?" she asked quietly.
Mrs. Carter didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…She was never outside of it."
Lila's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
Mrs. Carter turned to face her fully.
"…She is your blood."
Time seemed to stop.
"…No…" Lila whispered.
"Yes," Mrs. Carter said firmly.
"She is your sister."
The words hit harder than anything else.
Aria.
Her smile.
Her voice.
Her presence.
Everything suddenly felt different.
"She doesn't know," Mrs. Carter added. "And if you choose… she never has to."
Silence filled the space between them.
Then, slowly, Lila spoke again.
"Where is Adrian?"
Mrs. Carter lowered her gaze.
"…He will come back," she said.
"He always does."
Outside the school, a black car stood parked in silence.
Inside, a man sat in the shadows, his expression calm, his eyes sharp.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
"So… it begins."
He spoke softly, almost like a whisper carried by the wind.
"…Lila."