Angela’s POV
I rushed into the hallway with my hand clamped tightly around the back of my neck. I didn’t know what the hell was happening to me, but the pain was unbearable. It wasn’t like a headache or a pulled muscle. It felt deeper than that, almost as if something beneath my skin had suddenly come alive. Every pulse sent another sharp wave shooting through my neck, making it impossible to think.
“What is wrong with me?” I whispered through gritted teeth.
I lifted my head and frantically searched the hallway. Students walked in every direction, laughing and talking as though nothing had happened. No one seemed to notice the girl trying not to fall apart in the middle of the hall.
Then I spotted the girls’ restroom across the hall. Thank God. I thought to myself. I hurried across the hall, shoved the door open, and rushed into the nearest stall. The lock clicked into place behind me. I dropped onto the closed toilet seat, leaned forward, and buried my face in my hands.
My breathing came in uneven bursts. Gradually, the agony eased into a relentless throb, leaving behind a pulse at the base of my neck that refused to disappear. “What the hell…”
A few quiet minutes passed before the restroom door creaked open. “Hello?” The voice was soft, young, and hesitant.
I stayed silent. I didn’t want to alert the person I was in the stall.
“Are you alright?” she asked again. “I’m not trying to bother you. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
I closed my eyes. Perfect. Now I was the crazy girl who had run out of orientation.
“I’m not here to judge you,” she added gently. Something about her voice made me pause. There wasn’t any pity. No gossip. Just genuine concern.
With a sigh, I unlocked the stall and slowly pulled the door open. Standing outside was one of the smallest girls I’d ever seen. She couldn’t have been more than five feet tall. Short sandy-blonde hair framed a delicate face, and bright blue eyes watched me with cautious concern.
Before I could step out, she slipped inside the stall and quietly closed the door behind her. Apparently, personal space wasn’t her thing. “Hi,” she said with a shy smile.
I studied her for a moment. She was beautiful, but not in the intimidating way some girls were. She had soft features, flawless skin, and kind eyes that immediately put me at ease. My eyes dropped to the crest stitched beneath the Eclipse Academy emblem on her blazer. Elegant silver wings. A fae.
“I don’t know what happened back there,” she said, rubbing the back of her own neck. “But when you grabbed yours… I felt something.”
I frowned. “You felt it?”
She nodded her head slowly. “It wasn’t pain. More like…” She searched for the words. “Like something called to me.”
A chill ran through me. I’m starting to get more freaked out than I was to begin with.
“Can I look at your neck?” She asked softly.
Normally I would’ve said no. Instead, I lowered my hand. She stepped closer, tilting her head as she examined the back of my neck. “Can I touch it?”
At my nod, her fingertips brushed my skin. The pain didn’t return. If anything, the lingering ache eased beneath her touch.
“Does it still hurt?” she asked quietly.
“Not now. Earlier it felt like my neck was on fire,” I said matter of factly.
She nodded absently, her fingers tracing the same spot. Then she froze. “Oh…” Her hand flew to her mouth.
“What?”
She stared at the back of my neck in disbelief. “There were marks.”
My stomach dropped. “What kind of marks?”
“They were glowing.” She blinked several times. “But… they’re disappearing.”
I instinctively reached behind my neck. “I don’t feel anything.”
“I know.” She continued staring. “They vanished while I was looking at them.”
A knot formed in my stomach. “What did they look like?”
“I couldn’t tell.” She shook her head. “I’ve never seen markings like those before.”
“You’ve seen magical marks?” I raised my brow as the look of confusion was surely written all over my face.
“Sometimes.” She gave a small shrug of her shoulders. “Different bloodlines leave different magical signatures.”
I stared at her blankly. “I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I figured,” she shrugged her shoulders once again.
Realizing we hadn’t even introduced ourselves, I cleared my throat. “I never got your name.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, wow. That’s embarrassing.” She laughed at herself before extending her hand. “I’m Stephanie, but everyone calls me Steph.” A grin spread across her face. “And yes, I’m a fae.” She paused, her smile turning playful. “And I’m pretty sure we’re going to be best friends.”
Despite everything, a laugh escaped me. She certainly wasn’t lacking confidence. I shook her hand gently. “I’m Angela. It’s nice to meet you. And thank you… for checking on me.”
Her smile faded. Instead of answering, she slowly shook her head. Once. Then again.
A knot tightened in my chest. “What?”
I don’t know,” she admitted, sounding almost frustrated. “I can’t explain it.” She studied me with an intensity that made me uneasy. “You just feel…” Her gaze drifted to the back of my neck before returning to my face. “Familiar.” The word lingered between us. “Safe.” She stepped a little closer, still searching my eyes as though she expected to recognize me. “I’ve never met you before,” she murmured. “But something about you feels… important.”
I didn’t know what to say. After a long moment, she asked the question that made my stomach twist. “Angela…” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “Are you absolutely sure…” Her eyes flicked to the back of my neck one last time. “…that you’re human?”
- End of Chapter -
