William took long, heavy—yet calculated—strides toward the towering gates of Hell. His expression was calm, but his eyes held something darker… something dangerous.
“Will… are you sure about this?” Lucas asked, skepticism clear in his voice.
“100 percent,” William replied with a slow smirk.
And in the blink of an eye—
He vanished.
Lucas stared at the empty space where he had just been.
“That bastard,” he muttered, rolling his eyes. “I can’t believe he left me behind.”
With a snap of his fingers—
He disappeared as well.
EARTH 🌍
Olivia stepped through the gates of Oakville High once again.
Today, she wore a white-beige top paired with baggy black jeans, her black boots tapping steadily against the pavement. Unlike yesterday, her posture was straighter, her head held higher.
Still nervous.
But stronger.
Her gaze lifted to the bright neon sign above the school entrance. It flickered faintly, almost like it was alive—like it was hiding secrets better left buried.
She exhaled slowly.
You made it through your first day… you’ll make it through today too.
With that thought, she walked into the hallway.
The familiar chaos greeted her—lockers slamming, students talking, laughter echoing—but this time, it didn’t feel as overwhelming.
Her eyes scanned the crowd, searching.
“Looking for me?”
The voice came from behind her.
Olivia jumped slightly, her heart leaping into her throat.
“Shit! You scared me,” she said, clutching her chest.
Ava laughed softly.
“Sorry, dear,” she said, a playful smile on her lips.So… I hope you’ve taken a breather?” Ava asked, her voice laced with concern.
“Yeah, totally,” Olivia replied with a small smile.
“Good—”
The bell rang, cutting her off.
“Well, let’s get you to class,” Ava said, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward Biology.
Then she paused, glancing back at Olivia with a soft smile.
“And yeah, Oli… you’re gorgeous.”
Olivia blinked, caught off guard.
“Me?” she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
Ava nodded. “Yeah. You look like a fallen angel.”
A faint blush crept onto Olivia’s cheeks.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“Come on,” Ava laughed lightly. “Let’s get to class.”
They stepped into the classroom.
And there it was.
Silence.
Not the normal kind—but the kind that crept under your skin.
Bone-chilling.
The stares were sharper now. Heavier.
Whispers slithered through the air, low and cruel.
Snickers followed, quiet… but cutting.
Olivia felt it all.
Every single one.
Olivia felt it all.
Every stare.
Every whisper.
Every quiet laugh that followed her like a shadow.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her bag strap as she walked beside Ava, trying to ignore it—but it was different today.
Heavier.
Darker.
“Just ignore them,” Ava whispered under her breath, sensing the shift. “They’ll get bored.”
Olivia nodded faintly, though something didn’t feel right.
Not at all.
She took her seat.
The room settled, but the tension didn’t.
It lingered.
Thick.
Unseen.
Watching.
And then—
A sudden chill swept through the classroom.
Not cold enough to notice immediately… but enough to feel.
Like something had just entered.
Olivia stiffened.
Her breath caught slightly.
What was that…?
She slowly lifted her gaze.
And for a split second—
It felt like someone was staring directly at her.
Not the usual students.
Not curiosity.
Something else.
Something… deeper.
Outside the classroom window—
A figure stood at a distance.
Still.
Watching.
Grey eyes sharp. Unblinking.
William.
A faint smirk curved his lips as his gaze remained locked on her.
“Interesting…” he murmured.
There was something about her.
Something he couldn’t explain.
And he didn’t like things he couldn’t understand.
Back inside—
Olivia’s chest tightened.
She turned slightly, her eyes drifting toward the window.
But there was nothing there.
No one.
Just empty space.
Yet the feeling remained.
Unshaken.
And somewhere, far too close—
Danger had already found her.
Olivia shifted slightly in her seat, trying to ignore the lingering tension in the room.
The teacher hadn’t arrived yet.
Which made everything worse.
More whispers.
More stares.
Then—
A chair scraped loudly against the floor.
“Wow… so the new girl thinks she’s special now?”
The voice was sharp. Mocking.
Olivia froze.
Ava tensed beside her.
“Just ignore her,” Ava whispered quickly.
But it was too late.
A girl stepped forward, her heels clicking against the floor with confidence. Her arms were crossed, eyes scanning Olivia like she was something beneath her.
“Well?” she tilted her head. “I’m talking to you.”
Olivia swallowed, forcing herself to stay calm.
“I don’t think I said anything to you,” she replied quietly.
A few students gasped softly.
Bold.
The girl’s expression darkened.
“Oh, she talks,” she scoffed. “Cute.”
She moved closer, stopping right beside Olivia’s desk.
“Listen carefully,” she leaned in slightly, her voice dropping. “Girls like you don’t last here.”
Ava stood up suddenly. “Back off, Claire.”
Claire smirked, straightening.
“Or what?” she challenged. “You’ll defend her?”
Her gaze shifted back to Olivia, colder this time.
“You walk in here acting all innocent, all pretty…” she mocked. “Like you own the place.”
Olivia’s grip tightened under the desk.
Her heart pounded.
But something else stirred beneath it.
Something unfamiliar.
Something… steady.
She slowly looked up.
And this time—
She didn’t look away.
“I’m not trying to own anything,” Olivia said, her voice calm… almost too calm. “But I’m not leaving either.”
Silence.
The room went still.
Claire blinked, clearly not expecting that.
Then she laughed—but it didn’t sound as confident as before.
“We’ll see about that,” she muttered, stepping back.
Just then—
The classroom door opened.
The teacher walked in.
“Everyone to your seats,” he said sharply.
The tension snapped—but not completely.
Claire shot Olivia one last look before walking away.
A warning.
A promise.
Ava slowly sat back down.
“Okay…” she whispered. “That was either really brave… or really dangerous.”
Olivia exhaled softly, her pulse still racing.
“I don’t know which one it was,” she admitted.
But deep down—
She felt it.
That strange calm again.
Like something inside her had just… awakened.
Outside the classroom—
William watched from afar, eyes dark with interest.
A slow smile spread across his face.
“She’s not weak,” he murmured.
If anything—
She was far more dangerous than she looked.
And that only made him want her more.The rest of the class passed… but not peacefully.
Olivia could feel it.
Claire’s eyes on her.
Burning.
Waiting.
The bell rang.
Chairs scraped loudly as students stood, conversations instantly filling the room again.
“Okay… we should go,” Ava said quickly, already grabbing her bag.
Olivia nodded, standing up—
But before they could leave—
A hand slammed down on her desk.
Hard.
“Not so fast.”
Claire.
Again.
Ava sighed under her breath. “Seriously? Don’t you have anything better to do?”
Claire ignored her completely, her eyes locked on Olivia.
“You’ve got confidence, I’ll give you that,” she said slowly. “But confidence without power?”
She leaned closer.
“That gets people destroyed here.”
Olivia didn’t move.
Didn’t flinch.
But her heartbeat picked up.
“I’m not looking for trouble,” Olivia said calmly.
Claire smirked.
“Funny,” she said. “Because trouble just found you.”
A small crowd began to form.
Students pretending not to watch… while clearly watching.
Waiting.
Claire reached forward—
And grabbed a strand of Olivia’s hair.
“Let’s see what makes you so special,” she mocked softly.
Ava immediately stepped in. “Claire, stop it.”
“Stay out of this,” Claire snapped.
Something shifted.
The air.
Subtle.
But wrong.
Olivia’s hand slowly rose—
Grabbing Claire’s wrist.
Firm.
Too firm.
Claire froze.
Her expression flickered—just for a second.
Because Olivia’s grip wasn’t normal.
It was… strong.
Unnaturally strong.
“Let go,” Olivia said quietly.
But there was something in her voice now.
Something deeper.
Something… not entirely human.
Claire yanked her hand back, masking the flicker of unease with a scoff.
“Wow,” she laughed, though it sounded forced. “Got some bite in you.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Good.”
She stepped back slightly.
“Because I’d hate to break you too easily.”
She turned—
Then paused.
“And one more thing,” she added without looking back.
“You might have everyone fooled…” her voice dropped colder, sharper—
“But I know there’s something off about you.”
A beat.
“I’ll figure it out.”
Claire walked off, her group following behind her.
The crowd slowly dispersed.
But the tension?
Still there.
Still heavy.
Ava turned to Olivia, eyes wide.
“…Okay,” she said slowly. “That was not normal.”
Olivia stared at her own hand.
The one that grabbed Claire.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
“I didn’t mean to…” she whispered.
Because for a moment—
It hadn’t felt like her.
From across the hallway—
William watched everything.
Every second.
Every movement.
His eyes darkened with interest.
“There it is…” he murmured.
That energy.
That presence.
He could feel it now.
Clear as day.
And it made one thing certain—
Olivia Presley was no ordinary girl.
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