Chapter 1: "A Whisper in the Halls"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jFy8ic5A7
Monday morning came like a dream pretending to be real.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1jRvM19Ul
The corridors of Reverend Watt High were loud with movement, lockers slamming, tired students yawning through gossip and morning groans. But beneath it all, there was something... off. Or maybe something is missing.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnLB4CnYgD
No one spoke of the masquerade.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYTOBUwNjH
No one remembered the night the glass shattered on its own.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ogbympq54
The lights dying.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRcasVfpaa
The music playing without fingers.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi3mysLcfg
No one, except Elara.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD58D7WVO1
And Kaeli.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWbUhilKow
Elara walked through the school gates, the weight of her backpack nothing compared to the one in her chest.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xS1KLw90N
It had been two days since the masquerade.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLPCceA7Km
Two days since she'd danced in a mask that once belonged to her mother.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwB5FTe7ec
Two days since her heart betrayed her rhythm in Kaeli's arms.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NsTby2ita
And two days since everything went wrong... and no one seemed to remember.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAREakMPrS
Except Kaeli.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoDVT3tIp4
He hadn't said anything yet, but he looked like he knew something. Not directly at her. Never long enough. But he scanned rooms too quickly. He walked more alert. Like he was waiting for something to happen. Like he was listening for footsteps no one else could hear.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbw87PaagL
Elara sat in class early.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeQ4ZRsbDP
The Literature room still smelled like chalk and damp wood. The rain had come the night before and hadn't quite left.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ6733Uzpc
She had hoped-somewhere in her, against her better judgment-that Kaeli would say something. That he would look at her and smirk like he always did when he knew something she didn't. Or maybe even whisper anything that acknowledged what they'd shared.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3DEs8XRv5
But Kaeli walked in as if she didn't exist.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvt3b2ZD9wd
He sat three rows ahead. He didn't glance back. Didn't speak.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbWrwTLHf1
When Mr. Claremont called on him to read, Kaeli read smoothly, calmly, like he was made of steel and not shadows. As though Elara hadn't danced in his arms in a room full of secrets.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3U3u3Pd0e
By the end of class, she'd almost convinced herself maybe she was the one imagining things.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxJMAAg9kI
She gathered her books quietly, heart aching in a way she didn't want to admit. Everyone else moved around her, noisy and normal. She was about to step out when-22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCc25DBJ5Y
"Hey," a voice murmured.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a0CfWYfEF
She turned.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31b9SSHsN1
Kaeli was there. Close, but not too close. His expression was unreadable. His eyes locked on hers.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZh8QUBuKY
"You danced well," he said simply, voice low like a secret. "For someone who's never danced before."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYKgmeClxm
Elara froze.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6JNj7Jvvu
"You remember?" she whispered.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPlujq1AAG
He shrugged. "Should I not?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgdodhvuUW
"You acted like-"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLkK6PkSHb
"Exactly." He cut in. "That's the point."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMnjgx3J86
She blinked. "Why?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwqG6XJxZi
Kaeli leaned just slightly forward, gaze steady.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yoq1UTuQ4
"Because I don't like games, I didn't start."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDU1F5EeFG
And just like that, he turned and walked away-leaving her alone, confused, and more awake than she'd ever been.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcScmqssNmL
and then Add to home screen.