Noah closed the door behind him and leaned against it, breathing hard. His hoodie was soaked with sweat from running, heart pounding like a drum in his chest. He'd barely escaped her that night—Seraphine's smirk still burned in his mind as she lunged after him, fingers grazing the sleeve of his hoodie before he slipped away into the dark alley.
Back in his small, cramped apartment, the silence was heavy—almost as heavy as the memories that came rushing back.
Flashback – High School Hallway
The crowded hallway buzzed with noise, but Noah felt like he was drowning in it. Every step he took was met with sneers and whispers. Seraphine appeared suddenly, silver hair shining under the fluorescent lights, eyes gleaming with cruel delight.
"Hey, short stuff," she called, voice sweet but laced with venom. "Lost your way?"
Before he could answer, she shoved him lightly but hard enough to make him stumble. Her friends laughed, surrounding him like predators circling their prey.
"No need to be scared," she said, stepping closer, her hand brushing his cheek mockingly. "I just like seeing that scared little face."
Noah wanted to disappear, to melt away into the floor. But he couldn't.
Back to Present
Noah pulled his hoodie tighter, trying to hold the past at bay. He shook his head, trying to focus on the now—on college, on the job, on survival.
But deep down, he knew one thing—
Seraphine was never really gone.