Wren recalled her close call before,
the bus stopped in the middle of the road prompting the driver and Wren to go down. After checking the bus, their result was a flat tire.
Wren grunted in frustration but it was actually a good thing, as their trails wouldn't be taken. The sound of cars whizzing by and the hum of the city seemed to fade into the background as Wren's focus narrowed onto the task at hand.
She gave the driver more money and ordered the driver to go separate ways, she directed him to a nearby police station to wait for a while before getting home.
The driver's eyes darted back and forth, his face etched with concern, as he hesitated for a moment before nodding.
But when the driver asked off her safety she responded.
" Don't consider me human, when I got you into this trouble. Hurry and leave because after this departure whatever happens to you, is not my business."
At this words, the driver took his heels and fled off, his footsteps echoing through the deserted street.
Meanwhile Wren stayed behind, setting bombs inside the bus. The smell of gasoline and rubber filled the air as she worked, her hands moving with a practiced ease.
After she was done, she headed off in the opposite direction, purposely leaving trails behind.
The city seemed to stretch on forever, the buildings and streets blending together in a maze of concrete and steel. When she was a mile from the bus, she heard a loud explosion from behind but still didn't keep stopping.
The sound of shattering glass and twisted metal seemed to follow her, a grim reminder of the danger she had just escaped.
And by the time she realized she stood in front of the academy gate, a sense of relief washed over her.
She sighed, and walked in, the gates creaking shut behind her like a protective barrier.
Immediately she got in, she received a notification from the system menu claiming she had received a thousand points and stats.
And as soon as the stats was sent, she leveled up and she felt different.
A rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins as she felt her abilities expanding, her senses heightening.
But she didn't have time to enjoy this difference, she had to freshen up and get her stuffs.
Her footsteps echoed through the empty corridors as she made her way to her dormitory, her mind already focused on the tasks ahead.
After freshening up, she went to the dormitory and surprisingly she saw someone sitting on the bed.
It was no other than Elsa Eyre, the girl who had shown her dislike for Wren from day one. Elsa's eyes seemed to bore into her, her gaze piercing and intense.
"You are late," She said, short, yet full of details. Wren nodded, and took her luggage expecting to hear more of Elsa taunts but none came.
When she looked up, she saw Elsa standing at the door with a complex expression. Her face seemed to be a mask of contradictions, her emotions hidden behind a veil of indifference.
"The bus is at the parking lot, if you hurry in time, you could make it." Wren wanted to thank her but she left afterwards, her footsteps fading into the distance like a ghost.
Now sitting in the bus, Wren looked ahead to only catch a glimpse of red haired Elsa.
She was cold yet strange, her demeanor a puzzle that Wren couldn't seem to solve. At one point she was mean and other times she was considerate, her mood swings like a rollercoaster ride.
Wren who was bad at reading emotions didn't want to dwell into her matter after all, human beings are forever going to be complicated to her.
They are all the same, full of mystery, and uncomplicated emotions. And she didn't even care to learn or study it.
She wanted nothing to do with psychology, never.
The bus rumbled on, the engine purring smoothly as Wren's thoughts drifted away, lost in the sea of her own mind.
Meanwhile...
Meanwhile, Kai Blackwood was sitting at the front row seat with a dark and blank expression.
He wasn't a person to fancy the front seat, but he was really helpless.
The fluorescent lights above seemed to hum in sync with the rumble of the bus's engine, casting an eerie glow over the rows of seats.
Beside him was a dark haired girl with hazel eyes who looked weak and cute almost resembling Wren because of her delicate features.
She was reading a book, her brows furrowed as she squinted her eyes to see, the pages turning slowly as she devoured the words.
Kai Blackwood thought instantly of Wren, but the girl's behavior was different. She seemed so engrossed in her book, oblivious to the world around her, whereas Wren was always full of life and energy.
He didn't know why, when Wren's face appeared in his mind, his heart took a beat.
Then her images came in mind, the time he saw her at the lake and instantly his face reddened.
He remembered the way she had looked at him, the way her eyes had sparkled in the sunlight.
Meanwhile the small frame girl looked up at Kai, and saw blood dripping from his nose. "Hey, your nose... It is bleeding."
The girl pointed out, having not known of Kai's reputation.
Her voice was soft and gentle, a stark contrast to the harsh reality of the bleeding nose.
It wasn't until the girl pointed out his nosebleed did Kai feel the blood. He rummaged through his shirt pocket for a tissue but found none.
Using his sleeves, he desperately cleaned the blood but only made things worse. The fabric of his sleeve seemed to rub against his nose, making it bleed even more.
The small frame girl looked at Kai with pity, and took out her handkerchief offering it instead.
"Take this, it isn't a tissue but it is better than the hard sleeves."
Kai nodded, and took it before cleaning his nose bleed.
The handkerchief was soft and gentle against his skin, a welcome relief from the rough fabric of his sleeve.
But as he stared at the girl's face, he kept recalling Wren. And his nose bleed continued.
"Urghh,."
He groaned, feeling frustrated that Wren was causing him a nose bleed.
The girl on the other hand, took the handkerchief and leaned forward as she helped him.
While cleaning, Kai's eyes lingered on the girl's face, and he couldn't help but wonder why she looked exactly like Wren. The girl's features were similar, but her eyes were different.
They were softer, more gentle. Kai's gaze drifted to her lips, and he felt a pang of curiosity.
Who was this girl, and why did she seem to calm him down? As he looked at her, he felt a sense of calm wash over him, but it was quickly replaced by the familiar frustration and longing that Wren's presence always seemed to bring.
The girl's touch was gentle, but it only seemed to make Kai's nosebleed worse. He groaned again, feeling like he was losing control.