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Chapter 8 - Chapter 7 - Blood Between Us

Selena's POV

I wake up with a pounding headache, like someone's been screaming in my skull all night.

Everything feels... wrong.

My bones ache. My skin is too warm. There's a weird buzzing in my chest like electricity under my ribs. I blink at the ceiling, trying to remember what happened-

Prom.

The lights. The dizziness.

Then... nothing.

I sit up slowly, my legs weak like I've run a marathon. I'm about to stand when I hear footsteps. Sharp. Angry.

I step out of my room-and there she is.

Amara.

Arms crossed. Back straight. Eyes loaded like a weapon.

"Look who finally decided to wake up," she spits.

I freeze. "Amara?"

"What? Gonna act like you don't remember?" she steps closer, her voice rising. "Typical. Always the little angel. Always the clueless one."

"What are you talking about?" I whisper. My voice cracks.

Amara rolls her eyes and throws her hands in the air.

"Don't play dumb, Selena. I saw it. That thing glowing on your back last night. It lit up the whole room. You're not even gonna ask what it means?"

I blink at her.

Glowing? What mark?

She sounds insane.

Or maybe... I'm insane.

"There's nothing on me," I say slowly, pressing my palm against my shoulder.

"You really don't remember," she says, her voice dropping. "Of course you don't. Perfect little Selena - always protected, always loved."

"I didn't ask for any of that," I snap.

She laughs. Cold. Cruel.

"No. But you got it anyway. Even now, when you're clearly turning into something-something wrong-they still treat you like you're special. Like you're safe."

"Turning into what?" I ask. "What am I, Amara?"

She stares at me like I'm already the monster she's feared for years.

And when she lunges - when she tries to slap me - I catch her hand.

Not by instinct. Not even on purpose.

My body moves on its own.

And the moment I touch her - something pulses from my skin to hers. A jolt. A flash. A silent burst of energy.

Amara stumbles back like she's been shocked.

Her face goes pale.

"What did you do to me?" she gasps.

I shake my head, terrified. "I don't know."

But the truth settles in my bones like ash:

> I'm changing.

And I have no idea why.

> What if your own body was hiding secrets from you?

Is Selena the victim... or the threat?

- Mysterious_frnd

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