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❄️ The Edge of the Hill:
The air was sharp and clean, biting at their cheeks. Below, the world was a tapestry of white and dark green pines. It was evening, maybe around 4 PM, and the last rays of sun were painting the Snowy Hill Area with shades of cold pink and orange.
Finally—finally!—the students of Brighton Wisdom School had reached the mountaintop. They were here for a New Year's trip, a reward after two brutal days of trekking. The place was a mix of rugged natural beauty and cozy, rustic hospitality. The hotel buildings were made of dark wood and stone, their windows already glowing with warm light, perfectly framed by snow-laden eaves.
A massive cheer erupted. The 3rd-year, 2nd-year, and 1st-year students were buzzing with relief and excitement.
Professor Alistair, a man whose coat seemed perpetually dusty, clapped his hands. "Alright, everyone! We've already booked rooms. Three students to a room. Group yourselves up! And most importantly..." His eyes scanned the crowd with a mock-stern expression. "No boys and girls grouped together!"
A unified groan and a few dramatic gasps rippled through the teenagers, but everyone quickly fell in line. Backpacks were shrugged off, and exhausted chatter filled the air.
A sudden tap on the shoulder made Raina jump. She spun around, a startled "Ah!" catching in her throat, ready to snap at whoever dared to scare her. But the panic evaporated, replaced by a cool mask of surprise.
It was Felix.
He was tall, dressed in high-quality, sleek travel gear, looking more like a magazine model than a casual tourist.
"You," Raina stated, her voice devoid of any warmth.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to freak you out," he said, his smile quick and charming. "I wanted to surprise you."
A Fateful Encounter
A few steps away, partially obscured by a cluster of luggage, stood Gabriella. She wore a simple, functional hiking jacket, its dark color a stark contrast to the surrounding white snow. She turned her head the moment she heard Raina's sharp tone. Most of the other students had already moved on towards the hotel lobby.
Felix, having only eyes for Raina, gave her a bright, sincere smile.
"Wait," Raina said, the coolness in her voice turning to ice. "Why are you here?"
Felix's smile softened, taking on a look of gentle apology. "Don't take me wrong, actually... my company's staff planned to spend their New Year up here. As the boss, I'm in charge." He paused, his expression shifting to one of pleasant discovery. "I genuinely didn't know your school planned a trip here. I casually called your mother, she mentioned it, so I called earlier to confirm exactly where you were staying."
Raina scrutinized his face, then slowly nodded, satisfied.
"What a coincidence, right?" Felix concluded.
Raina simply nodded back.
Felix's gaze drifted past Raina's shoulder. He saw Gabriella. A soft, genuine smile lit up his face as he began to walk away from Raina. "Okay, Raina, let's meet at the campfire later."
He approached Gabriella. She looked confused but offered a small, polite smile.
"Hi," he said, his voice dropping to a tone of genuine care. "How is your health now? Because you are anemic, right? Last time the doctor said so when I admitted you to the hospital."
Gabriella's mind momentarily stalled. He still remember that? She couldn't believe his thoughtfulness. She nodded. "I'm okay. Taking medicine." She looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Are you here for Raina?"
Felix chuckled, a light, easy sound. "You people are thinking the same way."
"Who other one?" Gabriella asked.
"Raina," he laughed again. "Actually, my staff planned a trip here, so I'm here."
Gabriella managed a small, genuine smile.
"I have to go," he said, giving her a look that held unexpected warmth. "Let's meet later." He walked off towards a group of people who looked like young professionals.
Raina, having watched the entire interaction from a short distance, was still staring at Gabriella with a cold, piercing look. Then, she turned and walked away.
He is a nice person, Gabriella thought, watching Felix greet his staff. Extremely opposite to Raina.
"Why are you late?" a voice suddenly boomed, and Jake barged in from nowhere. He looked stressed. "I was searching for you everywhere! Come on!" He took her arm and dragged her towards the central area.
The Brutality in the Forest
The evening chill was deepening as the students began to set up for the night's festivities. Groups were arranging the campfire set-up, others were eagerly grilling meat and preparing food, with hotel staff helping out. Laughter and excited chatter mixed with the sizzle of the grill.
As Gabriella was walking, she found herself drifting into a less crowded area, where the snow was pristine. Suddenly, she heard it—faint, weak sounds coming from the forest area. She immediately ran towards the source.
There, she saw Erica, Anitta, Harry, and their friends. They were surrounding and hurting three or four younger, terrified students, kicking them and shoving them into the snow.
Gabriella's blood ran cold for a second, then instantly boiled over. She had spent years fighting this kind of cruelty. She barged into the circle.
"What are you doing!" she demanded, her voice loud and cutting through the quiet forest.
Erica let go of the girl she was gripping, turned slowly, and approached Gabriella with a chilling, evil smile. "Can't you see what I'm doing?" she sneered, gesturing for her friends to keep beating the others.
Gabriella didn't flinch. Her eyes were hard and steady. "Stop," she said, her voice dropping to a cold, controlled threat. "One more time you guys touch them, you can't escape from me."
Anitta smiled dismissively. "You're not the Student President now, Gabriella. Come to reality. You are nothing."
"Why should we obey you?" Harry challenged.
Gabriella let out a cold, short chuckle. "Don't you guys forget how I beat you before?" She slowly rolled her wrist, the memory a physical warning.
Erica's smile vanished, replaced by furious anger. Her hand involuntarily went up to touch an old, faint mark on her cheek—a bitter memory. "But this time you can't do anything!" she roared. "First, defeat her!"
Erica's friends approached Gabriella. Gabriella's own smile was a lethal curve. She moved like a flash of wind, a blur of practiced speed. She beat and kicked them effortlessly. When Harry tried to attack her from behind, she attacked him using her elbow, spinning and driving a powerful kick into his stomach.
She took a deep, steadying breath. "Still," she asked, a slight smile back on her face. "You guys have to learn more."
While punching another boy, she said mockingly, "You guys aren't a match for my stamina." She grabbed Anitta's hand.
Anitta's face was white with fear. "Don't kick me!"
Gabriella showed her. "If you're afraid, how dare you challenge me?"
Erica came at her, aiming a punch at Gabriella's face. Gabby grabbed her wrist effortlessly, twisted, and locked her arm behind her back. Erica gasped, feeling the sharp, intense pain.
"It is the same pain you are giving others," Gabriella hissed, her voice full of controlled outrage. Then, she coldly added, "Could you handle that?" She shoved Erica hard, sending her tumbling into the deep snow.
Gabriella stretched her arms and legs, a rare, genuine smile blooming. "Finally," she murmured to herself, "after a long time, I felt energetic after a fight."
"Gabriella! I won't leave you!" Erica roared from the snow.
"Don't get her pissed," Anitta muttered.
"Aw!" Harry shouted in pain.
Gabriella leaned down to Erica. "She understood. Don't you Erica?. How I should make you understand." She raised her hand. Erica flinched, turning her face away in fear.
"Are you afraid?" Gabriella's smile vanished, replaced by a look of steely determination. "I won't beat you if you continue to harm or bully others. I won't leave you. Remember."
Her gaze swept to Anitta. She grabbed the girl's hand, pulling her to her feet. Gabriella's voice was low and husky as she leaned near Anitta's ear. "Whether I'm a student president or not, it doesn't matter. I will never let you guys bully other students."
She released them and turned to the poor, beaten students. "You guys can go now," she said gently.
One of the girls looked up, her eyes full of belated realization. "Sorry, Gabriella. We misunderstood you before."
"Yes," another student chimed in. "You are still the same."
Gabriella offered them a tiny, tired smile. The beaten students quickly went back towards the hotel. Gabriella started walking.
The Discovery
A few minutes later, Gabriella reached the same spot where the pine branch had fallen earlier that day, the one she had pushed Raina out of the way of. The tree was still covered in a heavy blanket of snow.
"What are you looking for?" a voice asked from behind her.
She turned. It was Felix, Raina's fiancé. He was wearing thick, rugged winter clothes, and a signature streak of three white hairs stood out against his dark hair, making him look strikingly handsome.
"Why are you here?" she asked coldly.
"Casual walk," Felix said easily, approaching her.
Gabriella's eyes narrowed.
He continued, a slight shift in his posture. "Thank you for rescuing Raina earlier."
Gabriella gave a small, cynical smile. "Not me. Whoever was there would have done that. Anyways,How did you know?".
"Raina told me," he said. His eyes narrowed, suddenly serious. "Are you suspecting someone did it?"
Gabriella's eyes widened. She turned to stare at the tree. How did he know?
Felix followed her gaze. "In my experience," he said, his voice now lower, harder, "I am sure someone did this."
Gabriella was stunned.
"Look over there," Felix said, pointing. "That cut mark in the pine branch... it's not broken like a natural fall. Someone cut it halfway, intentionally. And it fell at the right time, just as Raina was walking beneath it."
"I think so, too," Gabriella conceded. "Wait, you said, 'in your experience.' What is that supposed to mean?"
Felix's cunning gaze turned momentarily to a look of casual panic, then settled. "I had served two years in the army," he explained. "So I knew."
"Why did they plan it for Raina?" Felix murmured, mostly to himself. "Who is that?"
It's not actually planned for Raina, Gabriella thought. It was for me. And I think it's Elisabeth...Her eyes darkened.
A person, far away, concealed by the shadows of the pines, listened to everything. He then turned and walked away, faster than a casual stroll.
"Aren't you going back?" Felix asked, looking around. "It's not safe here to stay alone. Wild animals are there." He pointed. "Look, it's the footprint of a wild cat."
"Yes, I'm going back," Gabriella confirmed.
They walked together for a few minutes until they reached the vicinity of the hotel. Felix met his staff. "Okay, I am going. Bye," he told Gabriella.
Gabriella nodded. As she turned, she saw Raina.
Gabriella tried to ignore her and walk away from the hotel entrance.
"Today morning, you rescued me," Raina's cold voice followed her. "Now you are avoiding me?"
Raina followed her as Gabriella walked away towards the edge of the hill. Gabriella finally stopped and turned.
"What do you want?"
Raina's smile curved on one side, a classic half-smirk. "You are spending time with my fiancé, more than me." Her smile disappeared. "What's going on?"
Gabriella smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I won't steal your fiancé from you."
Raina laughed, a sharp, cynical sound. "Why did you rescue me, still? Whatever happened on my birthday party?"
Gabriella's face hardened, her eyes turning to points of angry, cold flame. "Because that's the difference between you and me," she said coldly, staring directly into Raina's eyes. "Yes, you are my enemy, but I won't play the unfair game with you that you have played with me... by blackmailed me, by threatening Dona's life." Her eyes were blazing red now.
Raina's smile was pure evil. "Because I love the unfair game. That's more interesting."
Gabriella chuckled, a short, furious sound.
"Why are you silent so far?" Raina challenged. "No counterattack? This is not the Gabriella that I know. Are you accepting defeat that easily? Or you don't have any other evidence against me?" She laughed again.
Gabriella's smile was icy.
"Why are you smiling?" Raina demanded.
Raina's eyes were blazing now. "I want that Gabriella. Whenever you stand against me, that time I can feel that the same me is standing against me, the same energetic and powerful person who can only stand against me. I want that powerful enemy!" Her eyebrows rose, and she gave a slow, satisfied smile.
Gabriella's voice was dangerously quiet. "But we are different. Two persons from different universes. We aren't the same, Raina, even though we have the same energy and power." Her smile curved, sharp and quick, and then immediately disappeared. "You are bad. I'm the one who is here to defeat you."
Raina scoffed.
"Yes, you got back the pendrive," Gabriella said, her voice dropping to a dangerous level. "Are you thinking that way you can stop me?"
Raina's eyes went cold, but she quickly recovered, smiling. "Without evidence, what can you do against me?"
Gabriella challenged her directly. "Do you wanna see what I can do?"
Raina didn't flinch, her gaze steady.
Gabriella stepped closer, her voice a cold whisper of absolute authority. "What if I said to the whole world that you are a murderer?"
Raina's eyes flickered, her hand began to shake—a tiny, almost imperceptible panic. For the first time, she was genuinely afraid.
Gabriella continued, relentless. "Even that you had killed your lover?"
Raina's eyes turned crimson with pure, unadulterated rage. With a guttural sound, she lunged and pressed her hand fiercely against Gabriella's throat.
Gabriella smiled.
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To be Continued...
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