They say blood is life.
But what if yours was never alive to begin with?

Nyra’s hands have always been cold. Her palms, too pale. Her veins, too silent. In class, in the hallways, even under the sun—her body carries no warmth, no blush of color.

She thought it was strange. She thought it was harmless.
Until the mirror smiled back at her.

Now, shadows whisper her name, crimson tonics stir in the kitchen, and her mother’s gentle voice hides secrets sharp enough to cut. Something ancient stirs in her veins, something rare enough to be feared… and hunted.

As the thin line between reflection and reality begins to shatter, Nyra must face a terrifying truth:
She doesn’t just carry blood.
She carries their blood.

The blood of the Noctari.
The blood of the rare one.

And once it awakens, there’s no turning back.

The school bell shrieked, sharp and metallic, dragging me out of my daze. I hadn't realized how long I'd been staring at my palms, hidden under the desk. My pen lay untouched on my notebook, while everyone else was already packing up.


"Hey—Nyra, are you coming?" one of my classmates asked, her voice casual, but her eyes flicked toward my hands before she looked away too quickly.


The hallway was a river of students, laughter and chatter echoing against the lockers. I blended in, or at least I tried to. But every sound, every glance, felt louder, sharper, heavier. Like the world was pressing in on me.


As I reached the stairwell, the buzzing fluorescent light above flickered again—the same way it had in the bathroom. I froze, gripping the railing. For a moment, the light dimmed to nothing but shadows.


A whisper. Soft. Fragile. Almost too faint to catch.


My heart jumped into my throat. I whipped around, but the hallway was empty now. Everyone had already left.


This time it was closer, brushing against my ear like cold breath.


I staggered back, my palms slick with sweat—except they weren't. I looked down. My skin was dry, white as paper. No heat. No pulse.


"Who's there?" My voice cracked, breaking the silence.


No answer. Only the buzz of the light as it flickered back on.


I pressed my palms together, willing them to feel human. Warm. Alive. But all I felt was the weight of that whisper… and the chilling truth I didn't want to admit:


Chapter 2 - The Whisper in the Hall