The wind sang low through the branches.
Not the playful kind of wind that sent children running with kites, but one that carried secrets, hushed voices strung between ancient trunks. It tugged at Alexandra's black hair as she stood at the edge of the forest, one sneaker nudging damp leaves, the other rooted firmly on the gravel road.
She had been here before—every morning on her way to school—but lately it felt different. As if the trees themselves were watching. As if they remembered her.
"Alex."
Her sister's voice cut sharp through the spell. Claire leaned against the staff car parked a little ways down the road, arms crossed, the early light catching the silver gleam of her assistant-teacher's badge. "We'll be late."
Alex forced her feet backward, tearing her gaze from the forest. "Coming."
Claire gave her a long look as she slid into the driver's seat, the kind of look older sisters give when they sense something they can't quite name. Strong. Steady. Claire had that air—the one that made people trust her, whether in a classroom or at home. Alex envied it. Sometimes, she hated it.
Inside the car, silence stretched until the school gates came into view.
---
The classroom was buzzing by the time Alex arrived. She barely made it to her seat when she noticed the empty desk beside hers.
Anna's desk.
Her emerald-eyed friend always came early, her notes neat, her bag carefully placed. Now, only the bag sat there, slumped under the desk like something abandoned.
"Where's Anna?" Alex asked.
Raymond—messy hazelnut hair, hazelnut eyes, and the kind of lazy confidence that made teachers sigh and classmates laugh—shrugged from the back row. "Don't know. She's probably fine."
Alex frowned. Anna wasn't the type to disappear.
It wasn't long before the day gave her something else to chew on.
---
"Hey, freak."
The words sliced through the hallway as Alex shoved her books into her locker. A cluster of boys leaned against the opposite wall, smirks plastered on their faces. Alex recognized them immediately—upper-year troublemakers who never missed a chance to mock Anna or anyone weaker.
Her stomach burned. She was used to being the target sometimes, because of the strange, snake-like mark curling along her neck. But today… today they'd picked the wrong time.
One boy pointed past Alex. She turned and saw Anna at the end of the hallway, walking with her shoulders hunched, hair shielding her face. They laughed louder.
"Hey, curse girl. Lose your leash?"
The rage in Alex snapped like a whip.
"Shut it!" she barked, her abyssal-blue eyes flashing. The sound bounced off the lockers, sharp enough to silence a few nearby students. "Say another word and I'll—"
"Alex."
A calm hand caught her shoulder. Raymond stepped forward, sliding himself between her and the pack of smirking boys. His voice was even, almost lazy, but his stance had weight. "Walk away. Not worth it."
The bullies chuckled, muttering as they shoved off the lockers and drifted down the hall, but the tension they'd stirred didn't leave.
Anna finally lifted her head. Her emerald eyes shimmered—not with tears, but with something heavier, a sadness buried too deep to surface. She said nothing, just offered the smallest of smiles before slipping into class.
Alex's fists unclenched slowly. She knew that smile. It wasn't real.
And it terrified her more than the bullies ever could.