📖 CHAPTER TWO — The Boy Who Knew Too Much
Luminaris High-Tier Academy always looked too perfect in the morning—
floating glass walkways, silver trees glowing with soft neon, and hundreds of students rushing around with holo-screens hovering beside them like pets.
Anya moved through the crowd quietly, replaying last night's message in her mind.
WE SAW THAT.
DO NOT RUN.
She had deleted it, wiped her window system clean, even reset the power grid in her room…but the fear clung to her like smoke.
She kept her hood low, hoping no one would notice her still-shaky hands.
"Anya!"
She froze for half a second, then sighed.
Here we go.
Zayn hopped over a bench like something out of an action game, landing beside her with that ridiculous grin he always wore — the kind that made half the school annoyed and the other half obsessed.
His jacket flickered with changing LED symbols, and his hair was pushed back like he'd styled it in a hurry… or in a wind tunnel.
"You look tired," he said, falling into step with her. "Nightmares again?"
Anya blinked.
He knew?
Of course he did. Zayn noticed everything.
"Something like that," she said softly.
Zayn studied her face for a moment. His usual playful look faded, replaced with something sharper… almost protective.
"You sure you're okay? Your aura's all weird today."
"Zayn," she whispered, "I don't have an aura."
"Everyone has an aura," he shrugged. "Yours just… flickers sometimes."
Flickers.
Her chest tightened.
Before she could ask what he meant, a loud chime rang through the academy. Holo-screens unfolded in midair above the courtyard, showing the principal's emblem.
ATTENTION STUDENTS.
A CITY-WIDE SECURITY BREACH OCCURRED LAST NIGHT.
ALL UNREGISTERED ENERGY FLUCTUATIONS ARE BEING INVESTIGATED.
IF YOU SAW OR EXPERIENCED ANYTHING—REPORT IMMEDIATELY.
Anya's blood turned cold.
Zayn looked at her slowly… too slowly.
"Anya," he murmured, leaning closer, "is there anything you want to tell me?"
Her heart pounded. "Why would you think I know something?"
Zayn didn't answer at first. He just studied her with those warm but unreadable eyes.
Then he whispered,
"Because the fluctuation happened… near your building."
Anya's breath caught.
Zayn stepped even closer, voice low and serious — a tone he almost never used.
"If something happened last night, you can tell me. I swear I won't let anyone touch you."
Her pulse raced.
But before she could respond—
A shadow fell across them.
A tall, cold-looking boy in black stepped behind her, his voice quiet and dangerous:
"Actually… she's coming with me."
It was Kai.