✨ A Little Bit of Magic || READER X RAY || The Promised Neverland

✨ Chapter Fifty Two

A warm hand flicked my forehead. Nigel glared at me. "Listen to me closely, dumbass." I nodded my head diligently. His words and his fingers hurt like hell. "Stay away from that kid. He's bad news. I know you aren't now, so I'll let you in on my theory. Isabella? She's not stupid. I'm sure she's aiming for something- And it's what she offered me."

I held my breath, his pause strangely dramatic.

"The first forbidden spell- Resurrection. To bring back a loved one from the dead. That's what I was offered."

What? Was I hearing this right?

The more questions I asked, the less answers I got. It was a domino effect of misunderstood intentions and goals, some even seemingly sinister. 

My fingers tightened around the looseness of the white bedsheets, balling up the fabric in my hands. The more Nigel spoke, the more things started to slowly make sense. Things I didn't want to believe. Things I didn't want to hear. But they were things I had to know. 

"What I'm sure of is Ray's participation in her plans. That headmistress of ours, I mean. He's her son, her pawn, a tool in the game." I frowned. "How could you be so sure of that, Nigel? What had Ray ever done to show he had ill intentions towards anyone?" At that remark, he tilted his head, genuinely confused. "Have you forgotten so easily, y/n? You're an idiot. Forgiving and forgetting just like that. Use that brain of yours. Think a little harder. Remember." 

Remember? 

Remember. 

I closed my eyes, trying my hardest to do just that. Every time Ray had hurt me, every time he'd acted strange, or out of character. 

He'd abandoned me after my parents died. He'd just randomly entered my life to tutor me. He was hot and cold in temperament, but went out of his way to protect me. He encouraged me to get braver, yet to be more responsible. He gave me a chance with Zack. He taught me about beauty in even the most unlikely of places. He taught me to face my trauma, he taught me to love. 

I remembered his stupid smile, that time in the garden. After I'd passed the exam and overcame my fears. He hugged me, instantly. He held me in his arms, tight and warm. He was smiling, with his eyes and his lips. Those lips that were so close to mine. 

I hadn't realized it before. But my heart- it was always beating faster whenever Ray was with me.

I felt a frown spread across my face. This wasn't the time to admit it. 

That I was in love.  

"y/n, I accept full responsibility for whatever I do to you."

"What?" I muttered, Nigel's strange comment almost pulling me off my train of thought. But even strangely so, he was the one who pushed me back in. 

I felt the warmth of a fingertip poke my forehead. "Nigel, what are you-" "Cux omnis oculus."

An incredibly strong force pushed me back, my body hitting the wall behind my bed. "Ugh!" I hissed, the weight of the fucking planet pushing against my chest. I can't breath, I can't fucking breathe! My eyes were locked tight, whatever movement I tried to make a futile attempt. My skin found a way to feel tighter and tighter than before, the absolute limit of a human heart rate probably what mine was beating at right now. I was burning up. Until I fell to the cold, hard ground, my lungs finally released from that stifling hold. "Hah, hah, hah," I panted, trying to get ahold of my breath. 

I almost died. I literally almost just died. 

"Nigel, you fucking bitch!" I shouted, in between my heavy breaths. "Are you trying to-" I opened my eyes, searching for the blond haired boy who'd obviously just done whatever just fucking happened. The beginning of a flurry of insults were on the tip of my tongue. Until I realized that Nigel wasn't even here. No- Not that Nigel wasn't here. I wasn't there, in my bedroom, with him. 

I was in Headmistress Isabella's office, sprawled across her familiar light oak floor. 

My legs and arms were weak from the event, my fingertips and neck shaking from the fear of coming so close to death. I turned to the window, shocked by the bright blue sky, albeit a little cloudy. It was dinnertime when I ran into Nigel. It was dark outside. So why- Where- 

"Ray!" Isabella shouted, the loud clacking of her heels approaching quickly from behind me. 

God, what do I do? Where do I hide? I can't even bring myself to get up, shit! A thousand thoughts were swarming through my head, as I found myself face to face with the headmistress. 

"H-Hi, Isabella, it- it's me! y/n! Your... favorite student?" I stuttered, gulping nervously at the end. Her expression was locked tight in pure anger and disappointment. Two faces I'd never seen her show. The worst I'd seen was her creepy smile, but the Isabella in front of me was fuming. She was going to kill me. Holy shit Nigel, ghost me will find a way to sabotage your life. She took a running start, heading straight towards my floor bound body. She's going to impale me with her fucking shoes. She's gonna post my dead body outside of the school. "This is what happens to bad kids failing classes, ditching events, and snooping in teacher's rooms!" Will be written on a sign with my blood, chained to my corpse. 

I braced for impact, clenching my teeth. A strangely deep hum emanated from my chest, no giant crash, or stab, or slap. Just a weird tingle, a chill, running down my spine. 

I opened my eyes and turned around. She'd walked right past me. No. Not past me. Through me. And that killing glare she'd had- That was directed towards Ray, standing silent at the other side of the room.