Harper

A HICKEY!!

Harper's pov:

I felt the room closing down on me, a heavy cloak of anxiety threatening to engulf my senses. The minute hand ticked away, bringing me perilously close to a full-blown panic attack. Just then, a distant noise echoed from downstairs, shattering the suffocating silence. My mind immediately raced to one thought—King. He was here.

Heart pounding, I rushed downstairs, only to be met with a surreal scene. King, surrounded by a formidable entourage of 20 men, unleashed a torrent of curses, demanding Henry's immediate presence. I stood frozen until King's gaze fixed on me, momentarily softening before turning steely again.

"Where the hell is Henry, Riley?" King's voice boomed, his eyes darkening.

Summoning courage, I took a deep breath, emotions held in check. "Let's talk in private," I said, swiftly walking away, ignoring the puzzled stares of onlookers.

King followed, his footsteps echoing on the marble floors. He collapsed on the floor, head in hands, as I sat beside him, torn between revealing the truth about Henry's safety and keeping it hidden. The weight of his anguish made me hesitate.

"I'm sure we'll find him," I reassured, attempting to break the heavy silence.

Rising, King's anger surged. "You know this is all your fault, right?" he lashed out, punching the wall, tears barely held at bay. That's when I noticed it—the telltale hickey.

"King, what's that?" I asked, pointing at his red neck.

"Riley, I don't want to talk about this right now," he replied, walking away. The mystery of Henry's disappearance gnawed at me, compounded by the unanswered questions about the hickey.

Seeking answers, I pursued King into the parlour, overhearing discussions about Henry's potential discovery. Hope and dread battled within me as Hunter mentioned they might have found him.

In an attempt to eavesdrop, a vase fell, and the echoing crash betrayed my presence. "Come out!" Tyrus commanded, eyes furrowed. The gazes of those around me were filled with hate, disgust, annoyance.

"We will no longer be looking for Henry," Tyrus declared. "Your boyfriend will find him; he is not family to us." As Tyrus left, Hades followed, leaving me bewildered and questioning my place in the house.

Alone and consumed by thoughts of Henry and Max, I sought refuge in distraction. My attention turned to my forgotten school uniform, a beacon of excitement amidst chaos.

With the uniform laid out before me, I couldn't resist trying it on. The ensemble, a white shirt with a black tie and a flaw skirt, sparked newfound excitement. Butterfly leggings and boyfriend shoes completed the look, and a chain added an edgy vibe.

In the midst of this, Herkins entered, and for the first time, his gaze held awe and love. "Go to sleep, Harper," he said, offering a shaky smile before leaving. Excitement for the coming school day mingled with the fear of potential loneliness.

Turning on my side, thoughts drifted to Dylan and the forgotten connection with a girl named Jane. The realization of having made a friend on the airplane hit me, and with a sigh, I took my sleeping medicine, preparing for the challenges of the looming day. Tomorrow held promise and fear in equal measure, as I drifted into a restless sleep, lost in the shadows of uncertainty.