Star Crossed Haters [EDITING]

Alert

*Dan's pov * 

Kurin, Aay, Riot and I sit at a table, next to a chandelier dangling upside down. Rows of benches hand below us.

"You're such a simp, Dan, get over him already." Aay says, rolling his eyes. He slumps even further, faces pressed against the table. 

"You're just being dramatic." Riot adds, glaring at me through thick lashes and dramatic eyeliner. 

"Dan, don't listen to them. I love you more than you could know. " I turn around, Magnus standing before me. Tears pricking my eyes, I almost trip over my chair while dashing towards him. He deteriorates before me, morphing into dust. The wind scatters the small fragments. 

"He never loved you. It was all in your head." Kurin sneers. 

"It was all in your head." Riot repeats

"It was all in your head." They chant, towering before me. 

I have nothing and everything to say, so I keep my mouth shut. I begin to hyperventilate- 

It was just a dream. 

I groan and roll over to my stomach grabbing the pillow, and placing it over, hoping it would block out the noise. I toss the blanket aside and leap out of bed. I stand in the corridor. Sleep sticking to my eyes, I rub them as my feet drag me out of bed. Clutching my pillow, I watch. A shrill, piercing sound blares out across the academy. Students frantically dash through the corridors, desperate to find safety. A lion's mane captures my attention. A single file line of students marches behind Haavik. a hint of glee in his eyes, highlighted by the light. My heart palpitates, and I follow behind Haavik's line. A few students have their brows knit together upon my joining, and others simply smile. I shudder, wishing I had my blanket. 

"It's too early for all this fuss," I mumble, wincing at the harsh and vivid light. 

"Ooh~ I remember the faculty saying this was preserved specifically for an emergency. What fun!" Haavik squeals, clapping his hands together.

"Oh shut up, Haavik." His students groan 

"Way to spoil the fun." Haavik leads us to the assembly. We find ourselves seats. I rest my head by using my pillow. 

"SILENCE!" Philomena roars, nostrils flaring. 

"It has come to our attention that our PRIZED POSSESSIONS HAVE GONE MISSING." The academy gasped in unison. Kravitz continues,

"And there can only be two possibilities: A) A bigger organisation than ourselves is aware of our presence, and has stolen from us."

"Or," Storm adds, pausing dramatically, "B) there is a traitor amongst us." The academy descends into a hall of curious and frantic students chattering. I rest my head against the pillow, succumbing to the sleep beckoning. . .

"DAN!!!" 

"Huh???" I exclaim, drool leaking from my mouth. My hand reaches my mouth, swiping it away. I jump up to see Kurin, Aay and Riot in front. 

"Assemblies over!" Riot yells 

"What did I miss?" 

"So action plans to identify who took it, but in the meantime, be wary of everything."

"What should I do," I yawn, and I cover it with my hand "With my pillow?"

"Just leave it!" 

"'Kay," I mumble. Riot drags me to our lesson, I protest along the way. 

"But I'm tired!" I whine. 

Riot whips her head around to stare at me incredulously. She seizes my collar and brings us two inches apart. 

"No. Complaining. You will be going to this lesson Asher you like it or not, understand?" 

"Yes," I wheeze, her fake nails digging into my neck.

"Thank you!" She smiles sweetly. Kurin and Aay clutching onto each other for dear life. 

We stop outside the self-defence corridor, and we wait alongside the other students.

Storm awaits us. His chestnut hair was slightly unkept, dark circles under his eyes and hollow cheekbones. A ghost of a smile flickers across his face. Or maybe I'm hallucinating. 

"As you are aware, they are a possibility of a traitor being among us. We practice self-defence today in anticipation of that. Remember, our number one rule?" 

"Always protect the face!"

"Sorry?" Storm cups his hand to his ear. 

"Always protect the face!"

"Good. You may begin, using everything you have learned so far." Aay comes towards me, so we partner up. 

I clutch my knees, panting for breath. Pain shoots up from my stomach. 

"Pretty weak ya know." 

"I'm trying." 

"Coulda has been better. Imagine I'm Ma-" Aay and I share the same mortified expression. Something stirs within me. A primal rage. No, I tell myself, no. But can I let him get away with it? No. Punching him is wrong-

 I abandon my fears and lunch him in the square in the jaw. I feel satisfied at the sound of the cracking of his bones. He stumbles back from the impact, my hand imprinted onto his face. I kneel and offer him my hand, disgusted at my actions. Silent tears streaming down his face, he bats my hand away. 

"Aay, it was an accident-"

"Save it for someone who cares!" He shrieks, his words stabbing at my heart. I drop onto the floor with him, clawing at his face. A pang of salt enters my mouth; tears of rage. Kurin raises his hand and slaps me across the face. I raise my hand to the spot, and at that moment, he rises. 

"You're not the person I thought you were." 

"You're right," I choke between the tears "I'm NOT!" 

"𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥."

 "𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦."

 ". . .𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴!"

My rage explodes, like the lid of a simmering kettle popping off. 

I recoil my right leg, drawing it towards my hip, and then I extend, aiming for his nose. The green-haired boy cups his nose, crimson liquid trickling like a waterfall from it. My classmates turn mixed expressions. Some have their nose wrinkled, others lips pouted, mainly tutting and sighing. I grimace. 

"Dan, out!" 

"But-" 

"OUT!" Storm thunders, gesturing towards the door. I open the door and channel my rage on the door. I lean against the door, my heart pounding. I sink my knees, bury my head in them, and allow myself to cry.