Celestial Guardians: Uniting Dimensions (Celestial Guardians Series, #1)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Jamaica's POV

I've always been... different.

Growing up, I learned how to blend into the background and make myself invisible. It was easier that way—less attention, less trouble. But no matter how much I tried, there were always whispers.

"She's weird."

"Stay away from her."

"Freak."

I didn't mind the labels. They were just words, after all. But there was something about how people stared at me like I didn't belong - like I was something they couldn't understand. It hurt more than I let on.

That day started like any other. I had my head down. My books clutched tightly to my chest as I made my way through the crowded halls of St. Claire's Academy. The air buzzed with the chatter of students, the scrape of sneakers against the tiled floor, and the occasional burst of laughter.

I didn't laugh much.

"Hey, Cruz!"

I froze. My heart sank.

I knew that voice. Regina Lopez, the queen of torment. She and her followers were constantly circling, looking for their next victim. And today, it seemed, I was their target.

"Didn't your mom teach you it's rude to ignore people?" Regina's voice was sickly sweet, dripping with malice.

I turned slowly, forcing my face into a neutral expression. "What do you want, Regina?"

She smirked, flipping her perfect hair over her shoulder. "Oh, nothing. I just wanted to ask if you're still talking to your imaginary friends."

The girls behind her snickered. My cheeks burned. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. "Leave me alone."

"Aww, is the little freak upset?" Regina stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Face it, Jamaica. No one wants you here. You're just a—"

I don't remember what she said next.

All I remember is the anger. It bubbled up inside me like a storm, a force I couldn't control. My vision blurred, and all the noise in the hallway faded into silence.

Then it happened.

Regina's books shot out of her grasp, flying across the hall and slamming into the lockers with a deafening bang. Gasps filled the air as students turned to stare.

"What the hell?" Regina stumbled back, her eyes wide with fear.

I didn't move. My heart raced, and my hands buzzed with an inexplicable energy.

"Did you... did you do that?" someone whispered.

"I—" My voice cracked. I didn't know what to say.

Regina's fear twisted into something uglier. "You freak! You're a freak!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the hallway.

The crowd around us grew, their eyes boring into me like lasers. Whispers turned into murmurs, then into full-blown accusations.

"Did you see that?"

"She didn't even touch it!"

"What kind of monster is she?"

I couldn't breathe. My chest tightened as panic set in. The walls felt like they were closing in, and all I wanted to do was disappear.

I ran.

I didn't stop until I was outside, the cool air hitting my face like a slap. My legs ached, my lungs burned, but I didn't care. I collapsed onto a bench, my hands trembling as I tried to understand what had happened.