The Fallen Angel

7.Wrath

In a fit of rage, I shouted, "Ero, leave him alone!" Ero's eyes filled with anger as he tossed Cavan aside, leaving him sprawled on the ground like a lifeless body. He advanced toward me, his glare piercing. Despite my fear, I stood my ground and defiantly declared, "Don't you dare address me by my name!" As I spoke, his grip tightened, causing the cat food to spill onto the ground. My cat cowered behind the bars, watching the unfolding chaos. Ero's threat rang in my ears as he whispered, "You're next," his hand gripping my shirt. "Ero," I gasped, recalling Adrian's warning, "you don't belong here." His response was swift and brutal; he shoved me against the wall, sending a shock of pain through my back as I crumpled to the ground. With a final warning, he snarled, "Stay away from me."

As my vision blurred, I felt a wave of numbness washing over me. My cat's frantic movements were a blur as it rushed towards me. I closed my eyes, feeling my body growing colder by the second. Panic surged through me as I called out for help. Suddenly, the dizziness stopped, and I opened my eyes to find myself lying in bed, my cat licking my face. Confusion and relief washed over me as I realized I was back home. Beside me, there was a hot water tub and a warm towel. My mom entered the room, her face filled with concern as she rushed to my side. "Are you okay, honey? You fainted on the street," she exclaimed. I breathed a sigh of relief that they were unaware of the true cause. Despite the pain coursing through my body, I managed to ask my mom for a painkiller, whispering, "I'm tired, mom." She nodded and hurried out of the room to fetch it.

At the classroom

I groggily stirred awake at my desk, my mind feeling blank and devoid of any dreams. Hearing a soft whisper, I slowly roused myself, stretching and rubbing my sleepy eyes. Aria's gentle voice broke through the haze, reminding me it was time for the next class. With a tired smile, I acknowledged her beautiful face and nodded in agreement. "Isn't it Tuesday? Adrian will be here soon as promised," I murmured. Aria's excitement was infectious as she nodded eagerly, expressing her enthusiasm. "This is your chance, babe," she exclaimed with joy, and we shared a moment, holding hands as we looked forward to the day ahead.

As I walked down the corridor of the girl's restroom, my attention was caught by a door at the back that was mysteriously left open. It piqued my curiosity, stirring memories of my high school days when that door had always been closed. Unable to resist, I ventured inside. The room appeared to be a storage area, filled with cobwebs and shadows. My breath caught in fear, but then I noticed a faint blue light emanating from the corner. Intrigued, I cautiously approached. Suddenly, I froze in place as I beheld a pearl adorned with silver dust, reminiscent of a magical spell from a Merlin tale. My hand reached out instinctively, but before I could touch it, the pearl vanished into thin air. A voice behind me shattered the silence, causing me to whirl around in shock.

"What are you doing here?" Adrian's voice startled me, but I quickly felt relieved at seeing him. "I'm sorry, Adrian. The door was open, so I came in out of curiosity. Did you see that too?" I asked, hoping for some explanation. However, Adrian's expression turned to fury. "Get out of this room now!" he shouted, leaving me bewildered. "Why are you shouting at me?" I questioned, confused by his sudden anger. His frustration seemed to grow as he avoided eye contact, running his hand through his hair in exasperation. Unable to bear the tension, I offered, "I'm sorry. Remember, we have a math recap today." His voice filled with frustration, Adrian replied, "Go now. I'll meet you at the library." With a heavy heart, I left the room, puzzled by Adrian's reaction.

As I waited anxiously in the library, my heart skipped a beat with every opening door, hoping it would be Adrian. But after two long hours of waiting, I couldn't suppress the disappointment murmuring, "I knew he wouldn't come." Just as I began to gather my things to leave, the door finally opened, and there he was. A smile of relief touched my lips, but it quickly faded when I noticed a girl standing next to him. "Are you sure? Aren't you going to tutor her?" she asked him. I watched in disbelief , "No chance. That girl? She's a total nuisance. Can't stand her," he scoffed, his disdain evident in his tone. My heart sank at his words, and I hastily retreated back into the shelves, slipping out of the library unnoticed.

Aria's voice echoed through the room, calling out my name urgently. I turned to see her running towards me, and despite my earlier mood, her enthusiasm was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile. "What's up?" I asked, curious about her excitement. With a swirl, she exclaimed, "Your handsome brother is here!" My eyes widened in surprise, and I couldn't hide my disappointment as I responded, "What? Mom said he'd be here at the end of the week. Why is he here now?".

As I approached my brother, my beautiful friend bounded over with excitement, having not seen him in four years, just like me. I teasingly reminded her, "You can't cheat on Aiden," to which she laughed and confessed, "Your brother was always my first crush." Laughing together, I wrapped my arms around her in a hug. Then, I saw my brother in his army uniform. He looked thinner, and exhaustion was evident on his face. My heart swelled with longing as I realized how much I missed him. Unable to contain myself, I rushed forward and enveloped him in a tight hug, welcoming him home. He hugged me back warmly but then playfully pulled me by the ears, asking, "Why didn't you answer my calls?" With a guilty smile, I replied, "I'm a high school student now."

_____________________________