The Fallen Angel

9.Hidden

Ero Pov

Walking away from the girl writhing in pain on the ground, a whirlwind of confusion engulfed me as my head spun and my arms reddened at her touch. My heart ached with a mixture of curiosity and anguish, grappling with the inexplicable torment she had inflicted upon me. Questions raced through my mind in a frantic attempt to make sense of the inexplicable: How could a mere human wield such power over me? What had she done to invoke such agony? Was she truly human, or something else entirely? Pausing in my tracks.

I grimaced as pain surged through my body, my scars on my back igniting in fiery agony. "Adrian must know something about her," I muttered to myself, my voice strained with discomfort. "Who is she, and why does my very being rebel against her touch?" Fumbling with disbelief, I examined the spot where my tattoo had once resided, now replaced by a dark scar, leaving me utterly bewildered and lost.

Walking into the infirmary, I sought out the girl who had caused me such inexplicable pain. However, my path was obstructed by her friends, surrounding her protectively. Doubts and suspicions plagued my thoughts, wondering if this girl had been sent by my father, perhaps as punishment for my true identity. The prospect filled me with anxiety, yet fueled a simmering desire for revenge. As I stood by her bedside, observing her delicate features, a pang of guilt tugged at my conscience.

She lay there, vulnerable and injured, her dark hair spilling over the pillow, her pale face contorted in agony, and her soft murmurs of pain tugging at my conscience. Despite the anger radiating from her friends, I couldn't shake the feeling of remorse as I stared down at her, her innocent appearance belying the chaos she had wrought in my life.

Her friend stood up angrily and questioned, "What do you want now? Why are you here?".

I observed the anger in her eyes as I glanced at the girl. With pink lips trembling, she spoke, "Aria, it's okay. I can handle it," as she slowly rose from her bed.

Aria stopped the girl, firmly stating, "Can you get out from here?" I felt my frustration mounting as the girl looked at her friend, then turned her gaze to me, asking, "What brings you here?" Unable to handle the barrage of questions.

I grasped her, hoping to gauge if my pain was resurfacing, but her grip was strong as she pushed my hand away and stood up , She asserted firmly, "I don't have any issues with you. Whatever is between you and Adrian, I'm not a part of it. Adrian is not my boyfriend."

I seized her again and shoved her friend aside, frustration boiling over. "Who are you? What have you done to me?" I demanded angrily.

Her puzzled expression persisted as she attempted to extricate her hands from mine, asking, "What are you babbling about?" Feeling her genuine confusion, I let go of her hand. Yet, I couldn't shake off the bewilderment surrounding the pain and dark scar left from her touch earlier.

Exiting the infirmary, I spotted someone familiar by the entrance – the angel from Elysium. "What brings you here?" I asked, recognizing him. "We've discovered something unsettling. I believe you should return," he suggested. Pulling him closer, he stumbled against my chest. "Don't presume to command me," I snapped, my anger escalating. He smiled knowingly. "This is your father's directive," he informed me. Fear surged through me, and I replied, "I'm not finished here yet. I require more time," frustration evident in my words.

His gaze lingered on my dark scar, and he commented, "Looks like you've tangled with a human," his unsettling smile prompting me to conceal the scar with my sleeves. "What do you know? Where's my tattoo?" I pressed, feeling my frustration mounting. Once again, he smiled, exacerbating my unease. "This is precisely why you can't remain here for extended periods," he cryptically remarked. Anger surged within me. "I'm lost. What are you implying?" I demanded, my tone edged with frustration.

Drawing closer, his presence exuded authority, as if he possessed intimate knowledge of who I was. With a tap on my shoulder, his words reverberated through me, sending a shiver down my spine. "Return home before it's too late," he insisted. Swallowing hard, I felt the gravity of his warning sink in. "Back off before I make you," I countered, my defiance evident. With a knowing smile, the angel disappeared into the ether, leaving me to wrestle with the unsettling encounter.

Walking uneasily, I resolved to stay at the high school for the time being and began the registration process. My mind buzzed with thoughts of vengeance against Adrian. Lost in my own world, I was approached by a group of random boys. "Hey bro! Want to hear some good news?" they chirped excitedly. Annoyance flashed across my face as I glanced at them. Unfazed, they persisted, "We've appointed you as the leader of our team. Care to hang out? You're pretty cool, and we're not big fans of Adrian either." A smile crept onto my lips as I recognized this as an opportunity to gain the trust of humans, prolonging my stay.

I nodded, and the boys reciprocated with a fist bump, their loyalty evident. One of them offered me a cigarette, and another lit it for me. As the smoke wafted into my nostrils, I couldn't help but smile with the cigarette between my lips. "I'll take you all down if you're messing with me," I declared, exhaling smoke. Their response was resolute, "That's exactly why we picked you." With a side hug, they solidified our newfound camaraderie.

Walking alongside my new team, I entered the classroom for the first time. Students who knew of my reputation immediately backed away in fear, creating a space around me. "This is exactly what I wanted," I thought to myself, relishing the sense of power and control. Adrian's expression shifted as he noticed me, his smile vanishing quickly, a silent acknowledgment of the changing dynamics.

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