Dark Allure

Brother?

I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my body as I walked into my bedroom. I was still reeling from the meeting with the principal, but I was trying to push it out of my mind.

As I walked towards my bed, something caught my eye. A piece of paper was lying on my pillow, its edges crumpled as if it had been hastily placed there.

I picked it up, my heart racing as I read the words scrawled across the page.

"You're not alone. You have a brother here at the academy."

I dropped the paper, my mind spinning. A brother? I had a brother? I'd always assumed I was an only child, abandoned by my parents and left to fend for myself. But this... this changed everything.

Who could have left the note? And how did they know about my brother? I looked around my room, suddenly feeling paranoid. Was someone watching me?

I picked up the note again, studying it closely. There was no signature, no indication of who had left it.

Tuesday morning, I woke up extra early to meet Ava in the cafeteria. We had so much to discuss. The cafeteria was nearly empty, the tables and chairs pushed to the side to make room for cleaning. Ava and I sat at a table in the corner, our voices echoing off the empty walls.

"I still can't believe you got that note, Rose," Ava said, her eyes wide with shock. "A brother? That's crazy!"

I nodded, my expression grim. "I know. I have no idea what to make of it. I mean, how do I even begin to find him? And what if he doesn't want to be found?"

Ava reached out and squeezed my hand. "Hey, let's not jump to conclusions. Maybe this is a good thing. Maybe your brother is just as lost as you are, and he's been looking for you too."

I sighed. "I guess anything is possible. But I can't help feeling like this is some kind of trap. Like someone is messing with me."

Ava frowned. "Who would do that, though? And why?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Could be anyone trying to get me worked up again."

"Oh, Rose." She shook her head. "Don't say that. I have a good feeling about this." Suddenly she smiled brightly. "And anyways, my parents will come get us tomorrow. We'll be gone the whole Christmas break. We are gonna have so much fun."

"Right, I forgot about that." I sighed, leaning my chin on my hand. 

"So, I was thinking," Ava said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "What if we got matching tattoos? Like, something small and simple. A little reminder of our friendship, you know?"

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the idea. "Hmm, that could be cool. What kind of design were you thinking?"                                                                                                                                                                                 

Ava grinned. "I was thinking maybe a rose and an A for our names. Or maybe just a simple heart."

I nodded, considering her suggestions. "I like the idea of the rose and A. It's unique and personal. Plus, it would look badass."

Ava laughed. "Right? And we could get them in a place that's easily hidden, like our ankles or wrists. That way we can keep them secret if we want to."                                                                                                       

I smiled, imagining the two of us walking around with our matching tattoos, a symbol of our bond. "I'm down. Let's do it."

Ava squealed with excitement, clapping her hands. "Yesss!

The next morning, I stood outside the academy's gates, my backpack slung over one shoulder. Ava was beside me, bouncing on her toes with excitement.       

"I can't believe you're coming home with me for Christmas!" she squealed, her breath hanging in the cold air.

I laughed. "Yeah, it's pretty crazy. I'm not sure your parents know what they're getting themselves into."

Ava rolled her eyes. "Please. My parents love you. They're thrilled you're coming."Just then, a sleek black SUV pulled up to the curb. The tinted windows rolled down, revealing Ava's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alekseev.                                                                                                                                              

"Ava, Rose!" Mr. Alekseev called out, his Russian accent thick. "Come on, get in! We don't want to be late for our flight."

Ava and I hurried over to the car, throwing our bags in the back and climbing into the plush leather seats.

As the car pulled away from the curb, Mrs. Alekseev turned around to face us, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Rose, we're so glad you could join us for the holidays," she said warmly. "Ava has told us so much about you. We're looking forward to getting to know you better."

I smiled nervously, fidgeting with the hem of my jacket. "Thank you for inviting me. I'm excited to spend Christmas with your family."

"Of course," Mr. Alekseev chimed in, his deep voice filling the car. "We are happy to have you. And Ava tells us you are quite the fighter. Perhaps you can teach her a thing or two, da?"

Ava rolled her eyes, elbowing me playfully in the ribs. "Dad, don't embarrass me."

I laughed, feeling myself relax a little. "I'd be happy to give her some pointers, sir."

Mrs. Alekseev shook her head, her lips quirking up into a smile. "Just be gentle with her, Rose. Ava may have the heart of a fighter, but she still has a lot to learn."

Ava groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Mom, please."I chuckled, grateful for the Alekseevs' easy banter. 

Maybe this Christmas wouldn't be so bad after all.