*Reborn in Shadows*

Chapter 9: past or present ?

I woke up groggy, the clock reading 10 o'clock. I must have slept through the entire morning. Feeling refreshed but still tired, I decided to take a long bath. Afterward, I slipped into a silk nightgown, combed my hair, and spent a moment looking at myself in the mirror.

As I thought about the day, I couldn't help but laugh at the memory of Ryan's funky outfit and his clumsy moves. He was such a contrast to Michael, who always seemed lost in thought, carrying around an air of guilt. It was unsettling, like he was constantly weighing something heavy on his mind. It made me uneasy, as though he held some deep regret.

Derek was a different story. His teasing and playful attitude hid a warmth that was both confusing and comforting.

Lost in thought, Derek walked into my room. He looked me up and down with a smirk.

"Caught you daydreaming, huh? Didn't even hear me come in," he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

I turned, surprised. "Oh, hey. I was just thinking about the day. What's up?"

Derek's grin widened. "We're having a movie night and dinner. Thought you might want to join us."

I followed him downstairs, where the smell of cooking filled the air. Derek was busy in the kitchen, and I saw him working on a meal.

"What's cooking?" I asked, peeking over his shoulder.

"Just making dinner," Derek said with a smug look. "It's pretty late, so I sent the staff home and took over. Mum and Dad are still out on work, and I for your information I make the best food around here."nodding off with a bow .

Curious, I decided to try my hand at cooking. I spotted some salad ingredients and sauces and decided to whip up a salad. When Derek tasted it, his eyes went wide.

"This is actually really good! Do you know how to cook?" he asked, clearly impressed.

"Not really," I admitted with a bit of a grin. "It just came to me in a flash." A sudden, sharp pain flared in my head, making me wince a little.

"Hey, sit down," Derek said, his teasing tone replaced by concern. "You've still got that plaster on. I'll bring you the food. Just relax and watch the movie with the others."

I settled into the living room, where Derek soon joined me with a tray of food. I learned that I'd been so tired that i had to be carried up to my room, with Derek taking the lead. It was a nice surprise and made me blush a little .

As we enjoyed the movie, Ryan fell asleep on the couch, and Michael went to his room. Derek eventually dozed off on the couch too. I covered them with blankets and went back to my own bed, feeling pretty content.

Just as I was about to drift off, a loud explosion jolted me awake. I saw a brief, terrifying flash of a boy just like the one from my past. The noise was deafening, making my heart race. I scrambled out of bed, trying to make sense of the situation.

And then, everything went dark.

**