𝐃𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍 | E.C

PROLOGUE

ALEXANDRIA
1 year ago

The click of my shoes echoed against the white marble floors as I swiftly walked through one of the many housing departments within the Erudite compound. Every so often I'd pass a white panelled door, each one identical to the next, the numbers cascading as I neared the end of the hall. Knocking, I tapped my foot impatiently before deep blue eyes locked into mine and a smile made its way onto my face.

Eric and I had been friends for 3 years, the unlikely friendship forming after he was assigned to be my tutor- a fact he would never let me forget. He was dressed in his best suit, navy and tidy just like a true erudite. His blonde hair was slicked back and he wore a half-hearted smile on his perfectly chiseled face. "You ready?" I asked, stepping to the side for him to come out.

Nodding, we walked side by side down the hallway in silence- he seemed nervous which was strange for him. Eric was confident and determined, he never seconded guessed himself or lost faith, it was his best trait. "You okay? I've never seen you this nervous- you're practically shaking." I joked and he gave me a harsh glare, clearly not in the mood for jokes. "Seriously, Eric, you're scaring me."

"Would you please just be quiet?" He snapped and I immediately stopped walking. He had never snapped at me before. "I'm stressed, I have a big decision to make okay?" Decision? He had told me that he already decided.

The wind blew around my hair as I walked, my arm linked with Eric's as the gleam of moonlight lit up our faces. "I know what I'm going to choose." He declared abruptly.

"What? Eric you're not supposed to te-,"

"I'm staying. At Erudite." He continued as he stopped walking. I turned to face him, trying my hardest to read his facial expressions. "I want to be here, with you Lexi."

"Eric, you can't just stay for me. This is your entire life we are talking about." I protested but he ignored me, securing his arm around my waist and pulling me in. Our faces inches apart, his hot breath fanned my icey cold skin like acid rain. His free hand held my jaw and he gently pulled my face closer to his until our lips met.

"I'm just, uh, gonna go to the ceremony." He said with sad eyes and a slight frown. I wasn't allowed in the ceremony but we had planned to have breakfast together. My eyes began to water but I didn't let the tears fall, I knew he was going to leave. "I'm sorry, Lex. I love you."

"No, you don't get to do that." I replied, stepping back. "You don't get to say you love me and then leave, ok? That's not how this works." A tear escaped as I talked, his face softened and his arms wrapped themselves around my figure.

"I don't want to say goodbye." He whispered.

"Then don't." I answered, pushing him away. "Go." He wore a pained expression as he turned abd began to walk away, I sniffled and hugged myself as a new wave of emotion crashed over me.