CTRL

IV

ɴᴇᴡ ᴏʀʟᴇᴀɴꜱ
ᴀᴘʀɪʟ 2018

The rest of Onika's days passed in a blur. She barely paid attention during her other classes, her mind preoccupied with Beyoncé. There was something unsettling about the way she spoke, and Onika couldn't shake the feeling that those dark eyes had seen more than she'd let on. Even as she tried to dismiss the encounter, she kept replaying it in her mind, searching for clues in Beyoncé's words, her tone, the subtle shifts in her expression.

As her last class of the day ended, Onika was packing up her things when she heard footsteps approaching. She glanced up and saw Beyoncé again, leaning casually against the doorframe, her gaze fixed on Onika with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

"Hey," Beyoncé said, her voice smooth, almost melodic. "We didn't get to talk much earlier. Mind if I walk with you?"

Onika hesitated, but then shrugged. "Sure, I guess." She grabbed her bag and followed Beyoncé out of the classroom. They walked down the hall in silence for a moment, the bustling noise of students fading as they stepped outside into the late afternoon air.

"So," Beyoncé began, glancing sideways at Onika, "you're into the whole supernatural thing, huh?"

Onika nodded, trying to read the expression on Beyoncé's face. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. I'm studying parapsychology. I've always been fascinated by... things that can't be explained."

"I can see why," Beyoncé said, her lips curling into a faint smile. "There's a lot out there that most people don't want to see. They'd rather ignore it, pretend it doesn't exist. But you... you're different."

Onika felt a chill at Beyoncé's words, the way she said them like she knew something—something Onika hadn't even admitted to herself. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice more defensive than she intended.

Beyoncé stopped walking and turned to face her, her eyes dark and intense. "I mean you're not afraid to look deeper. Even when it scares you."

Onika blinked, taken aback. There was something almost hypnotic about the way Beyoncé spoke, like she was drawing Onika in, peeling away her layers. "I... guess so," Onika said, struggling to find the right words. "But that doesn't mean I'm not afraid."

"Fear isn't always a bad thing," Beyoncé said softly, leaning in closer. "Sometimes, it keeps you sharp. Makes you see things others can't." She reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from Onika's face, her fingers cool against Onika's skin. "And sometimes, it tells you when to run."

Onika's breath caught, her mind racing. Was this another veiled hint? A warning? Before she could respond, her phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with a call from Nasir. She sighed, her mood instantly souring. "I should take this," she muttered, stepping back and answering the call.

"Hey," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Where are you?" Nasir's voice came through, sharp and impatient. "I've been calling you all day."

"I had class," Onika replied, her tone flat. "What do you want?"

"Don't be like that," he said, his voice softening, but there was a manipulative edge beneath it. "I just wanted to check on you. Make sure you're not... overthinking things again."

Onika's jaw tightened. "I'm fine."

"Are you, though?" Nasir continued, his voice deceptively gentle. "Because the last time you started talking about hearing voices and seeing things, it didn't end well. I'm just trying to help you, baby."

The words stung, more than she wanted to admit. She knew Nasir was trying to manipulate her, trying to make her doubt herself, but part of her still feared he was right. "I don't need your help," she said, trying to keep her voice firm. "I can handle it."