The Mask We Wear

Lyra (Episode 5)

My eyes fluttered open as the moonlight pierced through the thin curtains, casting a dim glow across my dormitory. I blinked a few times, trying to shake the cobwebs of sleep from my mind. But there it was, the only thought that persisted, stubborn and unyielding—his face. The intensity of it all overwhelmed me, making it impossible to think about anything else. I turned to the other side of my bed, desperate for sleep to claim me again, but no matter how much I tossed and turned, peace wouldn’t come.

The room was swallowed in darkness, save for the silvery streaks of moonlight creeping in. I lay there for what felt like hours, listening to the rhythmic breathing of my dormmates, who were all sound asleep. Yet sleep refused to visit me. My thoughts kept circling back to him. Soren. Why couldn’t I stop thinking about him? It was maddening.

Finally, I sat up, feeling the cool air against my skin as I peeled back the blanket. I walked over to the window, resting my hand against the pane. Ashbourne was eerily silent, almost haunting in its stillness. During the day, it was alive, a bustling hub of students and activity. But now, in the dead of night, it felt like a completely different place. Empty. Lonely. Yet, that same loneliness seemed to tug at something deep within me.

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I tried to convince myself to go back to bed. Tomorrow would be another long day of studies, expectations, and the never-ending pressure to succeed. But I couldn’t shake the need that was rising within me. I needed to see him. The idea was irrational, reckless even, but it was as if a magnetic pull was guiding my every move.

I cast a glance around the room, making sure no one else was awake before slipping out of bed. The wooden floor was cold against my bare feet, but the adrenaline coursing through my veins dulled the discomfort. My heart pounded in my chest as I gingerly opened the door, just a crack, to peer into the hallway. Empty.

Sliding on my slippers, I tiptoed out of the dorm and closed the door behind me as softly as possible. The corridor was dimly lit, the flickering lamps barely casting enough light to see where I was going. I felt my pulse quicken, thumping in my chest with every step I took. Fear gnawed at me. What if I got caught? This was dangerous, forbidden even. If I were to be discovered sneaking into the boys' wing, I’d face consequences that could ruin my entire future at Ashbourne. My profile, my reputation—everything could be jeopardized.

But none of that mattered now. All I could think about was him—Soren. The need to see him outweighed everything else. Each step I took brought me closer to the boys' wing, and with each step, my heartbeat seemed to get louder, like a drum pounding in my ears. I quickened my pace, the sound of my slippers softly slapping the floor echoing through the empty hallways.

When I finally reached the entrance to the boys' dormitory, I froze. My heart almost leapt out of my chest as I spotted a shadow moving in the gallery. A guard. I ducked quickly behind a nearby bush, pressing my body into the cool leaves, praying he wouldn’t notice me. My heart was racing, and I could barely breathe as I watched him pace back and forth before finally turning and walking away.

Relief washed over me, and as soon as he was out of sight, I dashed inside the boys' gallery. The corridor stretched ahead of me, doors on either side, but I wasn’t sure which one was his. I remembered seeing him once entering the fourth dorm from the left, so I took a chance. I quietly made my way to the fourth door, feeling my pulse racing beneath my skin.

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I slipped inside and scanned the room. Seven beds lined the walls, each one occupied by a slumbering figure. My breath hitched in my throat as I moved carefully from bed to bed, my eyes searching. Then, on the fourth bed from the left, I saw him.

Soren.

Even in the dim light, his beauty was undeniable. His white skin seemed to glow in the darkness, his features soft and peaceful as he slept. His brown hair was messy, tousled from sleep, but it only added to his allure. I felt my chest tighten as I stood there, just looking at him, mesmerized.