The Devil In Disguise

Fractured Morning

Sunlight filtered softly through the blinds, casting a warm glow over Gianina's room. She stirred, her mind slowly surfacing from the haze of sleep. For a moment, a fleeting, precious moment, the world felt normal. The warmth, the stillness, the faint sound of voices drifting up from downstairs—it all felt familiar, comforting.

She blinked her eyes open, the events of the previous days feeling like a distant dream. A smile almost touched her lips as she stretched, memories of the fall fair, their laughter, and late nights studying with her friends floating through her mind. And Jordan—Jordan was still here, just downstairs waiting, probably texting her about some new idea or plan she'd come up with for them all to do together.

But then, like a tidal wave, the memories crashed into her with brutal clarity. Jordan's face, pale and lifeless in the library; the blood staining the floor; the cries of their friends, and the unbearable silence that had followed. Her heart tightened, her stomach twisted, and she felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under her.

"No, no, no..." she whispered, her voice trembling as the truth settled like a stone in her chest. "This can't be real. Jordan... she can't be gone."

A strangled cry escaped her lips, her hands flying to her head as if she could physically hold the grief and horror at bay. Her breaths grew rapid, each one more frantic than the last as she sat up, clutching the bedpost. "I was supposed to protect her! I promised her... I promised!"

The bedroom door flew open as Mary, Marcus, Cal, and Rufus rushed inside, their faces etched with worry. Mary stepped forward, reaching out to Gianina. "GG, we're here," she said softly, her voice laced with concern. "It's okay. Just take a breath."

But Gianina barely registered their presence, her body shaking as she clutched her knees, rocking back and forth. "I let her down. I wasn't there... I should have saved her." Her voice rose, frantic, as she buried her face in her hands. "This is all my fault!"

"GG, please," Marcus said, moving to her side, his hand reaching out to touch her shoulder. But she pulled away, her gaze unfocused as she muttered to herself, caught in a loop of self-blame and despair.

Her cries grew louder, more desperate, until they turned into screams. She clutched at her hair, her nails digging into her skin as she struggled to contain the storm raging inside her. Her breathing was ragged, her body trembling as she felt the weight of the guilt bearing down on her.

In a flash, Cal moved forward, his face set in determination. He took hold of her shoulders, pressing her back against the wall, his gaze locked on hers, fierce and steady.

"Gianina!" he shouted, his voice a mixture of anger and urgency. It was rare for Cal to use her full name; he'd always called her "GG," the nickname an anchor between them. But now, the sharpness in his tone and the weight of her real name cut through the fog of her distress.

Gianina froze, her wide, tear-filled eyes staring up at him, shocked into silence. Her breaths came in shallow gasps as she met his gaze, feeling the intensity of his presence grounding her.

"You have to listen to me," Cal continued, his hands gripping her shoulders as he steadied her. "You couldn't have known this would happen. It's not your fault."

Gianina's lip trembled as she tried to look away, her voice barely a whisper. "But I should have protected her..."

Cal's grip tightened, his gaze unwavering. "No one could have protected her. This isn't on you, Gianina. None of this is on you."

Marcus shifted uncomfortably nearby, his hands clenching into fists as he watched, a look of worry and protectiveness flashing in his eyes. "Cal, maybe let her go. She's hurting..."

But Gianina's focus remained on Cal, his words piercing through the fog of guilt and pain that clouded her mind. "I just... I can't keep going like this, Cal," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. "It's too much."

Cal's expression softened, and he released her shoulders, his hands moving to gently rest on her arms. "I know, GG. I know it's hard. But you have to stay strong. We all need each other now more than ever."

The intensity in his voice cut through the haze, anchoring her back to reality. She took a shaky breath, feeling the weight of his words sink in. Cal was right. They couldn't fall apart now; they had to hold on to each other, to the memories they'd shared, to the strength they'd found in their friendship.

Gianina's shoulders slumped, a fresh wave of tears spilling over as she leaned into Cal, her body wracked with silent sobs. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as she cried, his steady presence grounding her in a way that nothing else could.

Mary placed a gentle hand on Gianina's back, her own eyes wet with tears as she watched her friend crumble, knowing there was little she could do to ease the pain. Rufus stood nearby, his expression unreadable as he looked away, his fists clenched at his sides.

Marcus took a step forward, his gaze fixed on Cal, worry flickering in his eyes. "Cal, is she..."

"She'll be okay," Cal said softly, his voice barely above a whisper as he held Gianina close, his own expression softened with grief and determination. "She just... she just needs a moment."

Gianina's breathing slowed, her sobs quieting as the weight of Cal's embrace provided her with a small measure of comfort. She looked up at him, her tear-streaked face filled with gratitude and sorrow.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse from crying. "I... I don't know what I would do without you."

Cal gave her a small, sad smile, his hand gently brushing a tear from her cheek. "You're not alone, GG. None of us are. We'll get through this... together."

As Marcus trying to push past that he couldn't help his own girlfriend. The group sat in silence, each of them feeling the weight of their shared grief, their bond growing more robust in the face of the unimaginable loss they had suffered. They knew the journey ahead would be difficult, that the pain would linger, but they also knew that they would face it together.

As the morning light filled the room, Gianina felt a glimmer of hope, a tiny spark of strength ignited by the presence of her friends. And though the pain remained, she knew that with them by her side, she could find a way to carry on, one day at a time.