𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒚𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎 | Riven

𝟎𝟐

═━ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎 ━═

Fallin stirred in bed as the first light of dawn filtered through the thin curtains and hit her face. The events of the night before were still vivid in her mind—a disturbing memory that left her feeling uneasy. She sighed, as she quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Terra and Musa. Both laid curled under their blankets, breaths deep and steady. They all had a very long night, so she was very careful not to wake them.

Dressing quickly, she slid on a pair of black jeans, a fitted top, and her favorite grey leather jacket, a comforting layer that had been through more than its fair share of scrapes. She moved silently through the room and slipped out the door, her thoughts already racing toward where she knew she needed to go.

◇

The hallways were silent as she made her way to the headmistress's office, the morning still calm and not disrupted by the bustling of other students. Miss Dowling's office was at the far end of the corridor, a familiar and almost comforting sight. To Fallin, Dowling was more than just the headmistress—she was practically family. She had known Fallin's father and mother for years, even long before Fallin had been born. Dowling and her father had always cared for each other deeply and after her mother died, Fallin felt that their friendship had become more than that, although they'd never really shown it. Her father, she knew, was still healing, still living in the shadow of her mother's memory, not ready to start a new chapter yet.

Her heart ached at the thought of him. He was always so strong, acting as if he had moved on. But Fallin could see the sorrow that lingered behind his eyes, the way his face softened, pained, whenever he looked at her and saw her mother reflected in her features. He told her often that she looked just like her—a  small compliment that comforted her that even though her mother was dead, she was still by her side.

She tried to remember her mother, but there were only faint fragments—a blurred face in her memories, a touch of warmth, a lullaby sung softly to her as she fell asleep. It was shortly after Fallin was born, during a mission to hunt down Burned Ones, when her mother and Sky's father had both lost their lives. Her father had tried to keep the details hidden from them, but she and Sky had always sensed the grief that Silva carried within him. The losses of his wife and his best friend on the same day had left scars, ones he tried to shield them from. 

Fallin's thoughts lingered on the memories, as she turned a corner and nearly collided with a girl her age, who had striking brown eyes and shoulder-length hair with hints of red glinting in the sunlight. The girl looked up, catching Fallin's gaze, and flashed a broad, bright smile that seemed almost too friendly.

"You must be Headmaster Silva's daughter," she said, a bit too cheerfully. "I've heard so much about you."

Fallin raised an eyebrow, uncertain how to respond to this stranger's familiarity. Sensing her hesitation, the girl continued, her tone light but with a subtle edge. "I'm a big fan of your father's work. I was hoping you and I could become friends... maybe you'd share a few stories about him. You know, the things he wouldn't want everyone else to know?"

The words hung in the air with a loaded meaning, making Fallin's eyes narrow slightly. She instinctively studied the girl, wondering what exactly she was getting at. Before she could respond, the girl widened her eyes in mock surprise and backtracked, laughing nervously.

"Oh no, that was so weird, wasn't it?" she said quickly. "I'm sorry—I'm just really excited to be here and meet you. I swear, I don't usually talk this much." She held out a hand with a sheepish grin. "I'm Beatrix."

Fallin took her hand briefly, her curiosity piqued but her guard still up. There was something about Beatrix's friendliness that felt... strategic. She felt uneasy, though she couldn't quite place why. Beatrix's enthusiasm seemed genuine enough, but something about the way she looked at her—as if sizing her up—left Fallin unsettled. Dismissing the feeling as paranoia, she forced a polite smile, pushing the thoughts aside.