𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕗 ℂ𝕝𝕒𝕚𝕣𝕖 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕧𝕠𝕚𝕔𝕖𝕤....? (𝚁𝙴𝚆𝚁𝙸𝚃𝙴)

ᶜʰᵃᵖᵗᵉʳ ¹⁸ | ᴬⁿ ᵁⁿʷᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᴰⁱˢᵗʳᵃᶜᵗⁱᵒⁿ ᴮᵘᵗ ᴬ ᴺᵉʷ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈ

🅽🅾🆃🅴: ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ꜱʜᴏʀᴛ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴛɪᴍᴇ.

(The pronouns of the five voices are they/it/she, by the way.)

ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

In the middle of Claire's conversation with Engel, a drone suddenly swooped down and grabbed her. Claire's voices erupted in alarm.

Serene (Nurturing Voice): "Claire, stay calm—focus on breathing!"

Insight (Calm Voice): "Look for a way out; you have options!"

Woe (Fearful\Crying Voice): "This is dangerous! You need to escape, now!"

Fury (Protective\Angry Voice): "Fight, Claire! Don't let them take you!"

Rush (Urgent\Panicked Voice): "Don't just hang there—move!"

Claire's attention snapped to the person controlling the drone—Edward, holding the remote with a smirk, while Zip and Oliver laughed nearby. Before she could react, the drone abruptly released her, dropping her into a pit. Claire screamed as her voices erupted into chaotic panic.

Serene: "We're with you, Claire—hold on!"

Woe: "This can't be happening. What if we don't survive this?"

Insight: "Calculate your landing—brace yourself!"

Fury: "Those jerks will pay for this!"

Rush: "Magic, Claire—use magic! Your a Hellenic! Do something!"

Claire, confused and desperate, shouted internally, What powers? Magic? I haven't awakened—I don't even know if I have any! The voices quieted in helpless frustration as she continued to plummet.

She hit the first floor hard and everything went dark. Her voices, desperate and panicked, called out to her.

Serene: "Wake up, Claire, please!"

Woe: "Oh no... is she even listening?"

Fury: "Don't you dare give up!"

Rush: "Get up! Get up now!"

Insight: "Come back to us, Claire."

But no matter how desperately they tried, Claire did not respond. The silence was unsettling, a void even her five voices couldn't penetrate as they waited, hoping she'd return to consciousness soon.

✦.── ✾── .✦

Meanwhile, Engel tried to run downstairs to help Claire, but the bell rang. He barely had a chance to make it when the librarian, who also happened to be the principal, ushered all students out of the library. Engel tried to explain, but he couldn't get a word in. Things only got worse when he realized it was exam time...

─•────˚ʚ❀ɞ˚────•─

After what felt like an eternity, Claire was finally awakened by a student gently shaking her.

"Hey... Hey! Wake up!" the girl said, her voice soft but urgent.

Claire groaned, still sore from the impact, but she was surprised to find herself alive—and with no broken bones—despite the fall. She vaguely recalled being dropped into a pit from what seemed like seven floors or more.

Claire's five voices erupted with a wave of emotions, flooding her with relief, concern, and worry.

Serene (Calm and Nurturing Voice): "Thank goodness you're okay, Claire!"

Woe (Fearful Voice): "I was so scared for you!"

Fury (Protective Voice): "Those bullies are going to regret this!"

Rush (Urgent Voice): "Focus! You need to get out of here!"

Insight (Logical Voice): "Assess your situation. You need to move fast."

Even Fury, who would typically scold her, was silent with relief. But the gratitude didn't last long as the girl kneeling beside her had emerald-green eyes that reminded Claire of her own original ones. Her soft, copper-brown hair fell in gentle waves around her face as she looked at Claire with concern.

"You have to leave. Now," the girl said.

"H—huh...?" Claire replied, disbelieving.

"You... you missed the exams," the girl whispered, worry clouding her expression.

The words sent a chill through Claire, even though her voices had half-expected it. They feared the worst.

I... I missed the exams?

Claire's thoughts tumbled, but Insight and Fury, in a rare moment of unity, quickly reassured her that she was a victim of circumstance; none of this was her fault. Now, however, all five voices urged her to leave the school as fast as possible.

"I...," Claire began, glancing gratefully at the girl who had woken her. "Thank you so much... What's your name?"

"Zoella. But you can call me Zoe," the girl replied, standing up and clasping Claire's hand tightly.

"The exit is at the back of the school, on the left side. I hope that helps."

Claire's eyes widened with gratitude, and she squeezed Zoe's hand. "Thank you, Zoe. I'm forever in your debt."

Zoe nodded, offering a faint smile. But then Rush, once again panicking in Claire's mind, urged her to go now.

Rush: "Move, Claire! You have to go!"

Claire didn't hesitate; she quickly made her way upstairs, glancing back once to see Zoe watching her go.

Woe: "Stay safe, Claire! Please!"

Serene: "You've got this, just keep moving."

Fury: "Get out of here and find a way to get back at them!"

Insight: "Remember the exit plan, stay focused."

With her voices echoing in her mind, Claire pressed on, determined to escape the school that had turned into a nightmare.

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