Echoes Of An Alpha

Chapter 42: A Night of Forgotten Memories

Zara's POV

The dorms were quiet, save for the occasional creak of a door or shuffle of a restless student. Alex and I moved silently through the halls, my heart pounding with every step. Wiping my friends' memories felt wrong, like a violation of trust, but after what I’d seen in the vision, it was necessary.

Alex’s expression was unreadable as we reached our first target: Kai. He was sprawled out on his bed, his breathing steady. I hesitated at the edge of the room, the weight of what I was about to do settling over me like a heavy blanket.

“You sure about this?” Alex whispered, his tone softer than I expected.

I nodded, though my stomach churned. “I have to be.”

As I concentrated, a faint shimmer of light surrounded my hand. It took every ounce of focus to reach into Kai’s subconscious, locate the threads of memory tied to the Maledictxys and the mission, and sever them. When it was done, I stepped back, my chest tight.

“One down,” Alex murmured.

We repeated the process with Roshni, Simmy, Zade, and the rest. Each time, it got harder, the guilt gnawing at me like a parasite. These were my friends, the people I trusted most. And now, I was taking away their knowledge of something that could save us all—or doom us.

When we finished, I leaned against the wall outside the last room, exhaustion threatening to pull me under. Alex stood beside me, his usual smirk replaced by something almost… empathetic.

“You’re handling this better than I expected,” he said, crossing his arms.

“Is that your way of saying ‘good job’?” I replied, my voice laced with sarcasm.

“Maybe.” He smirked, then glanced down the hall. “You’re stronger than you think, Zara. Not everyone could do what you’re doing.”

I blinked at him, caught off guard by the sincerity in his tone. “Thanks, I guess.”

He leaned against the wall beside me, his gaze distant. “By the way, Celeste’s here.”

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “Of course she is. Why wouldn’t she be?”

“She’s one of the teachers sent to keep an eye on you and Selene,” Alex said, clearly enjoying my misery. “And in case you’re wondering, yes, she’s still just as… protective of me as ever.”

“Protective?” I snorted. “That’s one way to put it. She’s borderline obsessive.”

He shrugged. “She means well. Mostly.”

I shot him a skeptical look. “If she gives me another detention for breathing too loud, I’m blaming you.”

“Noted,” he said with a chuckle.

---

The Music and Dance Debacle

The next morning, my relief at completing the memory wipes was short-lived. During breakfast, Celeste made a surprise announcement.

“As part of this week’s activities, all students in music and dance will be performing a practical piece in front of the entire school,” she said, smiling as if she’d just handed out candy.

My stomach dropped.

Roshni nudged me, grinning. “It’s not that bad, Zara. Just sing something or do a little dance. You’ve got this.”

I glared at her. “I don’t got this. I don’t sing. I don’t dance. And I definitely don’t have a secret talent for painting or DJing.”

“Relax,” she said, still smiling. “It’s just for fun.”

Fun? This was a nightmare.

By the time we filed into the music hall for practice, I was panicking. The other students were bustling about, discussing song choices and choreography. Meanwhile, I sat frozen in my seat, trying to figure out how to survive this without humiliating myself.

“Hey,” Roshni said, sitting beside me. “You’ll be fine. Just pick something simple.”

“I haven’t even been to music or dance class,” I muttered. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

She patted my shoulder. “You’re resourceful. You’ll figure it out.”

I wasn’t so sure.

---

Performance Day

The auditorium was electric with anticipation as the performances began. Each student brought their unique flair to the stage, and I sat in the back row, trying not to throw up from nerves.

Then it was Selene’s turn.

She stepped onto the stage with the confidence of a seasoned performer, her shimmering dress catching the light. When she started singing, her voice was rich and powerful, wrapping around the room like a spell. The entire audience was transfixed, their expressions a mix of awe and admiration.

Even I couldn’t deny it—Selene was incredible. Her performance ended with thunderous applause, and as she returned to her seat, she threw me a triumphant smirk.

Great. Just great.

The next few students performed, each adding to the pressure building in my chest. Roshni, ever the lifesaver, took her turn at the DJ booth, spinning a high-energy mix that had everyone clapping along.

As the performances continued, my name crept closer to the top of the list.

“Next up, Zara Henderson.”

My stomach sank.

I froze in my seat, my legs refusing to move. As if things couldn’t get worse, Celeste appeared out of nowhere, her heels clicking against the floor.

She leaned down, her smile sharp. “Zara, if you fail this subject too, you’ll fail the year. That means repeating the grade. No pressure.”

Her words hit like a slap, and suddenly, the fear of repeating the year outweighed the fear of performing.

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to stand. The walk to the stage felt like the longest of my life, with every step amplified by the silence of the room.

When I reached the piano, I hesitated, staring at the keys as the weight of hundreds of eyes bore down on me.

My friends were scattered in the crowd: Alex, leaning back with a look of mild curiosity; Zade, giving me an encouraging nod; Roshni, smiling brightly; and even Felix, watching me with his usual calm, chilly expression.

My fingers hovered over the keys, trembling. Then, I sat down and closed my eyes, drawing on the memory of the one person who’d always believed in me—my dad.

I couldn't do it, I've actually even forgotten how to play this thing. "You know what Celeste, F*CK YOU! And this subject or whatever" I said leaving with my dignity and attitude still intact and it felt good to say in my mind. Yes I indeed imagined it all.

There was only one way to get out of this and that was to faint. I fell to the group ever so convincingly and everyone gathered around me, next thing I knew I was in the nurse's office laying on the bed .