Silent Scars

CHAPTER 78

ARIANA HASTINGS

Kendric’s voice was the brightest thing in the room.

“We should all watch a movie tonight!”

His eyes lit up with hope, like a kid trying to hold the broken pieces of a good day together.

But Marcus was quick to answer.

“No. Ariana just got out of the hospital, she needs more rest.”

His tone wasn’t sharp, just firm. Unshakeable, like always.

I wanted to argue, just a little. I wanted to stay with them, to soak in the safety, the warmth, the strange comfort of their presence. But… Marcus was right. My body still felt like it was stitched together with thread and exhaustion. The weight in my limbs, the dull throb in my ribs, it hadn’t gone away.

Kendric’s face dropped for a second before he masked it with a soft nod. He understood. But I saw it. That flicker of disappointment, like a balloon losing its air too fast.

Marcus’s voice softened.

“We’ll all watch something together tomorrow. Is that okay?”

Kendric mumbled,

“But Leo’s gonna be busy.”

Leonardo, leaned back against the arm of the couch and said,

“I’m not. Tomorrow we’ll all spend time together.”

“Really?”

Kendric’s voice was small. Like he wanted to believe it, but part of him didn’t.

Something about that moment tugged at me, the way they tried for each other, like they didn’t want to let the day slip away too quickly. I opened my mouth before I could stop myself.

“Don’t you have classes?”

My voice was soft, fragile, but it carried.

Luca smiled gently.

“I’m almost finished with everything. It’s okay.”

Kendric gave a quick glance to Domain, then looked back at me.

“Something’s going on with the school. There won’t be any classes for a few days.”

Something’s going on.

The words lingered in my head like a quiet echo.

Did that mean… something happened?
At the school?

Was this their doing?

A flicker of unease passed through me, but Marcus cut in before my thoughts spiraled.

“Aria, let’s go to bed. You need to take your medicine.”

He said gently,

I nodded. My body was already sinking into the couch like it wanted to stay forever, but I knew he was right.

The others called out soft goodnights, Domain’s voice steady, Luca’s kind, Kendric’s still slightly reluctant, and Leo’s deep and calm. Each one like a thread sewing safety around me.

Marcus stayed close as we walked to my room. He didn’t say much, just held the silence in that way only he could, like it wasn’t empty, just quiet. Like it was meant to be shared.

He handed me the medicine, so many pills it felt like dinner all over again and I took them without complaint. He waited patiently, then took the glass from my hand, tucked me under the covers like I was something precious.