camila cabello • one-shots & imagines ♡

shadow of the night - chapter one

"Camila, you live in a busy city. There's always something to do," Normani says, her tone exasperated as she shifts through a pile of freshly dried clothes. Her hands worked through the fabrics to lay them out neatly on her bed, plucking some to wear for the day and the others to fold and put away.

"You say that all the time," Camila groans, her cheek pressed up against her phone as she lazily walks around the apartment she owned. Her eyes gazed out of the window panes to peer at the city of Miami. "It's not like I have a cool internship with a badass author who's published more books than I have fingers."

Normani just laughs, shaking her head as she shuffles on out of her bedroom and into the comfort of her family's living room. 'Houston is the place to be,' she internally thought, hearing the groans from her best friend. "Listen Cammy, I'm sure there's a hot guy, or girl, just waiting for you to march out there and make your move! Or, you can be a library hermit until college comes around. I don't think you want to report to your professor that you've been lounging for the three or four months doing nothing when you could've been doing something."

Camila lets out another audible groan, knowing her best friend was right. There was no escaping the claws of boredom, especially when she was still home and her friends were still... elsewhere. High school was the prime time of her life - but she couldn't say it was perfect. "I miss her, Normani... I wonder where she went." Normani stayed quiet for some time, knowing exactly what Camila was talking about. What else was there to say but to agree? "Anyways, I'll leave you be. I know you have a busy day ahead of you."

"Yeah... hey, chin up please. I don't like knowing you're being a bum for the thousandth time," Normani teases, hearing Camila snicker from the other line.

"Maybe I might go to the beach..." began Camila. Obviously that got Normani excited, finding her want to encourage the other young lady to do something spontaneous today.

"Uh-huh..."

"Slip on a bikini..."

"Wait a minute, is this still my best friend? She's becoming scandalous with me," Normani jokes, stifling laughter that bubbled at her throat.

"You didn't let me get to the good part," Camila huffs. Normani quiets down, indicating that Camila may continue her list of activity. "Aaaaaand... read a book. 'Kay, sounds good, right? Love you! Bye!" Camila says hurriedly, knowing Normani would object with how lame that was.

With the line going dead, Normani rolls her eyes, continuing about her day like she planned before her best friend intervened with what sounded urgent but really wasn't. Camila, content with her last-minute plan, followed through with it. She grabbed ahold of her phone, her earbuds, all those necessities - all but someone. Her.

Where could she be?

-

Thump! Thump! Thump!

(Y/N)'s fists, wrapped in tough, black cloth, sunk into the leather material of the punching bag. The sound of sand slapping around inside echoed, the chain holding the object up clanging against the metal bar it snugly fit around. Sweat trickled down the lean woman's body, clad in a simple sports bra and shorts. Nothing too fancy.

"You know, you keep this up and I'm pretty sure at any moment, you're gonna collapse right on the ground." Turning her head, (Y/N) slows her punches, eventually leaning against one of the metal columns to support her fatigued weight. A smile spread on her lips as she shook her head, the outline of a shadow coming into light as they reciprocated it.

"Well come on, Lana. You expect me to not train? That's all we've been doing for the past couple of years," (Y/N) retorts, letting out a tired breath as she reached to grab her water bottle, taking a swig of it. It traveled cooly down her throat, a sense of relief overcoming her senses. Removing her gloves came with the satisfying, static sound of velcro being ripped. Lana makes her way around, in the moment of fixing her ponytail before she grabs ahold of (Y/N)'s gloves to use. "Sure, Lana. You can borrow my gloves, no problem."

At (Y/N)'s sarcasm, Lana just innocently smiled, preparing her stance to begin her session with the punching bag. The sounds became background noise as (Y/N) turned on her feet, leaving the premises of the broken school building to the courtyard. Now came a set of bow & arrows, laid out in all its enticing glory, positioned before a line of targets - some stationary, some moving for a challenge. With arms crossed, in caste another familiar voice.

"Archery time?" said Zayn, his arms crossed over his chest, his toned jaw defining his stature of masculinity as he charmingly grins.

"Seems like a good time to fit it in," (Y/N) replied. With stretched arms, Zayn handed (Y/N) the equipment, stepping aside to watch the expert at work. Arrow after arrow penetrated the very center of each target, it was rather impressive from a professional point of view.

"So, when do you think you'll make your great return?" Zayn asks in-between, (Y/N) lining up a shot. Seemingly unfazed, (Y/N) releases the arrow with a breath, managing to hit the center of the target just barely.

"Tonight. You and Lana are coming, aren't you? What's with the question?" (Y/N) asks, letting the bow rest at her hip as she turns to face the British man.

Zayn raised both of his hands in sarcastic defense, playfully taking a mere step back. "Just asking. I know you practically fell off the grid after the incident. Do you ever... I mean, think about it?"

Whoosh! Click! Blam!

"No." Zayn nods out of respect, knowing (Y/N) was lying but he was usually the only one that could tell. He knew if he pushed any further that it would be of no use.

"Let's go, second-in-command. We've got a city to save," (Y/N) exclaims, already halfway to the warehouse-looking grounds. Everything took place in the main school hall - it was constructed vertically like one of those churches, its base separated in different divisions that previously acted as classrooms. Now, most of the walls had been broken down. There was this one, gigantic open space for just about anything. The ones that weren't torn were the corridors for the five residents: (Y/N), Lana, Zayn, and–

"Update me." A figure sat in the middle of the training space, leg crossed over the other, hands settled on their lap, their head covered with a hood. Their robe was embroidered in a mingle of silver, signifying the hierarchy within' the room.

"Sensei," spoke (Y/N), her two comrades stationed to either side of her as they all bowed in unison. Habit. "We plan to make our departure tonight."

"Very well. So soon surprises me but your progress has been undeniably fast over these few years. I am very proud of each of you, especially you (Y/N). You have served the shadows well so far." Nodding in thanks, all three students stand erect in their spots, all exchanging quick glances with one another.

"We've got to get going if we want to catch that train," Lana notifies, (Y/N) and Zayn nodding as Watanabe just sighed.

"It's been quite a journey for all of you. Before you go, I have something to give you. Shane, bring it please." With a beck and call, another figure comes in. His shoulders broad, his face withered with patience, a wooden box held strongly in his hands. Shane nods, opening the lid slowly to reveal a glisten of three rod-like objects and their respective accessories - all with their own colors: red, blue, and yellow.

"You'll be needing these to fight the evil that stirs where you desire to relocate. I hope that I was able to teach you three something valuable. Now go," Watanabe spoke.

"How will we know when to use these?" Zayn asks, grabbing ahold of the blue gadget while Lana grabbed the yellow. (Y/N) looks expectantly for the elderly man to answer.

"You'll just know, trust in that." Always so vague the man was, but wise. There was no question about that.

Retrieving the crimson-colored object, (Y/N) noticed it glistened under the moon's focus. The moment ceased when she heard an abrupt crackle sound, whipping around to find Zayn hugged in dark blue overalls. In his hand, the rod extended out to form a bow while along his belt were additional accessories. "Whoa..." Zayn breathes out, his face curtained by a hood and a half mask. "I literally pressed this button and... whoa."

Chuckling softly, Watanabe shooed the three students off, Shane stood firmly beside him. (Y/N) tucked away her item for safe-keeping, as did Lana, while the three all exchanged glances.

It was time to go.