The warning

The classroom was still, everyone still processing the strange interruption. Leina's heart pounded in her chest as her eyes locked onto the tall man who had barged in. His clothes were disheveled, his face pale and drawn with exhaustion. His wild eyes scanned the room before settling on her, and his breath came in ragged gasps.

For a moment, it felt like the world had paused. A deep silence filled the space, broken only by the sound of the man's labored breathing. Leina felt a knot of dread tighten in her stomach as he stepped forward.

Her feet were rooted to the floor, her breath coming in shallow gasps as the stranger made his way toward her. The closer he got, the more her heart raced. Something was terribly wrong. There was an urgency in his movement that sent a chill down her spine.

Suddenly, the man's rough hands shot out, grabbing her by the arms with surprising strength.

"Tell her! Tell her she has to save Seagull!" he rasped, his voice low and frantic. His grip tightened as he leaned closer, his face inches from hers. "Your mother… she has to save him. He's—he's in danger! Please, you don't understand—he—"

Leina's breath caught in her throat as his words became a jumble of incoherence. "What are you talking about? Who is Seagull?" she demanded, trying to pull away from his iron grip. She felt a twinge of panic, her pulse racing as the man's eyes drilled into hers.

Before she could get an answer, Coach Reynolds stepped forward, his voice firm and commanding. "Security! Now!" he shouted.

The man froze for a brief moment, his wide eyes flashing with panic, before he turned his attention back to Leina. "You have to tell her... she has to know..."

Just then, two security officers burst through the door, their presence like a physical weight pressing down on the man. They grabbed his arms, pulling him away from Leina, who was still in shock from the brief but intense encounter.

The man struggled against their grip, his face contorting with frustration. "Seagull... tell her mother... save him..." His words faded as he was dragged out of the classroom, his cries becoming muffled as the door slammed shut behind him.

Leina stood frozen, her mind spinning from the encounter. The room was silent, save for the soft murmur of students whispering among themselves. No one seemed to know what had just happened. But Leina felt it—an unsettling presence, a sense of urgency that lingered in the air.

Her thoughts raced. Seagull...

...

He was in a dimly lit room, the walls closing in on him as he struggled against the ropes that bound him to a chair. His body ached with every movement, but it was the pain in his chest that felt the worst. Blood stained his clothes, and his vision blurred as he struggled to keep his mind sharp.

I have to warn her… His thoughts were a jumbled mess, but one thing was clear. He had to get to Her. She had to know the truth before it was too late.

Seagull's breath came in ragged gasps as his heart raced. The pain was unbearable, but he couldn't afford to pass out—not yet. you have to know. You have to be ready…

A figure stepped into the room, tall and imposing, casting a long shadow across Seagull's weakened form. The man's features were hard to make out, but Seagull could sense his presence, his cold demeanor.

"You should've stayed quiet," the man said, his voice low and threatening. "But now, you've made things complicated."

Seagull's vision flickered, but he didn't have time to respond. His throat was too dry, his body too weak. He had no choice but to struggle, trying to break free of his restraints. The ropes were tight, too tight. His muscles screamed in protest, but he couldn't stop. Not now.

The man stepped closer, his voice dripping with malice. "You're not going anywhere. She'll learn the truth soon enough, but it'll be too late. Nothing you can do will change that."

Seagull's lips trembled with anger and pain. "I'll get to her… I'll warn her. She has to know."

But the man just chuckled, cold and mocking. "Save your breath. It won't matter."

Seagull growled, trying to push against the ropes, but everything blurred. His mind began to cloud, his strength fading as the darkness closed in on him.

...

She was still reeling from the encounter. Her mind raced with questions—who was that man? What did he mean by Seagull? And why had he grabbed her like that?

Her stomach twisted with unease. The urgency in his voice, the frantic need in his eyes... it wasn't a random outburst. He had meant something. Seagull... The name echoed in her mind, but she couldn't make sense of it. It felt so familiar, but she didn't know why.

She glanced over at Malvern, who was seated nearby, his face unreadable. He seemed just as stunned as she was, but something in his eyes hinted at the same confusion and concern that she felt. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but paused, unsure of what to say.

Finally, Leina stood up, unable to sit still any longer. The room felt suffocating, the air thick with unspoken questions.

Just as she reached the door, she heard the coach's voice call out to her. "Leina, hold up!"

She turned, her heart skipping a beat as Coach Reynolds walked toward her. "You okay?"

Leina nodded, though she wasn't sure if she really was. "Yeah, I just… need some air."

The coach didn't argue, though he looked concerned. "Alright. Just be careful, okay?"

Leina didn't answer. She just walked out of the room, the weight of the man's warning pressing heavily on her chest. Seagull... her mother must save him…

Her mind raced as she stepped outside, the cool air hitting her face like a shock. She had to figure out what it all meant. She had to understand what was happening, and why someone had come to her with such an urgent message.

From a distance she heard footsteps and in a fit of fear she thought it was the man coming back and turned to see it was her brothers rushing towards her.

Due to her shook and revelation their voices for concern blurred in the background as she thought about all the weird things that had happened to her and how her usual simple mundane life has turned upside down.