Library
"Ahhh!!!" Mira's scream pierced the air as she jolted from the depths of her restless slumber.
Her heart pounded, her breath ragged as she scanned the room, eyes wide with confusion.
She was still in the library— but the eyes of everyone in the room were on her.
A hot flush of embarrassment crept up her neck, her face burning with shame.
She hurriedly grabbed her bag, her fingers trembling as she shoved her novel back into place. Every step toward the door felt like the weight of a thousand eyes following her.
As she reached the threshold, her path collided with someone. Justin.
Her gaze flickered up— and he walked right past her, not even sparing a glance.
His eyes were sharp, calculating, scanning the library as if he were searching for something, or someone.
Mira's heart ached as she turned to watch him go, her breath catching in her throat. But before she could linger any longer, she forced herself out of the library.
Her body moved on autopilot, heading toward the elevator that would take her to the top floor.
The balcony there was her sanctuary, a place to escape the wickedness of the day, as it had been many days before. She needed the solitude, the quiet, the breeze to calm her racing thoughts.
Just as she reached her destination, a sharp pain shot through her as her foot caught on something unseen.
She stumbled, her body crashing to the cold, unforgiving ground.
Her glasses flew off her face, skidding across the floor and landing with a sickening crack. She groaned in pain, her mind desperate to focus through the haze of embarrassment and agony.
The sound of cruel laughter shattered the silence.
"Ahh… look at her, scrambling for her glasses like a tortoise," Maddie's voice rang out, dripping with disdain.
"Pathetic," Belina chimed in, her laughter sharp and biting. "Let's see how you manage without your precious glasses, blind duckling."
Mira's chest tightened.
She wanted to break down, to let the tears flow, but no. Not here. Not in front of them. She clenched her fists, eyes scanning the floor frantically for her broken glasses.
Her pulse hammered in her ears, desperation clawing at her.
Then, a sharp, crushing pain.
Someone's foot, heavy and cruel, slammed down onto her outstretched hand. Mira's breath caught, a guttural growl of pain escaping her lips.
"Oh, did I hurt you?" Belina's voice was mockingly sweet. "I didn't see you, little blind duckling. My bad."
Maddie joined in, her voice laced with venom. "I hope you don't plan on running to the principal. We wouldn't want to make you look like even more of a fool."
Laughter erupted from the group, filling the air with cruel mockery. Mira fought to keep the tears at bay, her throat tight as if something was choking her from the inside.
Finally, her fingers brushed the edge of her glasses, and she seized them, pulling them up to her face.
The lenses were scratched, cracked, ruined. With shaky hands, she pushed them onto her face, the blurry world sharpening just enough to reveal the scene around her.
People passed by, some stopped to stare, others quickly looked away. But no one reached out to help. No one cared.
Her heart was a storm as she looked down, her voice a whisper that trembled in the heavy silence.
"Why do you hate me so much?"
The laughter faltered. For a brief moment, everything stilled. The trio froze, their faces contorting into disgust as they turned to face her.
Maddie's lips curled into a sneer, her eyes gleaming with malice. Without warning, she stormed toward Mira, her palm cracking against her cheek in a resounding slap.
"You're asking me why I hate you?" Maddie's voice dripped with venom. "Oh, it's such a pity you can't see it for yourself. Just look at you. Even the mirror would show you the truth. You're a walking disaster, a goody two-shoes with a face to match. You've become the ugly duckling, and now you've embraced it."
She spat on Mira, her disgust palpable, before turning her back on her and walking away.
The sound of mocking laughter echoed as Maddie's friends took their turns, delivering cruel knocks to Mira's head, each one a reminder of her helplessness.
Mira's vision blurred, the weight of their disdain suffocating her.
She glanced around, her heart sinking as she saw the sneering faces of those who passed by. They didn't care.
Some whispered and chuckled, others simply observed as if she were a spectacle.
Her breath hitched as humiliation flooded her. She couldn't bear it anymore.
She bolted, running as fast as her legs could carry her, the sounds of their laughter trailing behind her like a ghost.
When she finally reached the school's backyard, she collapsed against the wall, her body shaking as tears streamed down her face.
Her cries echoed through the empty space, but then—something strange happened.
As her body slid down the cold stone wall, she felt an unexpected pull, like the ground had suddenly given way beneath her.
She lost her balance and fell to the ground, her glasses slipping from her face once again.
Desperation took over, and she scrambled to find them.
Her hands trembled as they searched the darkened ground, and to her surprise, she felt the familiar weight of her glasses in her palms. With shaky fingers, she placed them back on her face and blinked—then froze.
"Where… where am I?" she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper.
The world around her was unrecognizable.
The place was dark, silent—unnaturally so. She couldn't make out any features, just endless shadows that seemed to stretch forever.
She fumbled for her phone, her fingers slick with sweat.
Her trembling hands switched on the flashlight. The beam cut through the darkness, revealing the forgotten space before her. Her heart skipped a beat.
The walls were crumbling, overrun with dry leaves and vines that seemed to crawl with an eerie, unnatural life.
The place felt ancient—abandoned, even. She shuddered as she took in the decaying surroundings.
Then her gaze fell upon a well.
It stood there, silent and beckoning, an eerie presence in the middle of the desolate space.
Her instincts screamed at her to turn away, to run. But curiosity gnawed at her, tugging at her very core.
What could be inside? Just one quick look, she reasoned. It couldn't hurt, right?
She approached the well, each step reluctant but driven by an unseen force. Her flashlight illuminated the weathered wood of the pulley system and the faded inscription carved into the stone wall.
She adjusted her glasses and bent closer, brushing away the dust to reveal the words:
"A well that grants all you desire, all the heart's wishes fulfilled. Fear not, your deepest desires shall be set free."
Mira's breath hitched as she read the inscription aloud.
The words echoed in her ears, but a creeping chill crawled up her spine. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching her.
The well was full of water—clear, still, almost inviting.
"Is someone there?" she called, her voice trembling.
Suddenly, the wind picked up, swirling around her, as though answering her call with a hushed whisper.
Then, a voice—soft, smooth, almost ethereal—reached her ears.
"Do you desire a new life, Mira? Speak your heart's wish, and it will be granted."
Her blood ran cold.
She dropped her phone in shock, watching it plummet. Panic surged within her as she frantically looked around. No one was there.
At that moment, she thought her phone must have fallen on the ground, so she crouched—she had to get it.
Desperation surged through her as she knelt to search for it, her hands trembling against the cold stone.
Suddenly, a hand—warm, but not hers—brushed against hers, sending a jolt of fear through her body.
She stiffened, trying to keep her composure, but the sensation continued. A breath ghosted over her cheek.
"Don't let this opportunity slip away," the voice whispered, so close now it was as though the words were breathed directly into her ear. "You could have everything you want. A new life… a new beginning."
Mira's heart raced.
The voice knew her name.
She felt the panic rise, her mind screaming at her to run.
She stumbled backward, nearly toppling into the well, but then—someone pushed her gently, sending her crashing to the floor with a sickening thud.
Her head spun, her mind reeling from what just happened. She scrambled to her feet, her hands desperately pounding against the wall, her cries escaping in broken sobs.
"Please! Please, someone help me!" she screamed, her voice raw and frantic.
But no one heard. The people outside walked by, oblivious to her agony.
And then, the well's inscription began to glow.
The light from the symbols flooded the space, casting an eerie glow on the crumbling walls. Mira's heart raced in her chest as she realized what was happening—something was changing.
"I wish…" she whispered, closing her eyes tight, her words a desperate prayer. "I wish I could live a normal life, with the people I care about, away from all this torment…"
The light intensified, and Mira felt something shift in the air.
When she opened her eyes again, the world around her had vanished. The cold stone walls, the darkened space—everything was gone.
She was back in her classroom, slumped at her desk, as though she had simply fallen asleep in the middle of the day.
The sunlight streamed through the windows, warm and familiar.
But something was different.
Her heart pounded as she sat up, disoriented, trying to grasp what had just happened.
Had it been a dream? Or had she somehow… changed everything?