7

Elara's heart still pounded in her chest as she settled into her seat. The day had barely started, but the weight of yesterday hung over her like a heavy fog. The classroom felt oddly distant, like she was watching everything through a veil. The hum of chatter around her, the rustling of papers, even the soft click of pencils against notebooks—none of it felt real.

Her gaze drifted to the window, where the morning sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting long, pale stripes across the floor. It was a beautiful day outside, but it felt like a cruel contrast to the storm brewing inside her. What had happened to her? What was happening to her?

The memory of the incident with Tara and her group was still too fresh. She could hear their laughter echoing in her mind, the way their words had stung, sharp and cruel. "Freak." "Loser." The insults had sliced through her with a force that left her breathless, paralyzed. She had always been a quiet, unremarkable girl, content to fade into the background. But yesterday, something had changed.

Something inside her had changed.

And it wasn't just the power. It was the feeling of it, the overwhelming surge of energy, like a floodgate opening and releasing something wild and untamed. Her body had reacted before she even knew what was happening, her hands trembling as the air around her had seemed to pulse with heat. And then... she saw it. Tara and her group had been flung backward, their shocked faces twisted in confusion and fear.

Elara had frozen in place, terrified not only by the power itself but by what it meant. What was she? Was she... different? She had never asked for this. She never wanted it. But it was there, unmistakable, undeniable. The feeling lingered, coiling in the pit of her stomach, like a sleeping beast waiting to wake again.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft sound of her teacher's voice.

"Elara?"

Elara snapped her head up, realizing she had been staring off into space. Her teacher, Ms. Morgan, was looking at her with a gentle, but knowing, expression. Her eyes were warm, but there was something in them—something like understanding—that made Elara's chest tighten.

"Are you okay?" Ms. Morgan asked again, her tone less firm now, more compassionate. "You've been distant lately."

Elara's throat went dry. Her mind raced, searching for something to say, something to deflect, something that would stop the questions before they even started. But the words stuck in her throat, like stones too heavy to move.

"I'm fine," she managed, but it sounded like a lie even to her own ears.

Ms. Morgan didn't seem convinced. She paused, studying Elara for a long moment, her brow furrowing ever so slightly. "I know you don't want to talk about it right now, but I want you to know that you can. Whenever you're ready."

Elara shifted uncomfortably in her seat, feeling the heat of the teacher's gaze. It was too much, too soon. She wasn't ready to face any of it—certainly not with Ms. Morgan, not with anyone. She didn't even know what was happening to her, let alone how to explain it.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Ms. Morgan smiled faintly, her eyes softening with something like sympathy. "I'm here, Elara. You don't have to go through this alone."

Elara nodded, forcing a small smile, but inside she felt the weight of her own loneliness pressing down on her chest. The teacher's words, kind as they were, couldn't erase the cold, creeping sensation that had followed her ever since the incident. She was alone. No one could help her. No one could understand what was happening inside her—how the power felt like an unstoppable tide, one she couldn't control. How every touch, every glance, made her feel like she was teetering on the edge of something dangerous.

When Ms. Morgan turned to leave, Elara sat there for a long moment, staring at the empty space before her. She knew the teacher had meant well, but she couldn't shake the feeling that no one would ever understand. Not truly. And how could they? She barely understood herself.

Her thoughts were interrupted once more, this time by a soft voice from beside her.

"Hey, Elara, you okay?"

It was Aiden, her best friend since childhood. His voice was laced with concern, but his expression was one of uncertainty, as if he wasn't quite sure whether to push or back off. Aiden had always been there for her, through thick and thin. He was the only person who had never treated her like an outsider, even when she had no idea who she really was. But now, it felt different. She couldn't explain it, but something had shifted between them, something she couldn't put into words.

Elara turned to face him, trying to force a smile, but it felt fragile, like it might shatter at the slightest touch. "I'm fine, Aiden," she said, the words coming out much more curt than she intended.

Aiden raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "You sure? You've been acting strange lately. You didn't even tell me what happened with Tara yesterday."

Elara's stomach churned at the mention of Tara. The fear, the power—it all came rushing back in a wave. She clenched her fists, gripping the edges of her desk as though it could anchor her to reality.

"I... I don't want to talk about it," she said, her voice quiet but firm.

Aiden studied her for a long moment, his expression a mixture of concern and confusion. "Okay, but just know that I'm here if you change your mind."

Elara nodded, grateful for his understanding, but the gnawing feeling of isolation remained. No one could help her, not really. How could they? They didn't know what it felt like to have power bubbling just beneath the surface, ready to explode at any moment. They didn't know what it felt like to be scared of your own body, your own mind.

The bell rang, signaling the start of class, and Elara quickly turned her attention to the front of the room, where the teacher began to speak. But even as she listened, her mind was elsewhere, spiraling down into thoughts she couldn't escape. She could still feel the power pulsing beneath her skin, a constant reminder that she was different now.

And no matter how much she wished it would go away, she knew deep down that it never would.

The truth was, she didn't just have to face the power. She had to face what it meant for her, for her future, for the life she thought she understood. And that terrified her more than anything else.

As the lesson droned on, Elara's mind wandered again, caught in the endless loop of fear, confusion, and something deeper—something darker—that she didn't want to acknowledge. But it was there, like a shadow looming just out of reach, and she knew it was only a matter of time before it finally caught up to her.