Chapter 16

Mira and Liam walked through the grand halls of the school, their presence commanding attention from students who whispered in hushed tones. They didn't pay any mind to the stares as they arrived at Athasia's classroom. However, the moment they stepped in, they were met with an unsettling silence. The air felt heavy, and a few students seemed hesitant to even look their way.

Mira frowned, sensing something was off. "Where's Athasia?" she asked, her voice sharp but calm.

One of the braver students hesitated before answering. "Some thugs came looking for her a while ago. She didn't say a word, but she looked… really scary. Like, freezing cold. No one dared to stop her."

Liam's brows furrowed as he exchanged a glance with Mira.

Mira, however, simply sighed and tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Did she take pebbles or a pen?" she asked.

The student looked confused. "Huh?"

"Did she carry small pebbles or a pen with her?" Mira repeated, her expression unreadable.

The student shook his head. "No… she took her bag with her."

That was all Mira needed to hear.

Turning to Liam, she gave him a pointed look. "Well, that confirms it. If she took her bag, she's handling this her way."

Liam's jaw tensed. "Should we—"

Mira suddenly turned her head toward a dark alley near the school entrance, her eyes narrowing. The alley was eerily silent, the kind of silence that hinted at violence and spilled blood. A few students who had been passing by instinctively walked faster, sensing the danger lingering in that direction.

Liam followed her gaze and sighed." What, does her being in a bad mood suggest something bad?"

Mira crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "Very bad." Then, shaking her head in mock pity, she exhaled. "Well, at least she's letting off some steam. I almost feel sorry for them."

Liam raised a brow. "Almost?"

Mira smirked slightly. "Not really."

Then, stretching lazily, she said in a low voice, "Keys. Go."

Liam sighed but tossed her the car keys without argument. Mira caught them effortlessly and turned to leave, but before she did, she gave him a warning glance. "You should go ahead. If she sees you while she's annoyed, she might beat you up."

Liam narrowed his eyes at her. "I'd like to see her try."

Mira chuckled and waved him off. "Suit yourself."

As she walked off, she cast one last glance at the dark alley, her lips curling into an amused smile. "Good luck, thugs. You're going to need it."