Things Left Unsaid
Mateo didn't listen.
He kept punching the boy...brutally, repeatedly.
Aurora panicked, eyes wide with fear. She turned to the others.
"Stop him, please!"
Jennifer sighed. "He won't stop."
"You're just going to let this happen?!" Aurora snapped, frantic.
"You can't stop him," Peter said quietly. "No one can."
Her jaw clenched. "So we should just stand here and watch him kill someone?"
She yanked her hand out of Jennifer's grip and ran straight to Mateo.
"Let him go, this instant!" she shouted.
The boy on the ground was already unconscious, his face bloodied and broken. A quiet horror spread across the crowd.
Sera stood in tears nearby, trembling as she stared at the boy on the floor. Her voice shook as she pulled out her phone.
She called the police.
Aurora ran to Mateo and grabbed his arm, her touch desperate.
"Please... stop," she pleaded, her voice barely a whisper.
Mateo froze.
He looked at her.
And slowly...like a switch had been turned off...he let go of the boy and stepped back. His chest heaved as he glared at the gathering crowd.
"Don't ever touch what belongs to me," his voice thundered.
Gasps followed.
He turned to Sera, her phone still pressed to her ear.
"Better end that call," he warned.
She panicked and dropped her phone on the sand, rushing to her cousin's side.
"Let's go," Mateo said.
Aurora stared at him, shaken. The arrogance on his face was chilling. Around them, people were frozen in place...watching. Afraid.
"What just happened?" Raymond approached, frowning.
"We're leaving," Mateo announced, already taking Aurora's hand.
She stared at him. "Wait—what?"
He pulled her away without another word.
Peter started to follow but was stopped by Isaac.
"Don't. Let them be."
Peter didn't like it...but Isaac's tone was firm. He obeyed.
⸻
Aurora followed Mateo down the road, their footsteps echoing in silence.
"You're slow," he turned, glancing back.
She scowled. "We should've waited for the others."
He blinked. "Why? I thought you wanted to talk about your mom."
She narrowed her eyes. "We could've done that after the bonfire."
He didn't reply.
Her mind wandered to the fight earlier. She didn't support violence—but his strength... his rage... it was terrifying. And yet, no one had dared stop him.
"Where are we even going?" she asked after walking another mile.
"Be patient, youngster," he muttered.
She huffed, dragging her feet like a child being forced on a hike. All she had with her was her phone. No bag. No water. Nothing.
And yet, he looked completely unfazed...moving effortlessly ahead like he could walk all night.
She threw imaginary daggers at the back of his head.
Finally, they stopped in front of an old graveyard.
Aurora stared at the broken gates and faded tombstones. "What are we doing here?"
Mateo walked to a specific grave without answering.
She followed quietly, watching him crouch in front of the stone.
Colleen Hayward
The year had been wiped off.
"My mother"he spoke,his voice softened...
"You're... adopted?" she asked.
"Yes."
Aurora stepped back, giving him space. She wandered a bit, eyes scanning the names on other graves. That's when she saw it:
Leah Vane.
Her blood ran cold.
Her fingers reached for the dirt covering the dates. As she wiped it clean, something strange happened—
A sharp jolt. A dizzying spin. The graveyard around her faded.
⸻
She blinked—and found herself standing in the middle of a bustling market.
Same clothes. Same body. Different time.
She looked around. No one saw her. No one noticed her presence.
Like her dream.
People wore old-fashioned clothing. Carriages moved slowly across cobbled streets. Aurora's heart raced.
Suddenly, chaos erupted.
Screams. Gunshots. Soldiers stormed the market, weapons drawn, killing indiscriminately.
Aurora froze, watching the horror unfold. A bullet whizzed past her, and she flinched, closing her eyes—
When she opened them, Mateo was in front of her.
"Aurora. Hey—what happened?"
Her breath caught in her throat. She looked around.
She wasn't in the market anymore.
Now, she was in a dim, dusty room. Old wallpaper. Wooden floors. A small bed beneath her.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"My old home," Mateo replied.
She sat up slowly.
"This... this was your room?" she asked, scanning the small, almost forgotten space.
"Yeah. Me and my mom used to live here."
He looked worried. "You collapsed."
Her eyes stayed on the darkened corners of the room. "Everything feels... different, Mateo."
He moved closer. "How?"
"I need to ask you something." She looked him dead in the eye.
"Are you a vampire?"
The question hit like a slap.
Mateo stiffened. His frown returned.
"What did you see?" he asked, voice low.
"I—I know it sounds crazy. I've been digging into my mom's past. The dreams, the visions...none of it makes sense anymore. I don't sleep well. I'm overthinking. I'm just..."
She trailed off.
Mateo stepped closer, pulled her into his arms.
"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I didn't mean to drag you into this. If you want answers—I'll help. But if you don't..."
"I don't want to know more," she said, voice muffled against his chest. "Not now."
He nodded quietly.
She didn't know why, but something inside her screamed that the past wasn't just history—it was dangerous. And she wasn't ready for it.
⸻
The weekend passed.
Aurora managed to sleep...no nightmares, no graveyards.
Monday came.
Sitting in the staff room with other teachers, Aurora sipped her tea quietly.
Mrs. Gerald clapped her hands once, catching their attention.
"The game is upcoming," she announced. "And I would like Miss Ross to assist with cheerleading practice. Help guide the students for their routine."
Aurora blinked.
Cheerleading?