As the sun dipped below the horizon, signaling the end of the first day of extra-curricular activities, Samira headed home, her mind racing. She barely noticed the streets passing by as her thoughts drifted back to Alex. The school had been buzzing all day with excitement, but beneath her own energy, there was a constant, gnawing worry about him. As she pushed open the front door, she was met by Lila, who was seated on the couch, looking deep in thought.“Hey,” Samira greeted, tossing her bag on the chair. “Long day?”Lila looked up and gave a faint smile. “You could say that. Dodgeball was intense, but that’s not really what’s been on my mind.”Samira sat down beside her, sighing. “Yeah... I know the feeling. I’ve been thinking about Alex all day.”Lila’s expression grew more serious. “I just can’t shake this feeling. We both know Silas has him. But why hasn’t Silas made a move yet? What’s he waiting for?”Samira leaned back, crossing her arms. “That’s what I’ve been wondering too.
The hallways of East Ridge High were alive with chatter and excitement. It was extra-curricular week, and the energy was contagious. Posters for various activities were plastered on every wall, students rushed between rooms for sign-ups, and laughter echoed off the lockers. It was as if the disappearance of Alex had faded into the background. "Can you believe it? Dodgeball tournament starts tomorrow!" one student said, grinning at his friend as they passed by Ryan, Samira Naomi.Naomi glanced at Ryan, her brow furrowing. "It's like everyone’s forgotten... about Alex."Ryan grunted in response, his jaw tight. “Yeah, it’s like he never existed. Just gone. Poof. And everyone’s excited about dodgeball.”Samira sighed, running a hand through her hair. "We should’ve heard something by now, right? I mean, he wouldn’t just vanish without a word. Not to us."Ryan stopped in his tracks, his fists clenching. “It’s like no one cares! How can they just move on like this? It’s been weeks, Naomi!”
Victor leaned casually against a locker, his arms crossed, a smug smirk on his face as a small group of students gathered around him. The chatter in the hallway quieted as Victor raised his voice just enough to be heard."Yeah, Alex ran off. Guess he finally realized he couldn't handle the heat. Not everyone can," Victor said with a confident grin, tossing a glance at a few onlookers. "I mean, it was only a matter of time. He’s been trying to play tough, but we all know who really runs things around here."One of his friends, a lanky kid with an eager-to-please attitude, nodded vigorously. "Yeah, man. You showed him. Probably couldn’t deal with you anymore."Victor shrugged, his smirk widening. "It’s not like I tried that hard. He just couldn’t keep up."A few of the students murmured in agreement, nodding along. Ryan, who had been standing nearby with Naomi, overheard the conversation and clenched his fists. His face twisted with anger as he stormed over to Victor. "You’re really f
The hallways buzzed with energy, students huddled in groups, whispers spreading like wildfire. As Samira and Ryan walked through the halls, they could hear snippets of conversation trailing behind them."Did you hear? Alex Chen’s gone missing.""No way. Seriously?""Yeah, no one’s seen him for days. He’s probably in some serious trouble."Ryan shot Samira a worried glance. "It’s everywhere already," he muttered.Samira clenched her fists, keeping her head down. "I figured it would spread fast, but this is ridiculous."A group of girls passed by, whispering louder than they realized. "Do you think he got into a fight with Victor again? Maybe he’s hiding."One of the girls scoffed. "Hiding? From Victor? Alex would never. He probably just ran off because he couldn’t handle the pressure."Ryan narrowed his eyes, his voice low. "I should say something. Set them straight.""Don’t," Samira warned, pulling him back. "Let them talk. We don’t need to give them more reason to gossip."Ahead of t
Lila paced back and forth, her fists clenched tightly as her mind raced. The normally composed martial artist was clearly shaken. Samira sat on the edge of the couch, her knee bouncing anxiously as she glanced at the door for the hundredth time that evening. Naomi leaned against the wall, arms folded, her eyes narrowing in deep thought, while Ryan hovered by the window, glancing outside as if expecting Alex to suddenly appear.Samira finally broke the tense silence, her voice trembling. "He’s never been gone this long without telling us. Something’s wrong."Lila stopped pacing, turning to face Samira. "I know. I’ve felt it too. But wherever he is, he’s not going to just disappear without reason."Ryan frowned, still staring out the window. "Maybe he just needed some time alone? You know Alex, always taking things on his own shoulders."Naomi shook her head. "No, not this time. He would’ve said something. This is different.Ryan turned, his brows furrowed. "So, what are we saying here?
As Alex’s world faded into black, the sound of Silas’s mocking laughter lingered in his ears, a cruel reminder of his failure. When his eyes fluttered open, everything was cold. His body ached, his wrists bound tightly in chains. The faint flicker of dim torchlight cast eerie shadows on the stone walls around him. He was in a cell, deep within Silas’s lair.Groaning, Alex tried to move, but the chains rattled with his effort, reminding him of his helplessness. His mind raced, replaying the events in his head. Silas was right there, taunting him, breaking him down bit by bit. And worse, Astra—someone he thought he could destroy—was somehow tied to the death of Grandma Chen. He hung his head low, feeling the weight of his own decisions. *I should’ve told Lila. I should’ve told Samira. What was I thinking, coming here alone?* His fists clenched as guilt gnawed at him. Suddenly, a voice broke through the silence, low and cold.“You’re awake.”Alex’s head shot up, eyes narrowing as Silas
Silas stood in the dark chamber, focusing his energy on the amulet’s connection to Alex. His eyes gleamed as he began weaving illusions through the bond. "It’s time to see just how far your emotions will take you, Alex Chen," he whispered.Through the shadows, he projected the vision: Astra lying on the ground, bloodied and broken. Her chest barely rising as she struggled to breathe. The scene shifted, showing Astra standing over Grandma Chen’s lifeless body, holding the blade that had ended her life.---Alex gasped, jolting upright in bed. His heart pounded, eyes wide as the horrific image burned into his mind.*No... she was part of it?*Without a second thought, Alex grabbed the amulet and stormed out of the room. He didn’t wake Lila or Samira, not even considering it. This was personal now. He had to face Astra—alone.---In the dim, cold cavern that served as Silas's lair, Alex arrived, fists clenched tight. His breath was ragged, his mind clouded with anger and betrayal."You,"
The Shadow Circle's chamber was filled with an unsettling quiet. Silas paced at the head of the room, his patience thinning.Raven glanced at Malachai, uneasy. “Silas, we’ve been watching them for a while now. They’re moving carefully. Alex has Lila, and she’s been covering their tracks.”“That’s the problem,” Silas snapped. “You’re watching. We’re sitting back while the boy grows stronger. And Lila? She’s making him dangerous.”Malachai shifted, his deep voice calm but calculated. “We underestimated her. She’s using skills we didn’t account for.Silas stopped pacing, his eyes cold as they met Malachai’s. “Underestimated? That’s what you tell me now? What you call underestimating, I call incompetence. Alex and Lila should’ve been in my grasp long ago.”Raven stiffened, but didn’t speak. Silas’s temper was notorious, and she wasn’t about to provoke him further.“Alex’s power,” Silas continued, ignoring their silence, “it’s growing. The amulet responds to his emotions—rage, fear, all of
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon when Ryan, Samira, Alex, and Naomi decided to spend the day together. They had made plans to hang out at the local arcade and grab some food afterward, wanting to unwind after the stressful weeks they’d all had. With school, powers, and everything else going on, it felt like a good time to just relax and have fun.As they arrived at the arcade, the place was bustling with kids and teenagers, the sounds of pinball machines, laughter, and electronic games filling the air. Alex immediately lit up at the sight of all the different games, and Samira couldn’t help but laugh at his excitement.“I swear, you’re like a kid in a candy store,” she teased, nudging Alex.He grinned, not denying it. “Hey, I’m allowed to enjoy some games after all the craziness, right?”Ryan smirked, already heading toward a shooting game. “Alright, who’s up for some competition? I’m about to show you all how it’s done.”Naomi chuckled softly as she stood next to Samira. “He’s reall