More than Hate

Haunting me

Maybe I should have said that I bumped into someone instead—and that someone was Scarlet Spades. Great...

“You know, looking where you're going is free,” Scarlet said firmly, making me feel a bit embarrassed, though I tried not to show it, especially since I could spot more people behind her.

“I’m sorry, Scarlet. I didn’t see you...”

“Clearly...” she replied, her tone more sceptical than sarcastic, which caught me off guard.

We both ended up on the ground after the impact, but I stood up first and extended my hand to her. She looked at me for a moment before taking it, which once again surprised me. I was not expecting her to accept my help. It’s not that we’re on bad terms, but we’re definitely not close. She’s part of the same friend group as Blake, and they seem close—that, on its own, makes it impossible for us to get along... and there’s also another reason why we can’t be close...

“Can’t you see where you’re going?!” Samantha yelled, approaching from behind me, directing her anger at Scarlet.

“Well, I did, but your friend here is definitely a runner,” Scarlet shot back coolly. You could tell she was annoyed, her eyebrow twitching upward, which was always a sign she was angry. The other reason is that Samantha and Scarlet openly dislike each other, and it seems like every chance they get, they argue. Today is no different.

As they continued to argue, my attention shifted to the people who were with Scarlet when I bumped into her, specifically one of them. Blake was watching the scene with amusement until his gaze landed on me. He approached, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Aren’t you a bit too grown-up to be playing chase?" he asked.

"Are you jealous? We'll invite you next time…" I replied sarcastically.

"I bet you will…" he said, still smirking.

"You’re an i***t. Don’t talk to me, please. I’m losing brain cells," I shot back.

"Well, I wasn’t planning to, but you kept looking at my spot, so I figured you wanted to say something..." He was probably joking, but part of me wasn’t sure. Thankfully, my poker face was perfect for situations like this.

"Are you sure? Maybe I was trying to figure out where all that bad energy was coming from," I retorted.

He smiled and leaned in, his breath hot against my ear as he whispered, "I’m wondering... is it just that?" He caught me off guard, and before I could respond, he grabbed his friends and walked away. I guessed that Samantha’s and Scarlet’s argument had wrapped up sooner than expected. But in that moment, I realized I was once again completely focused on him, as if nothing else mattered. It was probably obvious in my expression as well. Too much of a poker face, I guess.

And then, the bell rang again.

The day was really tiring, and I was glad I could eventually go home. As I got inside, I heard my mum talking to someone on the phone. “I just hope she takes it well. I know it’s going to be good for her but still—”

“Mum?” I said, and she jumped in surprise.

“Oh, baby, you are back. I am sorry, I have to end the call; my daughter is back. Yes, of course. Talk to you soon, bye.”

“Who were you talking to?” I asked, opening the fridge to grab my chocolate.

“To a colleague. Hey, young lady, eat your food first, then dessert.” I gave her a smile and sneaked a small bite. “That’s much won’t hurt, besides I am too hungry to be filled with just one tiny bite of chocolate, Mum…” She laughed and I helped her serve the food.

We talked about various things, and I enjoyed our conversation, but I felt like something was missing… and I hoped that the glances I was stealing at the empty chair next to me were not noticeable to Mum.

When I finished my food, Mum said, “Now, without killing yourself, please walk slowly to your room. Something is waiting for you on your bed.”

Before she could finish her words, I was already running to my room.

“Be careful!” she yelled behind me.

When I got to my room, I found a wrapped box on my bed and a letter. I picked up the letter first and began to read.

“To my little talented fairy,

An early Christmas present. I believe you’ll love it. And remember Shakespeare’s words: ‘Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.’ Don’t be afraid of anything, baby. Be brave, and most importantly, don’t regret. Make your dreams come true.

Love you and see you soon, Dad.”

I smiled and wiped away the tears forming in my eyes. I opened the box and found a thick book containing many of Shakespeare’s plays and a smaller box filled with professional sketching pencils.

“Do you like them?” my mum asked, standing in the doorway.

“I love them!”

“I’m glad. Don’t forget to call your dad later to say thank you.”

“I’m going to call him now!”

“Oh no, baby, he won’t be able to pick up. He’s at an event today, taking photos.”

“Oh, okay. I’ll call him later then,” I said, trying not to sound too disappointed. I could wait a few hours, I guess. “I’m going to do a little homework, and then I’ll head over to Samantha’s, okay?”

“Okay, baby. Take some sweets with you, alright?”

“Thanks, Mum. Love you.”

“Love you, sweetheart,” she said, kissing me on the cheek.

After she left, I started my homework. I felt a little sleepy, but I knew I wouldn’t have enough time to finish it later.

Enough time had passed, and I felt my shoulders getting sore, so I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes for a bit.

Suddenly, I felt a soft touch on the side of my neck. “Why were you looking at me?” I heard Blake’s seductive voice whisper in my ear, and I quickly opened my eyes, looking around frantically. It seemed I had fallen asleep. “This asshole is haunting me even in my dreams!” I sighed.

When I glanced at the clock, it was already 6:30 PM, so I quickly changed and headed out to Samantha’s.

Our homes are relatively close, but what makes the walk feel longer is the specific part of the neighborhood where her house is located. The road is eerily quiet, and there’s always a strange chill in the air. Sometimes I feel an intense loneliness, and other times it feels like I’m being watched. Samantha says it’s all in my head, but I’ve asked others, and they said they felt the same. Maybe it’s true—it could all just be in our heads, influenced by the rumors. This part of the neighborhood is called “The Witch’s Lair.” Right… I have nothing to be afraid of. I mean, I’ve taken this route plenty of times, right?

Now that I think about it, there was also a strange rumor about our school. According to the myth, a secret society operated in a hidden room beneath the school, the Council of Shadows, as people called it. The members were said to perform mysterious rituals and could peer into someone’s soul to judge whether they were worthy of joining their society. Depending on who told the story, these members were either seen as protectors or something more sinister. Some portrayed them as vigilantes who defended the weak, while others saw them as villains with inhuman powers, to be feared by anyone who became their target. However, the most common belief was that they worked to maintain balance within the school.

Nobody ever knew for sure who the members were, but rumors constantly circulated, accusing different people. And the person who was most often rumored to hold the highest position—the leader—was none other than Sebastian Gray… Samantha’s older brother.