ACCIDENTAL ALPHA

CHAPTER 7/ AVA'S COURAGE

Ava trudged out of her literature lecture, her headphones still wrapped around her ears. She had worn them all day, a desperate attempt to drown out the constant murmur of voices in her head. It was getting worse, the persistent hum overwhelming her.

She pulled out her phone and checked her messages, hoping for a distraction from the chaos in her mind. But there were none, just a string of unopened notifications from social media.

Ava sighed and tucked her phone away, her eyes scanning the bustling campus. She felt like she was living in a dream, disconnected from the world around her. The voices had become a constant companion, a reminder that she was losing her grip on reality.

On instinct, Ava's feet carried her towards her locker, her movements driven by habit rather than conscious thought. The voices in her head continued to chatter, their constant presence wearing her down. She spun the combination lock and opened her locker, grabbing her books for her next class.

The voices in her head abruptly ceases for a while.

Her heart raced as the sudden silence from the voices in her head was shattered by a piercing scream. The sound was like a knife stabbing into her eardrums, making her wince in pain. She felt like she was being ripped apart by the sheer intensity of the scream.

At first, she tried to ignore it, thinking it was just another trick of her mind. But the scream persisted, growing louder and more intense. Ava's instincts took over, and she felt an overwhelming need to find the source of the sound.

She spun around, scanning the crowded hallway, but everyone seemed oblivious to the scream. They walked by her, chatting and laughing, as if they couldn't hear the ear-piercing wail.

Ava's eyes narrowed, her focus sharpening as she tried to trace the sound. She took a step forward, and then another, her feet moving towards the scream as if drawn by an invisible force.

The scream grew louder and more intense.

Ava's eyes widened in horror as she turned a corner and saw a disturbing scene unfolding before her. Three girls, their faces twisted in cruelty, were pinning another girl against a locker, repeatedly slamming her head into the metal door. The scream Ava had heard was coming from the victim, whose eyes were wild with fear and pain.

Ava's instincts kicked in, and she sprinted towards the group, her heart racing with anger and concern. "Hey, stop it! Leave her alone!" she shouted, but the girls were too caught up in their vicious attack to listen.

With a surge of adrenaline, Ava rushed forward and grabbed the arm of one of the attackers, pulling her away from the victim. The girl spun around, her face contorted in anger, but Ava stood her ground, her eyes blazing with determination. "Leave her alone!" she repeated, her voice firm and commanding.

The girl Ava had pulled away from the victim sneered at her, "And who do you think you are, anyway?" she spat, her eyes blazing with anger.

Ava stood her ground, her heart racing with adrenaline. "I'm someone who won't stand by and watch you bully someone else," she replied, her voice firm.

The girl snorted. "You think you're a hero? Please. You're just a nosy little freak who can't mind her own business."

Ava felt a surge of anger at the girl's words, but she tried to keep her cool. "I'm just trying to help someone in need," she said, her voice steady.

But the girl wasn't having it. She took a step closer to Ava, her fists clenched. "You want to help someone? How about you help yourself out of this situation?"

And with that, the girl lunged at Ava, her fists flying along with the other two.

Ava's anger and determination fueled her strength, and she fought back with a ferocity that caught the trio off guard. She dodged their blows and landed precise punches, she didn't know how she was doing it but she was loving it.

The girls were taken aback by her sudden counterattack, and they stumbled backward as Ava pressed her advantage.

With a series of swift and powerful strikes, Ava took down the first girl, followed by the second and third. They lay on the ground, dazed and defeated, as Ava stood over them, her chest heaving with exertion.

The victim, who had been watching in awe, approached Ava with a mix of gratitude and fear. "T-thank you," she stuttered, her eyes wide with amazement.

Ava's expression softened as she helped the victim to her feet. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle.

The victim nodded, still shaken. "Y-yes"

"you should return back to class" she said as she wrapped her headphone around her ears and left the scene.