🌑 Chapter 6 — The Day the Past Tried Again
1493 Words
🌑 Chapter 6 — The Day the Past Tried Again
The next morning arrived too fast.
Amani barely slept. Every time she drifted off, she saw Ethan’s shadow in the doorway of her room, heard his knock, felt the old fear that still lived like a bruise beneath her ribs.
But she couldn’t hide forever.
Not again.
Not this time.
Zariah had texted her late the night before:
Zariah: I’m walking you to school. No arguing.
Amani: Are you sure?
Zariah: Girl, I fought two boys and one teacher in primary school. I GOT you.
Amani had actually smiled.
Now, as she stepped outside her house, Zariah was already waiting at the gate, leaning against the fence like a bored model.
She eyed Amani carefully. “You look tired.”
“I’m fine,” Amani said softly.
Zariah took her hand. “You don’t have to be fine with me.”
Amani swallowed, the simple gesture making her unexpectedly emotional.
They walked together, Zariah talking nonstop about Luka doing something stupid in class, about how Elias almost threw a desk at a boy who tried to take Amani’s empty seat.
“You didn’t hear this from me,” she added with a smirk, “but Elias might actually like you.”
Amani flushed. “No… he’s just being nice.”
Zariah stopped walking.
“Girl… Elias Black is not ‘nice’ to anybody. If he’s nice to you, that means something.”
Amani didn’t know what to say.
Zariah squeezed her hand once more before letting go. “Don’t worry. Today will be peaceful.”
Amani wanted to believe that.
She really did.
But peace wasn’t meant to last.
Not when Ethan Kelvin still walked the same earth as her.
---
At School
The school gate was buzzing with more students than usual. Gossip hung in the air like perfume.
Zariah flipped her braids. “Whew. Something is definitely happening.”
Amani’s steps slowed. The energy felt wrong — tense, electric, expectant.
Zariah tugged her gently. “Come on. It’s just gossip.”
But Amani didn’t miss the way some students whispered while staring at them.
Then someone walked toward them with long strides and sharp eyes.
Elias.
He looked… different this morning.
A little too alert.
A little too ready to break someone.
When his gaze landed on Amani, the tension in his shoulders eased.
“You made it,” he said quietly.
Amani nodded. “I didn’t want to hide.”
Zariah beamed proudly. “That’s my girl.”
But Elias was studying Amani’s face, her expression, her mood — reading her like a book.
“Did he bother you again?” he asked, voice low.
“No,” she answered quickly. “Not today.”
Elias exhaled, but not in relief — more like he was saving his anger for later.
Zariah slung her arm around Amani’s shoulders. “Let’s get inside before the principal starts screaming.”
They walked together — Amani between them, Zariah on her left, Elias on her right — like a wall of protection.
It should’ve made her feel safe.
But danger had a way of finding her.
---
The Hallway Incident
Between second and third period, Amani went alone to refill her water bottle. Zariah was arguing with a teacher about her skirt length, and Elias had been called to the office for reasons Amani suspected were definitely his fault.
The hallway was empty — almost too quiet.
She filled her bottle slowly, the sound of water echoing in the silence.
Then—
“Still running away from me, Amani?”
Her breath froze.
She turned.
Ethan Kelvin stood at the far end of the hall, leaning against the wall like he had all the time in the world.
She gripped her bottle tightly. “Leave me alone.”
He walked forward, slow and calm, hands in his pockets.
“I just wanted to talk.”
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
He chuckled softly. “Still dramatic.”
Amani stepped back, heart thudding painfully.
“Don’t come closer.”
“Or what?” He tilted his head, smile widening. “You’ll scream? People never believed you before. Why would they now?”
Her throat tightened painfully.
Ethan stopped right in front of her, too close. His smell — expensive cologne mixed with something darker — suffocated her.
“I missed you,” he whispered.
Her stomach twisted.
“Go away,” she whispered.
His hand reached for her arm—
And suddenly a voice sliced through the hall like a blade.
“Touch her, and I swear to God I’ll end you.”
Ethan froze.
Amani turned.
Elias stood behind him.
No — not stood.
Towered.
Like a storm wearing a school uniform.
Zariah was beside him, breathing hard, eyes dark with fury.
Amani had never been so relieved in her entire life.
Ethan smirked without turning around. “Wow. Reinforcements?”
Elias stepped forward, grabbing Ethan by the shirt and slamming him into the lockers.
The sound echoed down the hallway.
Ethan winced. “What’s your problem?”
“You,” Elias hissed, face inches from his. “You’re my problem.”
Zariah leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “You messed with the wrong girl, sunshine.”
Ethan scoffed. “You don’t even know what happened.”
“I know enough,” Elias growled. “I know she’s scared of you. And that’s enough for me to break your face.”
“Elias—” Amani whispered, but he didn’t release Ethan.
His voice dropped even lower — colder.
“If you ever come near her again… I won’t just push you into a locker.”
Ethan’s smirk faltered — just slightly.
Zariah walked forward and tapped Ethan lightly on the forehead. “You heard him. Stay away. Unless you want to leave this school in an ambulance.”
Ethan jerked away from Elias’s hold and straightened his shirt.
“This isn’t over,” he said quietly.
Elias moved like he wanted to punch him again, but Zariah grabbed his arm.
“Chill, killer. Not the right time.”
Ethan walked off, disappearing around the corner.
The second he was gone, Amani’s legs gave out.
Elias caught her before she fell.
---
The Infirmary
Zariah insisted they take Amani to the nurse’s room to calm down.
Elias carried her.
Literally.
One arm under her knees, one supporting her back, lifting her like she weighed nothing.
Amani’s face burned. “E-Elias… I can walk.”
“You’re shaking,” he said softly. “Just let me.”
Zariah walked in front, opening doors and glaring at anyone who dared stare.
After the nurse checked Amani and left them alone, Zariah sat on the bed beside her, squeezing her hand gently.
“You’re safe now,” Zariah said. “We’re here.”
Amani nodded weakly, tears slipping down.
Elias paced the room like a caged animal.
Zariah whispered, “He’s been like that since this morning. He barely speaks but looks like he’s planning a murder.”
“I heard that,” Elias muttered.
Zariah rolled her eyes. “Good.”
Amani wiped her tears. “I’m sorry…”
Elias stopped pacing instantly.
“No,” he said firmly. “Don’t apologize.”
He crouched in front of her so their eyes met.
“None of this is your fault.”
Amani’s voice cracked. “I just… I don’t want to relive everything.”
“You won’t,” he said. “Not alone.”
Amani looked at him, truly looked at him, and saw something new in his eyes.
Not just anger.
Not just protectiveness.
Something softer.
Something dangerous.
Something she wasn’t sure she deserved.
Zariah saw it too and smirked knowingly.
“Well,” she said, stretching, “looks like you two need a moment, so I’m going to get juice.”
She left before either of them could argue.
Amani sniffed. “She’s… interesting.”
“She cares about you,” Elias said.
Amani blinked. “You barely know me. Why do you?”
Elias hesitated. Then he spoke quietly.
“Because you remind me of someone I couldn’t save.”
Amani’s breath caught.
He didn’t explain. He didn’t need to.
The silence between them was soft — the kind that builds something delicate and terrifying at the same time.
Elias stood slowly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“I promise you, Amani…”
His voice was almost a whisper.
“…I won’t let him hurt you again.”
Her heart fluttered painfully.
“Why?” she whispered.
His eyes softened in a way she’d never seen.
“Because I care.”
Before she could respond, Zariah burst into the room holding three juice boxes.
“Okay! Emotional moment over! Juice time!”
Amani laughed through her tears.
And for the first time since coming back…
She felt something she thought she’d lost forever.
Hope.
- Writer
