PENUMBRA

Chapter 1

“Cassie! Wake up, sleepyhead, you’re gonna be late for school!”

She groaned, burrowed deeper under the covers, and pulled the blanket collar well over her head.

A few minutes later, she heard the creak of footsteps climbing the wooden stairs and pausing outside her room. Just as expected, the door cracked open.

“Cassie, I know you’re pretending.” Melissa’s voice was firm as she strode straight to the window and flung open the blinds. The room flooded with light. “You’ll be late if you don’t get up this minute.”

“Argh, come on, Mum!” Cassie groaned, instantly shielding her eyes with a pillow. “I don’t wanna go.”

“Cassie, we’ve talked about this.” Melissa sat heavily on the edge of the bed. “You have to go. I know you’re finding it hard to adjust…”

“But eventually I will,” Cassie cut in, pushing herself up to sit.

“Exactly, sweetheart.” Melissa caressed her hair. “You’re going to make new friends, and eventually, everything will feel normal again.”

Cassie let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping. “Do you really think so, Mum?”

“Trust me, sweetheart. Now get up. I’ll drop you off.”

“I’ll take the bus,” Cassie said quickly.

“I’ll drop you off today. You can take the bus tomorrow.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. Now up with you, young lady.” Melissa kissed her forehead and left the room.

Cassie watched the door for a long moment before finally swinging her legs out of bed and moving to the window. This was the fourth school change, and she knew she had to make this one stick. It was clearly taking a toll on Melissa; even though her mother never complained, Cassie could see it.

As she stared out, her mind drifted back to her previous school. Blueville was the only one she had ever genuinely liked. If only I hadn't gone after that blabbermouth, Katherina, she thought bitterly. Katherina was a bully, everyone knew it, but her family’s considerable contributions to the school always allowed her to escape consequences.

“I detest her,” Cassie hissed aloud.

She vividly recalled the sad, exhausted look on Melissa’s face the day they were summoned to the principal’s office. Mr. Morgan had told them Katherina’s parents were willing to drop the disciplinary action only on the condition that Cassie transfer schools. Cassie had immediately protested, insisting Katherina was at fault.

“You’re a problem child, Cassie,” Morgan had declared, glaring down his nose at her.

“I am not a problem!” she retorted angrily. Melissa quickly cautioned her, apologizing profusely to Morgan and accepting the immediate withdrawal from Blueville.

The drive home that day had been enveloped in a thick, painful silence. Cassie knew her mother was deeply upset, and she didn't want to intensify her distress, so she kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, stealing brief, guilty glances at Melissa occasionally.

A few miles from Blueville, the car shuddered to a sudden stop. Melissa killed the engine, leaned her head back against the seat, and stared blankly through the windshield. Every so often, she would heave a shaking breath and slowly shake her head.

Cassie watched her, a knot tightening in her stomach.

“Mum?” Cassie whispered, her voice barely audible.

Melissa didn’t move, her eyes fixed on some point in the distance. When she finally spoke, her voice was strained and laced with hurt.

“Do you know what Mr. Morgan called me, Cassie?” Melissa’s head remained pressed against the seat. “He called me a failed parent.”

Cassie winced, biting the inside of her cheek. “That’s not true. He was just angry.”

“No,” Melissa said, turning her head slowly to meet Cassie’s gaze. “He said that a girl who has to switch schools four times in three years because she can’t control her temper is a reflection of her home life. He said I was enabling you.”

“I was defending myself! Katherina was a bully, and you know she deserved it. He was defending her because of the money.”

Melissa closed her eyes, and a single tear rolled down her cheek. “I know it’s your dad. I know you’re still hurting. But you've got to understand that I’m hurting too, and acting this way isn’t going to bring him back to us.” Melissa’s voice broke, giving way to uncontrollable sobs.

Ever since Jeffrey Moore, Cassie's father and Melissa's husband, an honest cop, was tragically murdered, life had not been the same for Cassie and Melissa. The loss had left a deep, bleeding wound.

Cassie reached out and gripped Melissa's trembling hands.

“I’m sorry, Mum,” Cassie whispered, her own throat tight with emotion.

Melissa wiped the tears from her own face, then pulled her daughter into a warm embrace that lasted until their shared shaking subsided.

Melissa then cupped Cassie's face in her hands, staring softly into her eyes. “This time, it has to be different, sweetheart. We have to make it work. I need you to promise me, Cassie. No more fighting.” Her voice was a steady plea now. “No matter what anyone says or does, you walk away. You just leave. Can you promise me that?”

Cassie nodded, the tears blurring her vision.

“I promise, Mum,” Cassie whispered. “I promise I will.”

Melissa let out a long, shaky breath that sounded like years of stress escaping her lungs, smiled and put the car into drive, pulling slowly back onto the road.

Cassie’s thoughts finally drifted back to the present. She reached up and closed the blinds, then walked into the bathroom, a rush of curiosity swept through her, replacing the memory. She wondered what this new school was truly going to be like.

Melissa had described it the previous day: a private, fee-paying institution situated right in the heart of the city—a Cassie knew their finances were tight; the expense of a school like this must be putting tremendous pressure on her mother. That knowledge only strengthened the promise she had made: this attempt had to succeed.

She stepped into the shower, whistling the bright, rhythmic tunes of Lindsey Stirling’s Carol of the Bells, trying to drown her anxiety with the familiar melody.