Seraph: The Awakening

CHAPTER THREE

The rest of the school day slipped by until the final period—sports. For most of the girls at Meadow High, that meant cheerleading, volleyball, gymnastics, or the swim team. For Nora, it meant only one thing: the wrestling ring.

After changing in the locker room, Ruby darted off to join the cheer squad while Nora adjusted her ponytail and turned toward the gym. She hadn’t gone far before a chorus of howls and shouts erupted.

The basketball jocks stormed out of their locker room, charging toward the field like a pack of wolves. Their shirts clung to their torsos, muscles slick with sweat, towels draped carelessly over their shoulders.

“Did they mop themselves with those towels before practice?” Nora muttered, raising an eyebrow as the hallway stilled. Half the girls around her had stopped walking just to stare.

Nora allowed herself a smirk. This was one of the things she’d miss about high school—the sweaty, hot jocks, the reckless teen energy, the constant undercurrent of rebellion. Just three more months and it would all be over. Goodbye to the glorious chaos of high school, hello to college, where a single decision about a major could shape an entire future.

By the time Nora stepped into the gym, her teammates were already pounding out laps around the polished floor, sneakers squeaking in perfect rhythm. Another sight to behold.

“Bennett!” Mr. Bradford’s voice thundered from across the gym, sharp as the whistle clamped between his teeth. “Nice of you to join us. Fall in!”

Nora sprinted forward without complaint, slotting into line just as Mason, her closest friend on the team, slowed his pace so she could cut in front.

Her mother always said she got her build from her father, but years of martial arts had sharpened it. Karate from age six to ten, then judo and jiu-jitsu until thirteen—by the time Nora joined the wrestling team, combat training was second nature. Her mom never fully understood her daughter’s obsession, but Nora didn’t need to. The rush was enough. The freedom she felt when sparring, when testing herself, when pushing past limits—it was addictive.

After five more laps, Mr. Bradford’s whistle pierced the air, calling everyone to a stop. Most of the boys bent over, hands braced against their knees, chests heaving for breath. Nora, however, kept stretching, her face unbothered.

“How are you not out of breath?” Lance panted, looking at her like she was some strange anomaly.

“Don’t you know what they call her in the gym?” Jeff cut in, grinning. “Cyborg.”

Nora planted her feet and crossed her arms across her stomach, fixing Jeff with mock severity. “Do you want to be kicked?”

“No, seriously,” Lance gasped, wiping sweat from his brow. “You never break a sweat.”

“That’s what happens when you drink a lot of water,” Nora replied, jogging lightly in place.

Jeff barked a laugh. “Nope. You’re definitely a cyborg.”

Nora lunged forward, giving his shin a playful kick. “Is that really something an eighteen-year-old should be saying? Cyborg?” She rolled her eyes with exaggerated disbelief. “Fine. I’m a cyborg. And I’ve come to rule over mankind.”

With a sudden burst of energy, she leapt after him again, and Jeff stumbled back, laughing as he dodged another harmless kick.

“Alright! Team up. Team A on my right, Team B on my left! Hustle up!” Mr. Bradford barked.

The students split quickly. Nora, Lance, and Mason landed on Team B with seven others, while Team A counted nine. Each side settled cross-legged on the waxed pine floor, facing each other like rival clans.

“Roberto! Davis! Let’s see what you’ve got!” Mr. Bradford signaled the first match. The two boys stepped onto the mat, bowing stiffly before locking up. Davis struck first, tackling Roberto flat onto the floor.

Mason dropped down beside Nora, leaning back on his palms. “Hey, you’re coming to the party, right?”

“What party?” she asked, eyes still locked on the spar.

“You didn’t hear? Kyle and his friends are throwing a senior party at Vell Waterfall.”

“Kyle? Kyle Marshall—the mayor’s son?”

“Yep.”

“The one whose mom got caught cheating?” Nora didn’t look away from the fight, but her tone carried all the bite of gossip.

That scandal had blown through Meadowville just over a week after Mr. Henshaw’s attack. It drowned out the town’s unease over animal maulings and strange sightings in the reserve. The mayor had shown up unannounced at the sheriff’s house to discuss boosting security. Instead, he found his wife in bed with the sheriff himself. Neighbors had to drag the two men apart before it turned escalated. The story spread like wildfire, restoring the town’s favorite pastime: scandal-mongering.

“Yes, thank you, Nora,” Mason muttered, chuckling—until Mr. Bradford shot him a glare. Mason cleared his throat and turned back to the fight. Roberto had Davis down for the moment, but from Nora’s careful study of their patterns, Davis would take it in the end.

When the coach turned away, Mason tilted closer. “Frankly, I think that’s why Kyle’s hosting this party. To prove he’s not fazed.”

“That’s twisted.” Nora sat straighter, folding her legs under her. She had no interest in attending parties; past experiences had shown her they were chaotic and exhausting. Still, she kept her attention on the duel.

On the mat, Davis flipped the tables, catching Roberto in an arm lock until Roberto tapped furiously. Laughter and claps echoed as Mr. Bradford called up the next pair.

“So, are you coming?” Mason pressed again. He wanted Nora at the party—an excuse to spend time with her, maybe even confess what he had felt for years. His crush dated back to ninth grade, a fact obvious to everyone except Nora.

Nora didn’t answer—because Jared slid down beside her.

“Where are we going?” he asked.

“Vell Waterfall,” Mason muttered, not appreciating the interruption.

“Oh, the party,” Jared said, his face lighting up.

“Are you going?” Nora asked, half expecting at least one person to share her disinterest.

“Sure. Remember what happened there two months ago with Kyle and his friends?” Jared said, a hint of excitement in his voice. “I want to see the mystery of the forest reserve for myself.”

Nora’s curiosity piqued. “What happened?”

“Jesus, Nora, do you even attend this school?” Jared exclaimed a little too loudly.

“Wood!” Mr Bradford thundered, making Jared sit up straight. “You want to tell me what’s so urgent it can’t wait until after practice?!” he demanded. Bradford’s gaze shifted to Nora. “You too, Bennett! Care to share?”

Both students froze for a moment, silently debating who would speak first.

“Both of you, fall into the ring!” Bradford finally commanded.

Finally, Nora got what she wanted. She shot to her feet and marched to the ring. Jared, on the other hand, hesitated.

“Wood! What are you doing?” Bradford asked sharply.

“He’s afraid to spar with Nora!” Travis, from the other team, laughed, drawing chuckles from the rest of the gym.

Reluctantly, Jared stepped into the ring. Bradford blew the whistle, and before Jared could react, Nora twisted his arm and slammed him to the mat, pinning him until he tapped repeatedly. Laughter echoed across the gym as Jared dragged himself to a seat, nursing his arm, well away from Nora.

She returned to her spot beside Mason, who was still laughing.

“Do you want to take his place, Chapman?” Bradford asked.

Mason shook his head. “No sir, I’m good,” he said, still catching his breath. Bradford called two other students to the ring.

Mason pressed the topic again. “So, are you coming?”

Nora groaned inwardly. “Hum? I don’t know—wait, Vell Waterfall? Isn’t that on the other side of the Reserve?”

“Yeah, but it’ll be fine. The party is at the Fall, not the Reserve,” Mason said.

“The Fall is directly behind the Reserve. Nobody’s allowed there since the attacks started,” she reminded him.

“Nobody’s allowed at the Reserve, not just the Fall,” he corrected. “Besides, the sheriff’s department only patrols the entrance. We’ll be fine.”

The Meadowville Forest Reserve had long been a haven for secret teenage parties. Both Meadow High and Bliss High students knew its trails better than the Sheriffs, making escape easy—and thrilling.

“I don’t enjoy parties,” she protested. “They’re too loud.”

Mason scoffed. “Like you need reminding. You always ditch me at every party I invite you to.”

“If it’s any consolation, I always ditch Ruby too,” Nora said with a small smile.

“It’s not you, it’s me?” he chuckled. “Typical. But you have to be there. In about two months, all this”—he gestured to the gym and the students sparring—“is over. Why not enjoy it?”

“Okay, I’ll think about it,” Nora said, hoping to end the conversation. Just then, Bradford called Mason to the ring for his duel.