Chapter 12 – Friend or Enemy
1220 Words
Chapter 12 – Friend or Enemy
Lyra didn’t expect kindness.
Not here.
Not in a place like Magnus Academy, where power meant everything and weakness was something to be crushed underfoot.
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So when it came—
She didn’t know how to react.
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“You shouldn’t carry that alone.”
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Lyra paused.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the heavy basket in her hands.
Slowly—
She turned.
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A girl stood a few steps away.
Not like the others.
Not elegant.
Not intimidating.
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Simple.
Quiet.
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“…I can manage,” Lyra replied softly.
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The girl tilted her head.
Then stepped closer.
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“…You don’t have to.”
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Before Lyra could refuse—
The girl took half the weight from her basket.
Effortless.
Natural.
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Lyra froze.
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“…Why…?”
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The girl smiled.
Small.
Gentle.
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“…Because no one helped me when I first came here.”
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Lyra’s chest tightened.
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That sounded…
Familiar.
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“…What’s your name?” the girl asked.
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Lyra hesitated.
Just for a second.
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“…Lyra.”
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“Selene.”
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The name lingered.
Soft.
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Selene adjusted the basket slightly.
“…You’re the one everyone’s talking about.”
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Of course she was.
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Lyra looked away.
“…I didn’t ask for that.”
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Selene chuckled quietly.
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“…No one ever does.”
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They walked together in silence for a while.
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It was… strange.
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No insults.
No mocking.
No whispers filled with cruelty.
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Just—
Quiet.
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Lyra wasn’t used to it.
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“…You shouldn’t go to the upper halls alone,” Selene said suddenly.
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Lyra blinked.
“…Why?”
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Selene’s expression shifted slightly.
Just slightly.
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“…Because you’re being watched.”
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Lyra’s heart skipped.
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“…I know…”
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A pause.
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“…Then you should be more careful.”
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Something about the way she said it felt…
Off.
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But Lyra ignored it.
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Because for the first time—
Someone was talking to her like she was human.
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Later that evening—
The kitchen was quieter than usual.
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Most of the work was done.
The staff had begun to disperse.
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Lyra stayed behind.
Cleaning.
Scrubbing.
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Same as always.
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“You didn’t eat, did you?”
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Lyra looked up.
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Selene stood near the doorway.
Holding something.
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A small tray.
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“…I’m fine,” Lyra said automatically.
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Selene walked closer anyway.
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“…You say that a lot.”
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She placed the tray down beside Lyra.
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Simple food.
Bread.
Soup.
Nothing special.
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But to Lyra—
It felt like something else.
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“…Why are you doing this?” Lyra asked quietly.
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Selene shrugged.
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“…Because you look like you might collapse.”
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Not wrong.
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Lyra hesitated.
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Then—
Slowly—
She reached for the bread.
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Her fingers brushed the surface.
Warm.
Normal.
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Nothing felt wrong.
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“…Thank you,” she whispered.
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Selene smiled again.
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“…You’re welcome.”
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Lyra ate slowly.
Carefully.
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Watching.
Waiting.
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But nothing happened.
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No pain.
No weakness.
No strange reaction.
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Maybe—
She was overthinking.
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“Lyra.”
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She looked up again.
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Selene’s gaze was different this time.
More serious.
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“…Be careful who you trust here.”
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Lyra frowned slightly.
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“…I thought you said that already.”
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Selene smiled faintly.
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“…I did.”
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A pause.
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“…I just wanted to remind you.”
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That night—
Lyra returned to her room.
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The cold greeted her again.
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Familiar.
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But something felt different.
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Her body felt…
Heavy.
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“…I’m just tired…”
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She closed the door.
Locked it.
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Sat down slowly on the bed.
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Her breathing felt uneven.
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“…Why…?”
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Her fingers tightened.
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The pressure—
Was back.
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But weaker than before.
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No.
Not weaker.
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Different.
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Inside.
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Her chest tightened.
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“…No…”
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Her vision blurred slightly.
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Her body leaned forward.
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Her hand slipped—
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And the tray she had brought with her earlier—
Fell.
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Clatter.
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The bowl shattered.
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And from the remains—
Something glimmered.
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Faint.
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Purple.
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Lyra’s eyes widened.
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“…What… is that…?”
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Her hand trembled as she reached toward it.
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Tiny particles.
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Almost invisible.
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Mixed into the food.
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Her breath hitched.
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“…No…”
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Realization hit.
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Slow.
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Heavy.
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“…It wasn’t me…”
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Her body shook.
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“…It was this…”
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The weakness.
The pain.
The suffocating pressure.
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Not random.
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Not natural.
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Done.
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To her.
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Her chest tightened painfully.
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“…Selene…”
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The name barely escaped her lips.
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Her fingers clenched.
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“…Why…?”
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Silence answered her.
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Cold.
Empty.
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Her vision darkened slightly.
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The effect was getting worse.
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Because she had eaten it.
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More than before.
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Her body trembled violently.
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“…I can’t… breathe…”
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Her magic—
Felt distant.
Muted.
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Gone.
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For the first time—
She felt completely—
Helpless.
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Again.
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A knock echoed softly on her door.
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Lyra froze.
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Her heart dropped.
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“…No…”
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Not again.
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“Lyra?”
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Selene’s voice.
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Soft.
Gentle.
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“…Are you alright?”
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Lyra’s fingers dug into the floor.
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Her breathing uneven.
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“…Why… are you here…?”
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The handle moved.
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Slowly.
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“…I was worried.”
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The door creaked open.
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Selene stepped inside.
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Her eyes immediately found Lyra.
Collapsed.
Weak.
Shaking.
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And she smiled.
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Not gentle anymore.
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Not kind.
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Cold.
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“…Good.”
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Lyra’s heart shattered.
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“…You…”
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Selene walked closer.
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Calm.
Unhurried.
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“…You really are special.”
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Lyra tried to move.
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Her body refused.
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“…why…”
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Her voice broke.
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“…why… would you…”
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Selene crouched in front of her.
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“…Because you’re valuable.”
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A pause.
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“…And I was told to watch you.”
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Lyra’s breath hitched.
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“…by who…”
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Selene’s smile deepened.
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“…Does it matter?”
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Her hand lifted—
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And from her sleeve—
The purple glow returned.
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Stronger.
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Closer.
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Lyra’s body reacted instantly.
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Pain.
Weakness.
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Total collapse.
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“…Now,” Selene whispered.
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“…let’s see how much you’re worth.”
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Lyra’s vision blurred.
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Her strength faded completely.
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But just before everything went dark—
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One thought remained.
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Not fear.
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Not despair.
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But something else.
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Cold.
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Sharp.
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“…I won’t… trust anyone again…”
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Darkness took her.
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And somewhere far away—
Footsteps echoed.
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Fast.
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Approaching.
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Too late—
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Or just in time.
- Writer
