Tonight, Laura's story lingers like an unshakable shadow, spinning mercilessly in my head. Her tale is like a mournful symphony that never ceases, silencing any chance of taking a relieved breath.
Her fragile voice—soft yet filled with wounds—carries suffering woven with extraordinary courage, forcing her to stand tall against a world that has been nothing but cruel.
Her gaze, like a fire of fury ablaze, sprinkled with fear she struggles to hide. It pierces the deepest recesses of my soul, ripping apart any semblance of peace with the sharpness of an unrelenting blade.
No! I will never be able to erase that image. The wound she left on this heart is far too deep to ignore.
Laura is still too young, God… She shouldn't have to bear the weight of such a ruthless world. How could she still stand after being struck by fate so mercilessly?
The shadows of betrayal, loss, and burning vengeance within her are like embers in a furnace—not warming, but chaining my soul with a suffocating grip.
The world has shattered that girl into countless fragments, building towering walls from the ruins of her pain. And even I, with all the courage I thought I had, hesitate to break through the thick barrier that shields Laura from more wounds.
And now…
I don't even know how I ended up by the roadside tonight. Everything feels blurred, a collision between reality and the drifting thoughts that won't let me go. The cold night air fails to soothe my restless mind, which is drowning in chaos.
I shut my eyes, hoping that darkness might offer me a moment's peace. But it's useless. Laura is still there, haunting my thoughts, forcing me to face a truth I cannot ignore.
I should be pressing the gas pedal, heading back to my hotel and leaving all this behind. Yet, somehow, my body chooses a different path. I find myself stopping in front of Laura's house.
Yes, I've returned to this place. A small, barely livable house. Here, sitting inside my car, I remain frozen, staring at that door from afar. I don't know what I'm looking for or why I'm even here, but my steps feel locked in place. No courage to step out, no strength to move closer.
I glance around, trying to recall how I got here. My hotel is only a few blocks away, yet somehow, I lack the will to return. My mind is consumed by one person—Laura. The weight she carries makes me feel utterly useless.
How could I leave her alone? How could I ask her to trust me?
I turn on the ignition, but my hands tremble over the steering wheel, making it impossible to drive away. Tonight, Laura didn't just share her story—she placed a fragile piece of herself in my hands. And I, somehow, feel responsible for protecting her, even if she never asked, even if she doesn't want my help.
But one thing I know for certain—Laura must not be alone anymore. Not while I still breathe.
Laura, or perhaps Abby… whoever she is beneath those names, a girl with two identities and a thousand secrets—tonight, she made me feel both strong and weak at the same time.
I remember the first time I saw her eyes in the school hallway. I knew she was different, unusual. But now, after hearing everything, I understand. Laura isn't just different—she is extraordinary. She is a miracle forged from destruction. And I've been drawn to her since day one.
I close my eyes again, praying for calm to finally settle. But nothing changes. When I open them once more, my gaze lands on the grandeur of Harrow Elite International High School, standing tall in the distance.
How ironic. A school brimming with luxury and buried secrets is the very place where fate intertwined our lives. A cruel, yet meaningful fate. Now I see it clearly—fate led me here, to Laura.
A girl with a thousand wounds. And I have decided on my own that my purpose is to heal her…
But,
My train of thought shatters as a sudden commotion erupts from inside Laura's house. My body moves faster than my mind. I burst out of the car, my voice tearing through the silent night.
"Lauraaaahh!"
The echo of my shout fades into an eerie stillness.
My feet race toward the tightly shut door. That house… small, frail—just like its occupant, who has been standing against the storm for far too long.
I reach for the handle—it's locked. Without a second thought, I gather my strength and slam my foot against the door. The hinges give way. The brittle wood shatters, splintering onto the floor.
Inside, I see Laura.
She stands before a small mirror, clad in a large, tattered black hoodie. Half of her face is hidden behind a mask, but her eyes… those eyes stare at the reflection with an expression I struggle to decipher. But in that reflection, on the part of her face not concealed by the mask, I catch a glimpse of something—a smirk.
Not of happiness. But of bitterness.
Then I see it. The shadow.
A dark figure slowly emerges behind Laura. A thick, pitch-black mist, shaping itself into something terrifying, with a grin far crueler than hers. The figure envelopes her, trapping Laura in an embrace that speaks of nothing but suffocation.
That figure… Headmaster Wirya.
The principal of Harrow Elite. A man who should uphold honor, yet does nothing but corrupt it.
Why is he here?
"Lauraaa!" I scream, trying to reach her. But my body… it won't move. My breath turns heavy, as if invisible chains are wrapped around me, binding me in place. The only thing I can feel is the surge of blood raging through my veins, pulsing with fury against the unbreakable rocks of despair.
Laura slowly turns to face me. Her eyes, filled with pain, lock onto mine. She doesn't speak, yet I hear her voice echoing in my head—
"Why are you just standing there, Mr. Calvin? Why aren't you saving me?"
The darkness thickens, swallowing Laura whole. She disappears—vanishing along with Headmaster Wirya, leaving behind nothing but an unbearable void.
"LAURAAAA!" I scream at the top of my lungs—
And suddenly—everything vanishes.
I jolt awake, drenched in cold sweat. My breath is ragged, my chest feeling as if it's been crushed by a thousand stones.
My eyes dart toward Laura's house. The door is still intact. No broken hinges, no scattered wood. Everything is… as it was.
I curse under my breath. "Damn it… just a nightmare."
But the fear doesn't fade.
I glance at the dashboard clock. The first rays of sunlight are beginning to seep through the car windows. I hadn't even realized—I had spent the entire night sitting in my car, right in front of Laura's gate.
Yet one thing is crystal clear.
That dream… wasn't just a dream.
It was a warning.
I have to do something.
Before the darkness truly devours Laura.
.
.
(To be continued…)