College, she could feel the eyes on her. Whispers floated around her l

at the

autiful. But

r eyes? They l

actually glo

to focus on walking steadily. Her boots tapped against the p

ing her eyes. "Here goes the whispering again

She wasn't surprised people were talking-it had always been this way. Ever since her powers had started to manifest, people had been either afra

r chin slightly lifted, ignoring the stares and

32B." She hesitated for a second before inserting the key and

the moment she

her head. "Now I can't ev

ed. Not today. Not after everything. She had hoped for a bit of soli

into two mirrored halves. There were two beds, two wardrobes, two study desks, and two private bathrooms. Even the

ay, taking it all in, she heard a

the girl said cheerfully, wav

that she had a roommate, but that her roomm

iously. Her tone was a bit guarded, her vo

rs, stares, maybe a little fear. But this girl seemed completel

u... scared that I might do something to yo

, a playful smile on her face.

cause I'm a Red. Most people

's dangerous or who isn't. Powers or not. I can't just assume you're a threat bec

galaxy as what she had expected. People usually walked on eggshells around her, or avoided her altoget

it further, something eve

over and ga

tightly, warmly, like they'd known e

stiff, her brain short-circuited, a

looked at her, a puzzled

hugged you before?

er," she said after a pause. "I've never had any friends before, so.

t something unfamiliar, something warm bloom in he

then it's official. Yo

a had come to expect from privileged students. Compared to Stacy's parents, Almora's were billionaires, with powerful influence both inside an

of relief, "at least I've got a

tly, and the two of them laughed toge

n the floor and opened the rules booklet together. Both of them were new students,

clear and surpr

of yourself or o

anyone, unless in a defens

past curfew. Curfew be

dark forest between

gned to anyone caught wan

school premises unde

rule four. 'Do not enter the dark forest between noon and

t's what I thought too. But hey, I love sur

ghing. "Are you always like this

take it as a compliment," S

ked about growing up near the coast, her love for animals, and her tendency to say whatever was on her mind. Almora, in turn, shared

over strange rules-was all new to Almora. Every mi

hem began to doze off. The sun had long since dipped below th

later. The room was quiet, sav

light. The mirror greeted her with her own tired reflection.

ly to her reflection, a tired smile forming on h

ed more earnestly. "I

ietly back into the room. She crawled into her bed, pulle

something strang

an ember. Then brighter, pulsing slowly with her breath. Her hair shimmered like fl

she slept