The first days of classes are always the hardest especially when it's a new school, and most people already dislike you. Keira just tried to be invisible, but that was near impossible when she was walking around with her brother. For some unknown reason, Alistair had become the new bad boy hottie. Granted Jay was off the market as he was dating a princess of all things. Walking through the hall she felt isolated a feeling she was used Alistair was in most of her classes the grey-clad duo sat in the back without a word. If the teacher called on them Alistair would always speak bringing the attention of Kiera. This was something she didn't realize how much she was grateful for until it was gone. One of the few classes they had apart was math. Every step that took her farther from her brother sent a sinking feeling to the pit of her went well for her when the two were separated. Kiera sat in the seat furthest from the teacher as possible, hoping to blend in with the shadows and be forgotten. Unfortunately, the fates were not on her side and there was no Alistair to draw the attention away from her.
The door of the classroom slammed shut, making Kiera jump, as Mr. Hamon strode into the room. Mr. Hamon was a plump grumpy looking man his face red and blotchy. He stood at the front of the class calling the dreaded when the moment came for him to call her name.
" Kia? Ki..era?"
"Kiera," She says correcting him
"No last name?"
shakes her head
"I see here that you're the daughter of Hades?"
Kiera could feel the entire classrooms eyes on her like a giant spotlight she wanted to disappear into the shadows. Unfortunately for her, as always, the fates had other plans.
"I'm sure you're familiar with how to solve linear equations?" Mr. Hamon sneered
"Um..." Kiera was a deer in headlights.
"Excellent! we'll start off with an easy is review for the rest of the class"
Kiera walks forward to the front of the class it was if she was wading through cement. She hears all the mummers and she just wants to hide in the shadows. She couldn't even hear the teacher as he asked her to solve the question. The white chalk felt heavy in her hand. Time seemed to flow at a sluggish pace as the whispers became deafening as it's all she can focus on. Kiera tries to write an answer but the numbers kept head feels light. Then as if in slow motion the chalk falls from her hand clattering on the floor. Silence. Before anyone could say a word Kiera rushes out of the room. Everything went into hyperdrive. She had no idea where she was going it was like her body was on autopilot. Somehow she found herself with tears streaming down her face as she looked at her own reflection staring back at her in an empty restroom.
"Kiieeerrra" a voice whispers out of the shadows
" Who's there?" Kiera quickly turns around trying to find the source.
" Silly Kiera you thought it would all change didn't you?"
" Who are you?" her eyes darting around the room trying to find the voice.
"I'm you Kiera" fearfully Kiera looks at her own image in the mirror. She almost didn't recognize her own reflection staring back at her. Eyes black and a wide menacing smile stretched across its face. Whatever it was staring back her, it wasn't couldn't be!
" No, you're not!"
" You're right I'm so much more" Keira gasped as electric blue flames surrounded it. She shut her eyes wanting everything to STOP!
" nononono no no no NO!" she murmured to herself her eyes clamed shut. Suddenly the mirror cracked! Kiera stumbled backward in shock. The face was gone but she could still see eyes staring back at her almost mocking her. Kiera crumbled to the tiled floor. She could still hear the voice whispering in the back of her mind.
She didn't tell anyone not even her own brother what had happened. She just wanted to forget the last that class was the last one of the day so she decided to slip back to her dorm room. Walking back to the dorms she felt exposed it was to perfectly sunny that there were barely any deep enough shadows for her to lose herself in. The shadows provided a sense of security they were always someplace she felt safe. When she returned to her bedroom she found it empty with the lights still off. Kiera yanked all of the curtains shut. The only light left in the room was a string of fairy lights along Crystal's wall that she didn't want to touch. She welcomed the fates had other plans as there was a light knock at the door. Kiera considered ignoring it and hoped whoever it was would go away. The knocking persisted. Groaning Kiera slowly opens the door to reveal a redheaded girl with a light pink bow in her hair.
"Kiera right?"
nods
" You left these in class, I also brought you some snickerdoodle cookies. They always cheer me up!" she shakes a light pink tin. Kiera looks at her gray studded backpack in the girl's other hand. In her rush, she had completely forgotten about her things
"can I come in?" the girl asks. Kiera considers grabbing her bag and closing the door in the girl's face, but she couldn't bring herself to be that cruel to someone who was only trying to help. She motions for the girl to come in.
"I'm Julia by the way!" shakes Kiera's hand vigorously "I'm not the daughter of anyone important or worth mentioning. Though I think my parent run the best bakery in all of Auradon, that's debatable" Kiera watches as Julia Starts munching on the cookies that were a supposed gift " a bit dark in here, isn't it?... How about we let some light in" moves to go open the curtain closest to her.
"No!"
" Alright then," she says backing off slowly.
" I'd like to be alone right now"
"Oh...ok..." She turns to leave after setting Kiera's things down delicately placing the cookie tin beside them. " I just want you to know he's a real tosser. Everyone messed up on that equation on the final exam last year" Gives Kiera one last reassuring smile before closing the door.
And just like that Kiera was alone again. She leaped into her bed burrowing into her covers trying to forget. She didn't know how much time had passed but it didn't feel long before she had another visitor.
" Yo sis!" Al comes barging in without even knocking. Kiera huddles hidden under the covers
"I didn't see you at your locker," he says looking at the lump on the bed.
" too many people"
"Yeah and why are you sitting alone in the dark"
"It's homey" her voice muffled by the comforter
"I see...can I join you?" she lifts the covers allowing her brother to join her
" This place is weird.I mean everyone just stares. I thought staring was supposed to be rude. Then they want you to eat actual vegetables! They're like green. Kiera Green! It's just not right. It's not humane to force feed us!"
" Weird is one way to describe it"
" And is it just me or is it too bright and sunny?"
Luckily the rest of the day was uneventful it wasn't until the sun went down and the shadows grew into complete darkness.
" Do you want me to get the lights?" Crystal asked they had barely said a word to each other all day. Crystal sensed that it was best to keep to herself. She had been around her cousin Ruby enough to know when someone needed some space. Keira nodded silently preparing herself for what came next. She spent what felt like hours studying the canopy before she finally slipped away.
She stood alone staring into the shadows that were slowly surrounding her. The shadows puzzled her they felt harsh and cold. She always felt at home in the shadows, in the darkness but there was something else lurking hidden deep in the next thing Kiera knew she was running all she could feel was absolute behind her she could see something moving within the shadows themselves. A form began to emerge whispering incoherently reaching toward Keira. Suddenly a harsh shriek pierced the silence beating against her eardrums!
She awoke with a start in a cold sweat. Looking over to Crystal's bed Kiera could still see her sleeping soundly. Good, she thought, at least I didn't wake up screaming this time. Kiera frantically reaches for the sketchbook under her bed trying to recreate what she saw in her nightmare before it disappeared. She tried to go back to sleep but she knew at this point it was hopeless. She looked out the window the moon seemed to call her. Taking a deep breath she opened the window and climbed over the ledge. She glanced at Crystal one last time before she disappeared into the darkness.
