As I stood there, silent and dumbfounded, I could feel Ma’am Elena’s eyes on me, filled with curiosity.
“Kimberly, I asked you a question. I need an answer,” she said firmly, her gaze intensifying as she stared straight into my eyes.
I swallowed hard, lifting my face to meet her look. “Ma’am, I don’t know what answer you’re expecting. I don’t feel anything about seeing the Alpha yesterday,” I said, trying to keep my expression neutral.
Ma’am Elena let out a small sigh, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Lying to me won’t do you any good, Kimberly. It’ll only hurt you in the long run. Be honest. Now, tell me the truth.”
She stepped closer, her eyes boring into mine as she waited for my response. There was a faint grin on her face, but I knew she wasn’t joking.
“Alright, I’ll tell you,” I said, my voice shaking as I spoke. “I felt rage. Despair. Seeing them together… It reminded me that someone I trusted like a sister went behind my back and took everything from me. Now I’m stuck here, serving like a slave, while they enjoy what was meant for me.” My voice cracked, and I felt the hot sting of tears running down my cheeks. “I feel pain every single day, and I don’t think I can ever heal from this.”
Ma’am Elena stayed silent for a moment, watching me closely. Then she took a deep breath before asking, “What do you plan to do about it, Kimberly?”
I hesitated, wiping my face with the back of my hand. “There’s nothing I can do, ma’am. I sleep to escape the pain, but when I wake up, it’s still there. This… all of this… it’s my reality now. I don’t think it’ll ever change.”
Her expression softened, and she tilted her head slightly. “Have you ever thought about freedom? If you were granted the chance to leave here, what would you do with it?”
Her question caught me off guard. I stared at her, unsure of what she was trying to get at. I needed to be careful with my response.
“I don’t seek freedom, ma’am,” I said cautiously. “What I want is happiness-whether it’s here or somewhere else. I just want to be in a place where there’s love, peace, and genuine friendship.”
Ma’am Elena nodded, listening carefully to every word. Then she smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “This place is full of different kinds of people, Kimberly. Many of them hide demons behind their beautiful faces. Be careful with what you say and what you do. I hope you find the happiness you’re looking for someday.”
With that, she turned and began to walk away. I watched her take a few steps before I called out, “Ma’am, wait!”
She stopped, slowly turning her head back toward me.
“Why are you nice to me?” I asked, my voice small but filled with curiosity. “Why are you doing all of this?”
She stared at me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she asked, “You think I’m being nice to you?”
I nodded, unsure of what to say.
“Well,” she said, her tone cold, “I’m not doing this out of kindness. I’m simply making sure that everything runs smoothly. There are no loose ends. As for why I’m doing it, don’t worry. When the right time comes, you’ll understand.”
With that, she walked away, her posture poised and elegant. I stood there, frozen in place, trying to make sense of her words. *What did she mean by that?* I wondered, feeling more confused than ever.
As I turned to head back to my room, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. Mohandia was standing in the distance, watching me. The moment our eyes met, she quickly turned and walked away, disappearing into another part of the building.
I felt a sudden urge to follow her, to see what she was up to. But I stopped myself, realizing that she could be plotting something against me. It was better to stay cautious.
*I won’t fall for your tricks, Mohandia,* I thought. *Why would she be spying on me anyway?*
With that unsettling thought, I made my way back to my room. I needed to stay vigilant. There were too many things happening around me, and I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.
When I entered my room, I sat down, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling in my chest. Something didn’t feel right, but I couldn’t figure out what it was.
I rested my head in my hands, trying to clear my mind. That’s when I heard it-a voice, soft and whispering, right in my ear.
“Kimberly, the light that breaks the darkness and the voice of the universe… I have come to deliver a message.”
I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. The voice was familiar-eerily so. I had heard it before. I sat perfectly still, my body tense as the voice continued.
“You are in the midst of great danger. The forces around you are not of flesh and blood, but spirits from the darkest parts of the universe. The fate of the world lies in your hands. Act now, before it’s too late.”
The words sent a chill down my spine. I slowly turned my head toward the direction of the voice, half-expecting it to be a figment of my imagination. But to my shock, I saw something-white smoke, drifting toward me from the corner of the room.
I jumped to my feet, my eyes wide with disbelief. *Am I dreaming?*
I watched in stunned silence as the smoke slowly made its way to the window, where it vanished into the air outside.
“What just happened?” I whispered to myself, my voice trembling. “Am I losing my mind?”
I paced the room, trying to make sense of what I had just seen and heard. *I can’t talk to anyone about this. No one would believe me.*
My mind raced, and I felt panic rising inside me. *What do I do?* I thought, still shaken from the encounter.
*I need to do something… but what?*