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Spellbound Steel

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The secret that she hides

At Jessica’s Grocery Store

"Hey, Jace! What took you so long?" Jessica asks, arms crossed.

"Something came up," I say.

She narrows her eyes. "Oh, come on. You know you can tell me."

So, I do.

She listens, nodding, then smirks. "I know exactly what’s going on."

I frown. "You do?"

"Yep."

"Then tell me."

She grins. "Oh, you clueless boys. It’s romance."

I stare. "Romance?"

"She was going to confess to you."

I scoff. "I doubt that."

Jessica just shrugs. "Believe what you want. Anyway, forget that for a second—I have something for you."

She pulls out a small birthday cake with the number 17 written on it.

"Happy birthday, Jace. You’re seventeen today."

I freeze. "Oh. Right. I forgot."

Jessica smirks. "Of course you did. Lucky for you, I’m the smartest person alive."

I snort. "Remembering my birthday doesn’t prove you’re a genius."

"Pfft, you’re just jealous of my intelligence."

"Whatever. Thanks, Jessica."

We both laughed.

After celebrating my birthday at Jessica’s store, I head home.

I step inside, lock the door behind me, and let out a deep breath. The house is silent.

After taking a hot shower, I throw on a t-shirt and head to the kitchen to fix something to eat. But before I can open the fridge—

Ding-dong.

The doorbell rings.

I freeze.

No one ever visits me this late.

I walk to the door and pull it open.

Standing there, panting heavily, sweat trailing down her face, is Rihanna Kensington.

Her uniform is slightly disheveled, her hair clinging to her forehead, and her eyes are frantic—like she ran all the way here.

"Rihanna?" My brows furrow. "What are you doing here?"

She doesn’t answer right away. Instead, she struggles to catch her breath, clutching her chest like something is weighing her down.

"I'm… sorry," she finally says between gasps. "I didn't come to the rooftop… I was sick… but I had to see you tonight."

Something about her voice makes my stomach tighten. There’s urgency—desperation.

I step aside. "Come in. You need to sit down."

She nods weakly and steps in, her legs slightly unsteady. I guide her to the couch and pour her a glass of water. She takes a sip, her fingers trembling as she grips the glass.

Then, she looks at me—really looks at me.

There’s something in her eyes. Something she’s been holding back for a long time.

"I always wanted to tell you," she says softly. "But I was afraid… afraid of what you would think of me."

A strange coldness spreads through my chest. "Tell me what?"

She takes a deep breath, then clenches her fists.

"The reason your mother died… is because of me."

The world stops.

Everything feels distant, like the air has been sucked from the room. My mind stutters, refusing to process her words.

"What?" My voice is barely above a whisper. "That’s not true. She was hit by a car… You had nothing to do with it."

Rihanna squeezes her eyes shut, guilt written across every inch of her face. "No, Jace… she died saving me."

My body locks up.

"I was walking my dog that day," she continues, her voice shaking. "He broke free and ran into the street. I chased after him, and I—" She chokes on her words. "I didn’t see the car coming. Your mom… she pushed me out of the way. She saved me… and she took the hit instead."

My fingers curl into fists. "You’re lying."

"I’m not." Tears glisten in her eyes. "I should’ve told you sooner, but I was too much of a coward. I—I didn’t know how to face you. I didn’t know if you’d hate me."

My breathing is uneven. My chest feels like it’s caving in.

For years, I had buried my grief. I thought I had moved forward. I told myself there was nothing I could do, that I had accepted it.

But now?

Now, it’s like a dam has shattered inside me.

All the emotions I suppressed, all the pain I locked away—it all comes rushing out.

My vision blurs. Tears start falling before I even realize it.

"Jace…?" Rihanna’s voice is hesitant.

I don’t respond.

I can’t.

Because suddenly—

A searing pain erupts in my chest.

I clutch my shirt, gasping as heat surges through my veins, like something is trying to rip its way out of me.

And then—a glow fills the room.

I blink through the haze of my tears and—

Rihanna is floating.

Her body is suspended in mid-air, her feet inches off the ground.

A radiant, blinding light pulses from her chest, golden threads of energy swirling around her like gravity has lost its meaning. Her eyes widen in pure shock.

"W-what’s happening to me?!"

The light grows brighter, too bright.

I try to move, but my body feels heavy—no, weightless.

A deep pressure builds inside me, burning, expanding, until it feels like I’m being pulled apart from the inside.

The world around me distorts—walls stretching, shadows flickering, the air trembling like reality itself is cracking.

And then—

A sharp pain strikes through my skull.

My vision darkens.

I feel like I’m falling.

Like my soul is being torn from my body.

And then—

Everything fades to black.