chapter one : Nyla

Attention class, we have a new student joining us today."

I freeze mid-step, my fingers tightening around the strap of my bag as every head in the classroom turns toward me. The lady standing at the front of the room—young, confident, and completely unreadable—gestures toward me with an easy nod.

"Would you like to introduce yourself?"

No. Absolutely not. But I know there's no escaping it. I swallow hard and force myself to speak.

"I'm Nyla Seraphine," my voice steady, but my hands betray me, curling into the fabric of my sweater. "I just transferred here."

Lissy, my new English teacher, gives a small smile and says, "Welcome, Nyla. You can take any open seat."

Nodding, I glance around and find an empty seat beside a shy-looking girl with two braids and huge spectacles—which pretty much screams that she's the class nerd. I slip into my seat, grateful that the attention shifts away from me as Miss Lissy writes her name on the board.

I exhale slowly, trying to shake off the feeling of being observed. The class goes on, really slowly. I keep yawning, my eyelids growing heavier.

"Hey, you got a cool name," Ria says, the girl sitting beside me.

"Thanks. My parents named me, not me."

"Oh, um, by the way, I'm Ria," she says awkwardly.

"I know."

She eventually zips her lips.

Time moves slowly, and I survive the hours. Finally, it's lunchtime—not because I'm hungry, but because I want to be alone. I rush to the bathroom and lock myself in it. I heave a huge sigh when I feel that I'm not being observed.

I miss my old school, even though I didn't have many friends there. I had peace and calm. I hope I'll end up loving this place too.

I spend the whole lunch break in the toilet, and when the bell rings, I slowly come out—like a turtle emerging from its shell.

As I walk to my class, I notice that everyone's eyes are stuck on me. The hallway is filled with murmurs and whispering.

As I step into my class, all eyes turn to me.

"Hey everyone, careful around her. Didn't you hear? She got kicked out of her last school for slitting a guy's throat. Like, literally just snapped one day. Total psycho," Rose proclaims, giving me a dead look.

Rose is a school bully—the kind who bullies verbally. The class fills with laughter, gasps, and whispers.

"Oh, you're still stuck on that rumor? How cute. I thought you would come up with something better by now. Maybe alien abduction or secret spy mission?" My voice is bold and sharp.

"So you're not denying it?" Her voice lowers.

"Let's get one thing straight. If I did what you're accusing me of, do you really think you'd still be standing here running that mouth?"

The class falls silent.

"But go on, keep talking. I love how scared you sound trying to make me the villain. It's almost flattering."

"You are seriously twisted." Her voice is shaking.

"And you are seriously boring. Try harder next time, babe." Confidence blasts through my voice.

Silence. Eyes wide. No one dares to say a word. I slowly turn to walk away with that badass energy—but suddenly, I’m pulled back by my hair. I fall hard on the floor, a mild pain rising from my head.

"Don’t you walk away from me, freak!" she screams.

"...You did not just pull my hair."

I stand up—and yeah, a punch lands right on her nose. And soon, she scratches me. I flip her over with unexpected strength.

Bags fly. Screams. Phones are recording. Total chaos.

"STOP IT!! THAT'S ENOUGH!"

We fall apart. Her hair is a mess, and her face is red as a tomato.

Maybe... this year in school will be different after all.

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