Back at the Alpha House
The atmosphere had shifted.
The Alpha House, once alive with relief and chatter after their return, had grown silent again. Not because of danger, but because three names still hung in the air like unfinished sentences.
Khierra. Winter. Ynah.
They weren't back yet.
"They've been gone too long," Celsy Rielle De Obelia murmured, pacing slowly near the window, biting the inside of her cheek.
"They probably just went to check something and lost track of time," Aella tried to reason, but her voice trembled at the edges. She clutched the hem of her sleeve tightly. "Right?"
No one answered.
Micko Lee sat on the balcony railing, his sketchpad on his lap, pencil unmoving. He stared at a blank page, eyes distant. "Winter's smart. But even smart people die in stupid places like that forest."
Jeremiah leaned against the wall near the door, arms crossed. His usual calm was replaced with cold restlessness. "They should've stopped them...what if something happens to khierra....and the rest."
"They didn't want to be stopped," Axel muttered from where he sat on the floor, elbows resting on his knees. "they saw it in their eyes. They knew the risk—and they went anyway."
"I still can't believe they just left," Rey Vien said. He was standing now, moving from window to window like he could catch a glimpse of them walking up. "Without saying anything."
"They our worried because we've been lost, and follow us to the woods to help," Keisha said softly, her voice laced with guilt. "But they should've known the danger lurking in the forest."
Aella finally sat down, her hands in her lap, fingers fidgeting nervously. "What if something happened to them? What if we're sitting here while they're—"
"Don't." Jeremiah's voice cut through the air. "Don't say it."
Silence.
Outside, the wind howled faintly, brushing the curtains. The moon had started to hide behind clouds.
"They have to come back," Celsy said, as if saying it out loud would make it true.
"They will," Micko finally whispered. "They have to."
But in all their hearts, one truth had settled like a shadow they couldn't shake:
The forest doesn't give back easily.
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Later That Night – Alpha House
The moon was high, casting a ghostly glow across the stone floor as the group gathered quietly by the stairs. They didn't need to say much. One look exchanged between them was enough.
They were all thinking the same thing.
They had waited long enough.
"We can't just sit around," Jeremiah whispered, tightening the strap on his shoulder bag. "We find them. Bring them back."
Micko gave a short nod. "Winter wouldn't hesitate if it were any of us."
Rey Vien looks at micko, brows furrowed
Axel cracked his knuckles, his face unreadable. "Let's just not waste time."
Celsy looked back toward the hallway as if making sure no one else had stirred. "Let's be quiet. We don't want to wake anyone especially not the professors."
Keisha exhaled slowly. "I don't feel good about this, but leaving them out there? That's worse."
Aella grabbed her coat and whispered, "Let's go before I lose my nerve."
They made their way to the Alpha House main door, every creak of the old floorboards echoing in their ears. The lock clicked softly as Celsy carefully turned the knob
and the door wouldn't budge.
"What?" Celsy hissed. She tried again.
"Move," Axel said, stepping forward. But as he reached for the handle, a sharp voice stopped them cold.
"Where do you think you're going?"
They froze.
From the shadows near the doorway, two elite academy guards stepped forward cloaked in black, faces stern. Behind them, the shimmer of a magic barrier crackled faintly across the doorframe.
"You're under watch until further notice," the first guard stated. "No one leaves."
"You don't understand," Jeremiah said, stepping forward. "Three of our friends are out there. We just want to help."
"And the professors have already sent teams. You'll only get in the way."
Rey Vien frowned. "They're not just our classmates. They're family."
"We know." The second guard's voice softened just slightly. "But orders are orders. Stand down."
Micko looked at the door again, jaw clenched. "They better come back."
"They will," Keisha whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
Defeated but still burning with worry, the group slowly stepped back, hearts heavy. They didn't know whenbor if the others would return.
But one thing was certain:
They wouldn't sleep tonight.