Anahi’s eyes narrowed, her breath quickening as fury built up inside her. She had spent countless afternoons locked in this very bathroom, enduring the torment of Estelle’s cruel words and relentless bullying. However, something inside Anahi snapped today. With a ferocity she had never felt before, Anahi lunged forward, her claw-like fingers reaching out to grab Estelle. She could feel the power surging through her veins, fueling her every move. Estelle’s eyes widened in disbelief as Anahi’s hands grazed her arm, leaving deep claw marks.

The jeering and shouting from their classmates abruptly ceased, replaced by stunned silence. The faces of their peers were no longer contorted with ridicule but frozen in utter shock. Anahi, once the target of their torment, had undergone a startling transformation. In that moment, her delicate frame seemed to channel an otherworldly strength, radiating a palpable aura of resilience.

As the years of torment and humiliation surged back into Anahi’s consciousness, a bitter reminder of her past trials, it was as though they had forged her into a force to be reckoned with. Anahi, small and seemingly fragile, now possessed a spirit that blazed with unrelenting determination.

This time, the tables had turned dramatically. No longer was Anahi the one to cower in fear; it was Estelle who trembled, confronted by the newfound courage and unyielding spirit of the girl who had once been her victim.

Her transformation was both shocking and awe-inspiring. The once meek and tormented girl had tapped into a wellspring of inner strength that had been buried beneath the weight of years of bullying. Her eyes blazed with newfound determination as she held Estelle by the arm, her claw-like fingers still marked by the anger that had welled up inside her.

Anahi’s voice rang out, filled with newfound authority she had never known. “No more,” she hissed, her voice steady and strong. “No more will you humiliate me. No more will you torment me.”

Since Anahi moved to Bridgeport, the bitch seemed to make her existence as uncomfortable as possible. Anahi often returned home from school with blood smeared on her gray school shirt and a ripped jacket. After a loud growl of frustration, she would whiz past her mother and stepfather and into her room in a blur. She would spend hours locked away in her room, avoiding contact with her family. She refused to explain what had happened and growled in anger when confronted.

Her hands were braced against the linoleum tiles. She could still smell the faint pine scent in the cleaner they used; the janitor had just cleaned this area. Pushing herself up, she scurried away just in time for Estelle’s foot to miss her stomach.

Anahi descended the hallway, Estelle’s relentless pursuit now undeniable. Estelle’s cronies trailed behind, capturing the scene on their phones and laughing. But when Estelle shoved Anahi with enough force to send her crashing into the lockers, something snapped inside the once-tormented girl.

Anahi’s response was primal, a guttural scream marking the onset of a fierce confrontation. Friends by her side cheered her on for finally taking a stand. A contrasting chant rose from Estelle’s supporters, demanding that she defeat Anahi.

With a fiery rage burning behind her eyes, Anahi’s focus was unwavering. She lunged at Estelle, aiming for her eye. The two locked in a visceral struggle, fueled by contempt and smugness. Anahi swung a left punch, and then a powerful right, which tore into Estelle’s lower lip. Anahi’s head snapped back, her azure-colored eyes being filled with stars before she sidestepped, ducked, and punched Estelle, giving her a matching busted lip.

“What’s the matter, Estelle? Can’t handle a fair fight?” Anahi taunted the other girl. Anahi was right. She knew she was right. In her interactions with Estelle’s parents, she learned of the dynamics of their home.

“As if,” Estelle’s reaction was one of disdain and arrogance, as if the idea of someone challenging her superiority was nothing more than a joke. Her disheveled appearance, with ink-colored hair pulled into a messy bun and stray hairs framing her face, only added to her aura of indifference. She wiped the blood from her lip, seemingly unfazed by the confrontation, and prepared to strike Anahi once more.

As Anahi readied herself for another strike, a powerful hand suddenly clamped down on Estelle’s wrist from behind. The room’s tense atmosphere shifted as a deep, commanding voice cut through the tension like a blade. It was a voice that allowed no room for argument, a voice demanding immediate attention.

Estelle turned her head, her scowl reflecting her displeasure at this daring intervention. She jerked her arm free from the restraining grip. The arrival of this enigmatic figure had frozen the confrontation in its tracks, and a palpable sense of anticipation filled the room. All eyes were on them, waiting to see what would happen next.

“Ezra,” Estelle said plainly, monotonously. Anahi, on the other hand, looked confused at him. As far as Anahi and Ezra were concerned, they had never spoken, other than the occasional “Can I borrow a pencil?” in math class. But there was something familiar about him that always made her feel wanting, longing.

His jaw tightened as he stared down at Estelle. “This is beneath you,” he said in a voice so low that Anahi had to strain to hear him. She was too distracted by his golden-brown eyes that flashed like sun rays. His thick, curly, red hair was messy as if he had repeatedly run his hands through it.

“That’s it. Leave her alone.” What was he saying to Estelle? Did he think she’d listen or continue once Ezra left? And why was he stepping in? Anahi stood up, trying to appear taller, swiping at her mouth and grinding her teeth. At the twinge of pain on her lip, she realized a blood trail threatened to fall over her chin. Her body ached from the fight, but her pride was through the roof. Defiantly, she raised her chin. There was no way she would be walked over, certainly not by someone like Estelle, who at the moment was staring up at Ezra with a shocked look on her face.

“For her?” Estelle asked. His eyes darted to Anahi’s from Estelle, trapping her in his gaze. His answer was interrupted by a stern voice cutting through all the whispers and chatter.

Headmistress Rohan’s arrival was a sobering moment, her authoritative presence cutting through the tension in the room like a blade. Her silver hair was impeccably pulled into a tight bun, and she exuded an air of no-nonsense professionalism in her black blazer and white blouse. Her piercing green eyes surveyed Anahi and Estelle as if weighing their actions and intentions.

Without mincing words, Headmistress Rohan issued her command, her voice as stern as her gaze. “Anahi… Estelle, my office. Now.” Her words brooked no argument, and the gravity of the situation hung in the air as the fate of the two girls seemed to hang in the balance. She then addressed the rest of the onlookers with a warning that sent a chill down their spines. “And if anyone is still standing here in the next five minutes, they will join them in my office.” Her voice was like a sharp, grating sound on a chalkboard, leaving no room for defiance. The crowd immediately dispersed, eager to avoid the wrath of defying the headmistress’s order.

Among the departing students, Anahi’s friend Imogen cast a worried glance back at her, silently asking if she should stay or if Anahi needed her support. It was a moment of uncertainty and apprehension as Anahi and Estelle prepared to face the consequences of their altercation in the headmistress’s office. As Imogen reluctantly left the scene, her concern for Anahi was evident in the way she wrung her hands together. The bond between them ran deep, forged through shared childhood tragedies and the support of Anahi’s parents. Anahi’s family had taken Imogen in after her parent’s tragic death when they were just five years old, and the two girls had become inseparable ever since.

The lingering crowd, initially driven by curiosity, gradually dispersed. Their curiosity had given way to a sense of unease, knowing that the confrontation between Anahi and Estelle had taken a serious turn. Headmistress Rohan, a figure both stern and respected, stood tall among the scattered onlookers.

Ezra was the only one who didn’t even move an inch, fully gazing at Anahi. The two of them had never spoken. Anahi stared back into his eyes. It was weird; it was like everything else had faded away. She didn’t understand how Ezra appeared out of nowhere anytime she needed help. How did Ezra know that Anahi was hurt? Did he have some kind of magic tracking sense on her? Anahi snorted internally. Yeah, right. Those things only exist in fairy tales. It was more like Ezra just happened to be at the wrong place at the right time.

Headmistress Rohan’s command wasn’t limited to just Anahi and Estelle; she also called Ezra to join them. Ezra, whose gaze had been fixed on Anahi, reluctantly shifted his attention to the headmistress. There was an unspoken tension between the two, a silent struggle of wills that played out in their locked eyes. Estelle, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by the developing situation. She walked past Anahi, Ezra, and the headmistress with a scoff, her defiance evident in her demeanor. “Wait until my mother hears about this,” she remarked, her words laced with a hint of arrogance. It was clear that Estelle wasn’t one to back down easily, and the effects of their actions were far from over.

“Don’t worry, dear, both of your parents have been notified and are coming,” Headmistress Rohan said, turning away. Headmistress Rohan’s words provided a small measure of assurance to Anahi, knowing that her parents were on their way. As she walked past Ezra, her eyes met his, and in that silent exchange, a multitude of unspoken emotions seemed to pass between them.

Anahi couldn’t help but feel a sense of confusion and curiosity. The intensity in Ezra’s gaze raised numerous questions in Anahi’s mind. Why had he chosen to intervene in the confrontation with Estelle? What had motivated him to step in and take action? And, perhaps most puzzling of all, why did he care so deeply about what happened to her? As they prepared to face the consequences of their actions in the headmistress’s office, Anahi couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Ezra’s involvement than met the eye. It was a lingering mystery, waiting to be unraveled as the events of that tumultuous day continued to unfold.

***

The atmosphere in the nurse’s office was tense and heavy with unspoken worry. Nurse Watts, with a furrowed brow, motioned for Anahi to follow her, and the next thirty minutes passed in heavy silence as she tended to Anahi’s injuries, wrapping her arm and ensuring she was as comfortable as possible. When Anahi was finally allowed to leave the nurse’s office and return to the front office, her mother, Siobhan, was already present. Anahi’s heart sank as she noticed the distant and troubled look in her mother’s eyes. It was a look she recognized well, one that often accompanied moments of great concern or distress.

Siobhan, her honey-blonde hair pulled back into a low bun, appeared different from her usual warm and nurturing self. Her deep blue eyes, typically filled with warmth and love, had turned cold and silver, mirroring the turmoil she was feeling. She wore casual clothes, jeans rolled at the ankles, and her husband’s old Harvard sweatshirt, which served as a testament to the seriousness of the situation.

As Anahi observed her mother’s appearance, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease. It was evident that this was a pivotal moment, and the weight of it hung heavily in the air. Upon seeing Anahi, Siobhan’s initial reaction was a mixture of shock and concern, her blue eyes widening in response. However, she quickly composed herself, concealing her emotions behind a facade of forced calm. Anahi couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast between her mother’s usual warm demeanor and the unnaturally composed front she now presented.

Siobhan approached Anahi, her gaze sweeping over her daughter’s slight frame as if searching for any hidden injuries. “Are you alright, dear?” Her voice remained too calm, too forced as if she were playing a role rather than genuinely expressing concern. Anahi nodded in response to her mother’s question, though inwardly, she knew that her parents had always taught her not to draw too much attention to herself. She was supposed to stay along the wall, not in the center of the room, a lesson ingrained in her to avoid standing out.

Siobhan’s hands gently rested on Anahi’s shoulders, and she continued to examine her daughter, all the while maintaining the facade of a concerned mother. The tension in the room was palpable, and Anahi couldn’t help but wonder what lay ahead as they awaited the headmistress’s decision.

In her mind, a memory of her father filled her. Anahi was ten years old at the time. Her dad kneeled in front of her, who looked so much like her. Her mother was upset that her daughter had gotten into a fight at school, and she was crying. It was just a fight; she had no idea why.

“I’m fine, Mom.”

“Has she been checked out by the school nurse?” Siobhan’s question was directed at the headmistress, and Anahi’s mind wandered as she found herself overwhelmed by a deluge of memories. The room around her faded into the background as she became lost in the tumultuous sea of thoughts and emotions, reliving past experiences and the events that had led to this moment.

Sniffling, she asked her dad why they had to leave. “Because, pumpkin, it’s best this way. You’ll understand it one day. Just next time, promise me to stick to the wall, OK?” She never fought or argued again after that. When she was fifteen, her dad died, and they moved again before settling in Bridgeport. Her mom remarried to a man named Ru—at least that’s what Anahi called him; his real name was Rupert. But recently, she felt more irritated, combative, and hot.

Siobhan’s eyes widened with a mix of fear and realization as she looked into Anahi’s eyes. It seemed that she had recognized something in her daughter’s expression, something that heightened her concern. She turned her gaze back to Headmistress Rohan, her arm now protectively around Anahi’s shoulder, and inquired about taking her daughter home.

Headmistress Rohan nodded in response to Siobhan’s request. “You can take her home,” she confirmed.

Siobhan nodded in acknowledgment, appreciating the headmistress’s understanding and the assurance that Estelle would face consequences as well. Her usually warm demeanor had a frosty edge now as she considered the situation.

“Thank you, Headmistress Rohan,” Siobhan replied with a touch of formality, her voice steady and resolute. “We will handle this matter seriously, and I’ll make sure Anahi understands the consequences of her actions. We certainly don’t condone violence, and I’ll take this as an opportunity to educate her about better ways to handle conflicts.”

With a nod, Siobhan turned her attention to her daughter. “Let’s go, Anahi. We’ll discuss this further at home.”

Estelle’s parents still hadn’t arrived.

***

“MOM, wait up. I got into a fight, and I’m hurting here!” Anahi’s frustration was evident in her annoyed voice as she called out to her mother. Siobhan stopped abruptly and turned to her daughter with a scowl, clearly exasperated.

“Wait up? Anahi, I shouldn’t be here! Why? Why, of all days, did you have to do this?” Siobhan’s voice carried a tone of both sternness and concern, and there was an underlying hint of fear that caught Anahi’s attention. She couldn’t help but wonder what her mother was so afraid of.

Anahi, still nursing the physical and emotional wounds from the fight, attempted to make sense of the situation. “I understand, I promised to stay by the walls… wait, what’s today?” she inquired, her confusion growing. Siobhan, who had opened her mouth to respond, suddenly clamped it shut and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. It was clear that something significant was going on, and Anahi couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease as she awaited an explanation from her mother.

“I will explain everything at the house, but we must leave now. Ru will get Imogen later. We have to go.” Her mom’s voice was stressed and rushed. She acted like the sky would fall through the ceiling and destroy her because her daughter got into a fight.

Anahi couldn’t help but feel a sense of urgency in her mother’s tone and behavior. It was unlike Siobhan to be this frantic and secretive, and it left Anahi with a knot of worry in her stomach. “Okay, Mom,” Anahi replied, her confusion giving way to compliance. “But can you at least tell me why you’re so on edge? What’s going on?”

Siobhan hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting around as if searching for something. Finally, she took a deep breath and looked back at her daughter. “I promise I’ll explain everything once we’re home, Ana,” Siobhan replied, her voice softer now, filled with an unspoken worry. “But for now, we need to leave and get home. It’s not safe here.”

Anahi rounded her shoulders, prepared to counterargue; she hated being told what to do without knowing the purpose. Just as she started to speak, she noticed her mom looking past her, her eyes wide with recognition and stunned silence. Siobhan’s eyes widened with recognition, and her voice took on a panicked tone as she whispered, “Anahi, do you know who that is?” Her stunned silence and fearful demeanor added to Anahi’s sense of unease.

Turning slightly, Anahi tried to look in the direction her mother was indicating, her muscles protesting the movement. Oddly, she felt less sore than she should have, and her face, which had taken a beating during the fight, no longer hurt. To her surprise, she found Ezra standing in the hallway’s corner, silently leaning against the wall and observing them. The sight of Ezra, the student who had intervened in the fight and whose involvement had raised so many questions, left Anahi momentarily speechless. She exchanged a bewildered glance with her mother, both of them taken aback by his unexpected presence.

“Oh, that’s Ezra, the one who stepped in and ended the fight this morning… Come to think of it, I should probably thank him.” Anahi moved towards Ezra, whose eyes, those deep brown eyes, lit gold as if the sun shined through them. A warmth filled her to the pit of her stomach; maybe she should’ve paid more attention to the center of the room.

As Anahi approached Ezra, her heart raced with a mixture of anticipation and gratitude. She couldn’t help but notice how his muscular frame exuded confidence, and his tousled dark hair gave him a rugged and intriguing charm. However, it was his eyes that captivated her the most, holding a certain hidden depth and a world of emotions that piqued her curiosity.

“Ezra,” she called out, her voice carrying a genuine note of gratitude. “Thank you for stepping in this morning. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t intervened.” Ezra met her gaze, his own eyes holding a mix of emotions that was difficult to decipher. He offered a nod of acknowledgment but remained somewhat reserved in his response.

Ezra turned to face her, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. “It was nothing. Just couldn’t stand seeing someone get hurt,” he replied, his voice deep and soothing. His casual response belied the intensity of his actions earlier that day. There was something about him, a mysterious aura that left Anahi both captivated and perplexed. It was clear that there was more to Ezra than met the eye, and she couldn’t help but wonder what secrets he held.

For a moment, the world seemed to disappear, and it was just the two of them, locked in a silent exchange that spoke volumes. Anahi’s gratitude mingled with a growing curiosity, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a connection between them, one that transcended the events of that morning. Anahi didn’t even notice when her mom reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her away from him. Ezra kept his gaze fixed on Anahi as Siobhan walked behind her, his eyes never leaving hers. Anahi felt her heart racing as she watched Ezra’s expression. She knew she had to say something, but the words wouldn’t come out. Siobhan’s grip on her wrist tightened, and Anahi knew she had to make her move. She looked down at her mom’s hand, noticing it shaking for the first time.

“Mom?” she whispered harshly. She was hurting her hand with how tight her grip was.

“Thank you for helping Anahi; I appreciate it,” Siobhan told Ezra harshly, ignoring Anahi’s whispers.

Anahi was confused. She had never seen her mother behave in such a manner. She turned around and gripped Anahi’s hand as she walked toward the door. Ezra’s warm voice seemed to linger in the air even though he hadn’t moved from his spot against the wall. It was as though the breeze itself carried his words, caressing Anahi’s ears.

“I’ll see you soon, Anahi?” Ezra’s question hung in the air, filled with a sense of anticipation.

Anahi’s response was laced with a hint of frustration. “Probably not. Rohan suspended me,” she explained, her eyes rolling in exasperation. She couldn’t help but notice her mother’s reaction out of the corner of her eye. Siobhan stood rigid, her grip on Anahi’s hand tightening, particularly as Ezra chuckled softly.

However, Ezra’s chuckle only seemed to amuse him, and he replied with a hint of mischief, “Don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll find a way. After all, you’ll need your homework brought to you.”

Her mother cleared her throat before speaking. “Thank you for the offer, Ezra; that’s very kind of you. But I’m afraid we must go. Anahi is grounded, so you two will see each other if she returns.” Anahi listened as her mom spoke with a frown on her face. She didn’t know why her mother was so short and rude to Ezra. Anahi knit her brows together, looking over at Ezra, who seemed to watch her.

If so, her suspension was only three days, so they knew when she would return. Nonetheless, she smiled softly at Ezra, feeling that warm tingle again as he smiled back at her before walking back towards the English classroom-- strange boy. Anahi’s hand was tugged, and her mother moved towards and out of the school door. Anahi tripped, trying to keep up with her mom’s quick feet. What happened? Anahi stepped into the sun, her deep blue eyes squinting at the glow and heat.

As Anahi and her mom made their way towards the exit, Anahi’s curiosity and unease continued to gnaw at her. Her mother’s behavior and the enigmatic encounter with Ezra had left her with more questions than answers. Anahi whispered to her mother, “Mom, what’s going on? Why were you so tense with Ezra?”

Siobhan’s response was hushed and filled with an underlying worry. “There are things, Ana, things you’re not ready to know about. I’ll explain everything once we’re home, I promise.” Anahi felt a chill run down her spine at her mother’s words. Something about the whole situation felt eerie, as if a shadow of danger loomed over them. Her mother’s usually warm and comforting presence now held a sense of foreboding, and it left Anahi with a gnawing fear that she couldn’t shake.

As her mom urged her to move quickly, Anahi followed with a growing sense of trepidation. The echoes of their footsteps in the deserted hallway sounded haunting, and Anahi couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder, half-expecting something sinister to emerge from the shadows.                            

***

“Mom, what’s going on?” Anahi asked, following her mom across the quad and climbing into the passenger seat of her mom’s 2019 Range Rover. Ru bought it for her mom a few years ago when her old car died. Her mom barely waited for her to buckle before peeling out of Bridgeport High’s parking lot. She turned slightly in the passenger seat and watched as her school disappeared in the rearview mirror. She remembered when she started school. She didn’t fit in with the rich kids. It was part of the reason Estelle gave her so much grief. Anahi attended on an academic scholarship. Her parents were middle class—not poor, but not as affluent as Estelle’s—they were thrilled when she received the award in the mail. Anahi wanted to ask how her mom knew Ezra, the eighteen-year-old transfer student from... Well, she didn’t know where. But she chose not to ruin the moment her mom was building up to.

“Ana, there are many things your dad and I didn’t tell you.” Siobhan sighed, her usual breathy voice heavy with trepidation. Her eyes flickered on Anahi’s face before returning to the road, waiting for her turn to cross the intersection.

“Dad? What was I not told? What are you talking about, Mom?” Anahi exclaimed, pulling her knees up to her chest on the seat. Talking about her dad always made her depressed. At the mention of her dad, memories flooded her, dancing across her mind and eyes like a movie.

A young Anahi riding her bike in the front yard, her dad cheering her on . . . a slightly older Anahi listening behind the wall in the living room as her parents argued about her getting into another fight . . . her dad tucking her into bed . . . kissing scraped knees . . . glances cast over his shoulder.

Her mom falling to her knees when Ru showed up to tell her her dad was dead. She remembered vividly the sound of her mom’s wailing, cursing some man named Hemid. Ru told her they had to leave before the Order found Anahi.

 As Siobhan drove, she hurriedly explained the situation to Anahi. “And we wanted to tell you, but we were sworn to secrecy. Isla made us swear a Blood Oath.”

“Who is Isla, and what does she have to do with this ‘Blood Oath’?” Anahi asked, her voice filled with a desperate need to understand the situation.

Siobhan’s shoulders slumped, and she cast a solemn glance at her daughter. “Isla is a powerful figure, one who holds significant influence over our kind. She made us promise not to reveal certain things to you unless our safety was compromised.”

“You’re not making sense, Mom,” Anahi replied, her frustration growing.

“I’m not your mother,” Siobhan asserted, her words carrying a weight of intensity that left Anahi reeling. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears as she grappled with the sudden and bewildering revelation.

“What are you talking about?!” Anahi shouted, sitting up straight and facing Siobhan, the woman who had been her mother for her entire life. The confusion and disbelief etched across Anahi’s face were palpable, and she couldn’t help but hope against hope that this was all some terrible mistake or misunderstanding.

But before the answer could be given, the car that ran through the red light at the intersection of Silver Lane and Fate Boulevard slammed into the driver’s side of the vehicle. And her mother. The ear-splitting crash and the sensation of her body being tossed like a ragdoll left her disoriented and horrified.

The Range Rover spun and flipped, each rotation feeling like a horrifying eternity before it somehow came to a rest on its wheels. Anahi’s heart raced, and her breaths came in short, panicked gasps. Her vision blurred, and the world around her seemed like a hazy, nightmarish scene.

As her senses slowly returned, pain shot through her body, reminding her of the horror she had just experienced. She fought to regain control, assessing her injuries. Her legs felt twisted and strained, her arm throbbed relentlessly, and her chest, the epicenter of agony, felt like it might implode. Anahi’s every breath was a struggle, and the pain made it almost impossible to move.

An overwhelming sense of chaos and dread enveloped her as the smell of asphalt and the sight of mangled metal surrounded her. She was trapped in the aftermath of the horrific collision, and the world she had known had been violently shattered.

“Ugh!” she groaned, clutching her head in anguish. The world around her seemed hazy and disjointed as she struggled to regain her bearings.

As she looked around, her eyes widened, and her heart seemed to constrict within her chest. Anahi couldn’t tear her gaze away from the sight before her. “Mom?” she called out, her voice trembling with fear and uncertainty.

“Mommy!” She hadn’t called her that since she was a little girl. Her voice sounded as tiny as she felt.

Her mom had a gash on her forehead, blood freely flowing from the wound, but that wasn’t the most concerning issue. Anahi’s eyes were drawn to the piece of metal embedded in her mother’s side. It was like a small, dagger-like shard of destruction, and Anahi knew it was the primary cause for concern. Before she could even begin to question it, her mother coughed, and a trail of blood leaked from the corner of her mouth.

The world outside the car crash, the sounds of sirens, and the chaos around them faded into the background as she focused every ounce of her attention on the life-and-death struggle unfolding before her eyes. With trembling hands, Anahi tried to stem the relentless flow of blood from Siobhan’s side. Panic surged within her, and her voice trembled with anguish as she pleaded with her mother. “Mom, Mom... please, stay with me,” she implored, her voice quivering. Her mother’s eyes drooped, and Anahi’s heart sank as she realized the gravity of the situation. She pressed harder on the wound, attempting to halt the blood’s flow, but it seemed unending, a horrifying cascade that pooled around them.

Desperation and helplessness consumed Anahi as she watched the life drain from her mother’s eyes, her own eyes filling with tears as she fought to keep Siobhan awake, her pleas echoing in the chaos that surrounded them. Why wouldn’t it stop? Why was there so much?

Siobhan’s words were a haunting revelation, and they pierced through the chaos of the moment. Gasping for breath, she locked her gaze onto Anahi’s eyes, her voice strained and weak. “You can’t trust him.” The distant wail of sirens grew louder in the background, a sign that help was on the way, but Siobhan’s condition continued to deteriorate. The passenger door of the car swung open, flooding the dark interior with blinding sunlight that reflected off the pools of blood inside.

Despite the agony and dire circumstances, Siobhan let out a dark, chilling chuckle, blood spewing from her mouth as she continued to speak in cryptic and unsettling terms. “I knew it was you.” Anahi couldn’t comprehend the full meaning of her mother’s words in that moment of chaos and despair. It was as if the world had suddenly shifted into a surreal nightmare, with her mother’s life hanging in the balance and ominous secrets hanging in the air. A pair of rough hands grabbed Anahi and pulled her out of the dark, bloody car and into the light.