Beep, Beep, Beep!
Rustle,
The incessant beeping of my cell phone pulled me out of a restless sleep. My hand weakly reached out from under a bedsheet, swatting the cell phone beeping on the edge of the bed, causing it to fall silent and for me to reluctantly sit up—my pale ashen skin and dull brown hair wet from sweat. Wiping the tears and sweat from my face, I couldn’t help but heave a heavy sigh. I had the same dream for years now. It started out happy and distant but as time passed it got more vivid and upsetting.
Stupid dreams.
I leisurely emerged from my room and went to the bathroom, where I stepped into the shower, cleansing myself in anticipation of the day ahead. Not only was it a special day, my 18th birthday, but it also marked the end of the school year before the much-awaited summer break.
Tink! Tap!
The sound of a tiny beak tapping against the shower door caught my attention. I smiled as Ace, my pet duck, waddled into the bathroom and eagerly joined me in the shower. After drying off and getting dressed in my school uniform - a red button-up blouse with a black pleated skirt. heading out for the day.
"Bye Ace! I'll be late today because it's the last day of school," I said with a sad smile, kneeling down to give him a quick pat on the head. With a loud quack, he nibbled on my hand before following me out of the house. I made sure to lock the front door and then the gate, so he wouldn’t be able to run away if he used the doggy door.
As I walked down the forest path towards the main road, I couldn't help but feel weighed down by the thick humidity in the air. The trees drooped under its oppressive heat, their vibrant greens dulled to a dull grayish-green. But as I reached the paved road, the familiar scents of asphalt and exhaust replaced those of damp earth and foliage.
I hope the rest of the summer isn’t miserable like this.
I walked down the street, through a small subdivision, until I was just about at the intersection we used as our meeting place on the way to school, where my best friend always waited for me.
“Happy birthday, Melia! Guess who posted a new picture!” A girl with shoulder-length brown hair and fiery green eyes was waving her phone above her head as she called out to me.
“Thank you, Ari. Hmm, let me guess, was it Dante?” I asked.
She shoved her phone in my face as she nodded her head eagerly, and I was greeted with a picture of our childhood friend, the missing body of our original trio. His grey, almost white, and green eyes always stood out as he had heterochromia, and his purple hair was short and messy.
“He sure has a lot of followers these days,” Ari complained.
“It can’t be helped; the girls have always been drawn to him.” I laughed, and Ari pouted as we neared the intersection. The town began to stir around us—cars rolled by with the occasional honk, and the low hum of morning life rose with the heat. Ari and I crossed the final street just as our school came into view.
The campus stood like a quiet, organized haven in the middle of the town’s usual buzz. Enclosed by a sleek, black steel fence and spanning an entire city block, it was neatly divided into two main sections—Primary and Secondary—with their own distinct entrances. It felt surreal to be walking in for the last time this year.
We passed the Primary side first, its entrance vibrant and inviting. A cozy courtyard sat behind the gate, edged with blooming planters and a cheerful mix of colors painted along the walls—student murals full of animals, books, and bright suns. The red-brick building stood three stories tall, softened by large windows and colored frames—green, blue, yellow—like the cover of a picture book. Younger students were already flooding in, laughing and running along the rubber-tiled paths while teachers stood by the doors with warm smiles.
Crossing the shared green between buildings, Ari and I followed the path toward the Secondary School Entrance, where our pace slowed. The tone here was different—more composed. The yard was broader, structured with clean lines and tall trees offering brief shade. Wide glass doors reflected the sky back at us, and the building itself rose five stories high, all matte black steel and grey stone. A digital bulletin board blinked out reminders and summer notices, while the large, sleek clock above it ticked us closer to the first bell.
A few students lounged on concrete benches, chatting or scrolling on their phones. The courtyard in the center buzzed softly with overlapping conversations as younger and older students mingled—some trading snacks, others kicking a ball across the grass, savoring the last bit of freedom before classes.
“Happy Birthday, Mel!”
A blur of orange and excitement crashed into me, knocking me straight into Ari. I barely had time to react before I was sandwiched between them, Grace’s long hair cascading like a curtain around us as we hit the pavement.
“What the hell, Grace!” Ari groaned, voice muffled as she tried to push herself out from under me.
“Oopsie! I was just so excited to see Mel,” Grace giggled, her green eyes shimmering with sincerity as she adjusted the hair tucked behind her ear. Even flustered, she looked flawless—her red blouse cinched perfectly at her waist, makeup pristine, and her signature custom accessories catching the sunlight like something out of a teen fashion magazine.
I couldn’t help but laugh as Olivia came skipping over, her shoulder-length blonde hair swaying with each step. Her bangs were dyed in a splash of pastel pink and teal today, clashing boldly but somehow still working with herschool uniform and oversized puffy jacket, which hung off her arms in a way that looked effortlessly cool. She grinned, grey eyes gleaming with mischief.
“Damn, Grace! Next time, warn us before you launch a full-body tackle,” Olivia said, helping me up before flicking a loose leaf off my skirt. “Mel’s birthday, not her funeral!”
“I was aiming for a dramatic entrance,” Grace said with a playful shrug, brushing dust off her pleated skirt. “Points for flair?”
“Negative points for squishing,” Ari grumbled, straightening her blouse and shooting a look at both of them. “You nearly rearranged my spine.”
Remi appeared a few steps behind Olivia, hands in his pockets, a little slower to approach but unmistakably present. His dark hair hung messily over his brow, a contrast to his neat outfit—a crisp red dress shirt tucked into black pants, silver chain at his neck catching the light in quick glints. His dark brown eyes scanned the group with quiet amusement, though his expression remained mostly unreadable.
He tilted his head slightly. “You guys attract chaos like moths to a porch light.”
“Is that your way of saying ‘Happy Birthday’?” I asked, grinning.
He blinked, then offered the barest smile. “Happy Birthday, Melia.”
Olivia leaned in and whispered, “That’s Remi-speak for ‘I brought cupcakes, but don’t tell anyone until lunch.’”
“Olivia—” he warned, and she burst into giggles, twirling away with a wink.
“Where’s the rest of the group?” I asked, scanning the crowd now pouring into the courtyard.
Olivia looped an arm around Ari’s shoulder as she replied, “Robin and Luca are stuck in some strategy meeting for the soccer tournaments. Finn’s off doing his ‘end-of-year sentimentality tour,’ handing out little handwritten notes to teachers.”
Ding, Dong, Ding!
The school bells’ familiar chime rang through the courtyard.
“C’mon,” Remi called with a grin, waving us toward the Secondary entrance. “Let’s get going before they lock us out and make us loiter in the hall like delinquents.”
Lunchtime
I stood just outside the classroom door, tuning all of it out as I scanned the hallway, heart thudding with growing unease.
Where is he?
I spotted my friends huddled by the lockers—Grace adjusting the pearl pin in her hair, Ari animatedly retelling a scene from her favorite drama, and Olivia half-listening while scrolling through her phone, her dyed bangs peeking out from beneath her oversized jacket. They looked up and noticed my restless glances.
“Looking for Luca?” Olivia asked, gliding over with that signature playful smile. Her eyes danced, teasing, but softened when she noticed my expression.
"I haven’t seen him all morning," I replied, voice lower than usual. "He wasn’t in his class either."
Grace joined us, her long orange hair brushing against her skirt as she approached. “He’s probably planning something for your birthday,” she said sweetly, placing a gentle hand on my arm. “You know how he gets—last-minute surprises, grand gestures...”
I nodded slowly. I wanted to believe her. Luca was always like that—thoughtful in the quietest ways, showing up with my favorite snack out of nowhere or remembering tiny details I never even said out loud. But today felt… off.
“Yeah… you’re probably right,” I said, smiling faintly, even as my stomach tightened.
“So,” Ari chimed in, tossing her hair over her shoulder, “what’s the plan for the birthday date? Still a picnic, or are we thinking rain-check and cuddle in the corner booth at that coffee place?”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“Where is Remi with the cupcakes?” Olivia mumbled out loud to herself, her voice was quiet, but wasn’t meant to go unheard.
I let out a breathy laugh, grateful for the distraction. “Picnic was the plan. If the weather holds, anyway.”
Before anyone could respond, Robin appeared beside me, almost like he’d materialized out of thin air. His hair was damp with sweat, still tousled from practice, his red dress shirt crumpled in one hand. He wore a black tank top and his usual serious expression—but today, something was different. There was a tension in his jaw, something urgent in his voice.
“Excuse me, ladies,” he said with a nod toward the others, “Can I borrow the birthday girl for a minute? It’s important.”
My brows furrowed as I searched his face. His blue eyes locked onto mine with a weight I wasn’t used to seeing—not from him.
“Yeah, sure.”
The girls exchanged curious glances but didn’t press, and Robin gently took my hand, leading me down the corridor and into an empty classroom. The door clicked shut behind us, and the air grew still.
“Robin, what’s going on?” I asked, unable to keep the rising anxiety from my voice. “Where’s Luca?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he turned to face me fully, his grip still on my hand. I could feel the tension radiating off of him.
“First of all—happy birthday,” he said quietly. “You know I care about you. You mean a lot to me, and this… this isn’t how I wanted today to go.”
My heart jumped into my throat. “What happened?”
“Just listen,” he said sharply, and I froze.
His voice dropped lower, softer but shaky. “I’m so sorry, Melia. I swear, I didn’t want to be the one to ruin your day… but I couldn’t keep this from you. Luca… he’s downstairs. In one of the classrooms near the stairwell. He’s with Lacie Tome.”
That name hit me like a slap to the face.
Lacie. The girl Luca always brushed off. The one who’d stare from across the cafeteria and make nasty little comments when she thought I wasn’t listening. He “hated” her. At least, that’s what he always said.
“I don’t understand,” I whispered, my mind spinning.
Robin looked pained—his brows drawn together, his usually clear voice now trembling. “If you go there, you’ll understand. I didn’t want you hearing it from anyone else. I didn’t want you blindsided or toyed with.”
The knot in my chest twisted tighter, and I stepped closer. “Robin, please. Just tell me—what did you see?”
He swallowed hard, eyes glassy. “I saw enough. I confronted him. And I walked away. Because if I didn’t, I was going to lose it.”
He pulled me into a tight hug, arms solid around me, grounding me even as my world began to shake. “I’m sorry, Melia. You didn’t deserve this.”
My fingers clutched his shirt, the scent of his cologne faint under the tang of sweat and the cold knot of betrayal tightening inside me.
“I don’t know I whispered.
He pulled back slightly to look at me, sadness etched across every inch of his face.
“Go see for yourself,” he said gently, and with one last glance, turned and jogged off—shirt still in hand—back toward our friends.
I left the classroom and walked in the other direction down the stairs, my pulse quickened, each step feeling heavier than the last. The walls seemed to close in around me, my thoughts swirling in a chaotic storm. I had to face this. I had to see for myself what was going on with Luca.
Finally, I reached the classroom door, the sound of hushed chatter and laughter from inside doing nothing to calm my nerves. My hand hovered for a moment over the handle, heart pounding in my chest like a drumbeat. I forced it open.
There they were, tangled in each other.
Luca was making out with Lacie, her top unbuttoned, and his hand on her breast trapped under her bra. Her hands tangled in his short white hair. His bangs hung low, hiding his eyes for a moment until—he looked up.
His eyes met mine—those pink eyes that had always made me feel like I was seen, truly seen, in a way no one else ever had. Now they were clouded, filled with something I couldn’t understand. Guilt? Surprise? Or was it just… indifference?
The world slowed around me as time seemed to stretch in that agonizing moment. My feet felt frozen to the floor, my mind going numb. I couldn’t breathe. My chest ached with a cold, hollow sensation, and my legs were barely able to hold me up. I couldn’t make sense of what I was seeing.
This wasn’t the Luca I knew. Was it?
I couldn’t stand there any longer. I turned on my heel, barely aware of the sharpness in my movements. I pushed through the door without even thinking, my body reacting before my mind could catch up.
I didn’t realize I was running—until I found myself on the narrow forest path that led to my house. The quiet of the woods should’ve been soothing, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart, the weight of each step pressing down on me. I stumbled to a halt, taking ragged, shuddering breaths, trying to anchor myself to the familiar surroundings. Just as a fragile semblance of control began to return, a hand clamped down on my shoulder, the unexpected contact sending a jolt of fear through me. I was spun around roughly, and there he was.
It was Luca, his pink eyes wide and frantic, his chest heaving as he struggled for breath.
“Wait! Just… just let me explain!” he gasped, reaching for my arm.
I recoiled as if burned, violently shaking off his touch. The dam finally broke and before I could even process the intent, my hand lashed out. The impact of my palm against the side of his face echoed in the sudden silence, a sharp, brutal crack that sent his head snapping to the side. He staggered, his eyes widening in stunned disbelief as he crumpled to the ground.
“Don’t talk to me,” I spat, my voice trembling with a fury I didn’t know I possessed. “Don’t touch me, and certainly do not try to apologize or make excuses! We are over!” My entire body vibrated with rage, my glare fixed on his stunned face. He didn’t say a word, only ran a shaky hand over his reddening cheek, as if trying to erase the physical sting.
A bitter scoff escaped my lips. Without another glance, I turned on my heels and fled up the dirt path, not stopping until the familiar weight of the front door clicked shut behind me. The entranceway was tidy, save for a collection of mail spread across a small wooden table near the door. To the left, a playful assortment of straw rabbit toys mingled with colorful cat toys, a testament to Ace, the magpie duck I kept as a beloved pet, whose belongings were scattered endearingly across the floor. The open-concept space flowed seamlessly into the kitchen.
The stark white cupboards and sleek black stone countertops of the kitchen felt cold and impersonal in my current state. The stainless steel appliances gleamed under the recessed lighting, a picture of modern order that stood in stark contrast to the chaos within me. I reached for a glass in one of the handleless white cabinets, the smooth surface cool against my trembling fingers. The tap water ran clear and cold as I filled the glass, taking small, hesitant sips as I walked through the narrow hallway towards the relative sanctuary of my room. Each step felt heavy, each swallow did little to quench the burning dryness in my throat.
How long has he been seeing Lacie? Why would he do something like this on my birthday? You’re such an idiot, Luca!
Reaching my room, I set the glass and phone on my nightstand, then peeled off my blouse and skirt. I couldn’t get them off fast enough. I found a tank top, throwing it on as my bra fell to the floor, and collapsing onto the bed with a frustrated sigh. Tears flowed freely as I buried my face in the pillow.
A few moments later, hearing the sound of wings flapping then felt a soft weight settle beside me. Ace had waddled in and hopped onto the bed, nestling close. His soft feathers were a small comfort amidst the turmoil. The hot air was thick and made it uncomfortable, but I didn't move.
Four years… Does that mean so little to someone? Was it because I am dull to him? Was I not what he wanted? He is such an ass! What about Robin? Did he know something all along? I thought we were super close, and I thought we had no secrets.
I sobbed into my pillow until my eyes were so heavy I couldn’t keep them open any longer.
5 AM
Bzzzt! Bzzzt!
The harsh sound of my phone vibrating against the glass and the top of the nightstand jolted me awake. I fumbled for it on the nightstand, squinting in the dark room. My hand found the phone, the bright screen causing me to squint and blink until I could see that Robin, Ari, and Luca had all been calling and texting me with urgent messages.
I rubbed my eyes with the back of my left hand as I scrolled through the messages to see all the missed calls, and the slew of messages asking me to call them, asking me to answer the door. I sighed, tossing my phone aside; it bounced as it hit the bed.
“Ace? Wakey, wakey!” I called out as I clapped my hands to wake him up. I waited a few minutes and called out again, and still, there was nothing.
Where is he?
I got up from the bed, turned the light on, looking around the room—no sign of him. Next, I checked the living room and the kitchen; the bathroom door was closed, and the gate to the stairs was latched. The ‘Doggy door’ light was red—had he gone outside? I flipped on the outside light as I opened the door and looked around the porch.
So it rained after all? No wonder the light was red. He was probably playing in the rain.
I checked his house and under the hay before I noticed the porch gate wasn’t latched.
One of them must not have closed the gate…
“Ace!” I called a little louder.
I pushed the gate all the way open and stepped off the deck, my voice rising slightly as I called out to him. I got some frantic quacks in response as I crossed the dirt driveway into the cool, damp tree line before noticing the door to the small shed that covered the old well was ajar. The shed looked like a miniature grey and white barn, its tiny pitched roof casting a dark shadow. As I cautiously entered, I noted the narrow space, barely three feet, between the shed walls and the well's edge. Cobwebs, thick and dusty, clung to the corners, and a few spiders scuttled away from the disturbance. The air inside was damp and smelled of earth. I heard splashing and frantic quacking echoing from below.
“How did you get down there buddy?”
Without hesitation, I grabbed a flashlight from the shed wall, its beam cutting through the gloom. Peering over the mossy, stone lip of the well, I saw Ace paddling frantically in the dark water below. My heart leaped into my throat, a cold fist clenching in my chest, as I instinctively reached down to grab him. In that moment, my feet slipped on the slick, wet ground near the well's edge, and with a startled cry, I lost my balance and plunged into the icy depths with a loud, disorienting splash.
“Shit!”
As we sank deeper into the water, a profound shock coursed through me. The initial darkness and murky chill gave way to an astonishing transformation. An otherworldly glow began to emanate from the depths, vibrant hues of electric pink and deep purple swirling around us like liquid light. Shimmering particles, like a galaxy of tiny stars, floated lazily in the now-clear water, illuminating Ace's panicked squirming and my own wide-eyed terror.
WHAT THE FU-
Before I could fully take in this breathtaking sight of endless mystical sea, an unseen force pulled us out of the water and deposited us onto soft dirt next to a cobblestone well with a thud. My long brown hair, as well as my tank top and shorts, were soaked through. Drenched and disoriented, I clung to Ace, fear gripping my heart. He nestled close, nuzzling my cheek with his beak. As we both took in our new surroundings.
The trees towered majestically, their trunks gnarled and ancient, reaching skyward with a lush canopy of leaves in breathtaking hues—vivid shades of pink, rich purples, and deep, velvety blues. Above, the sky stretched out in a flawless expanse of crystal grey, punctuated by delicate wisps of pink clouds drifting lazily, like cotton candy dissolving in water. The air was light and refreshing, and the breeze felt soft and cool against my skin.
As beautiful as it was, it was quickly ruined by a loud guttural groan and clicking that were rumbling and loud, causing the trees to shake and the air to vibrate. Ace quacked in alarm, flapping his wings against my arm. I barely registered him; my mind was reeling.
My heart pounded in my chest. A cold dread crept up my spine as my own scream echoed through the landscape, piercing and blood-curdling. As a sudden pain spread through my body, the world around me became a blur, and my screams were soon replaced by the sound of my gasping and struggling to draw in the precious breath that had been so effortlessly taken from me.
What's happening to me!
The vibrant world around me blurred into a disorienting haze, and the once peaceful scene was now fraught with an overwhelming sense of despair. The pain spread through my chest and abdomen as I curled into a ball, my face pressed against the damp earth, the taste of soil filling my mouth. As quickly as I tasted the dirt, I vomited, the mix of acidic bile and blood burning my throat. My nostrils flared as I desperately fought for air, each breath a victory against the crushing pain. Ace pecked at my face, his insistent calls cutting through the haze. The pain got more potent with each throb so much so I could barely see, as I desperately tried to breathe through the pain before I managed to take in a deep breath.
If I can at least breathe, it won’t hurt as much. Dammit-
Ace continued to peck at me as he flapped his wings, making his way onto my back, his small body a warm presence against my back. The last thing I remember was the ground shaking as the strange groaning fell silent before my consciousness faded.
─── ? ??☆: *.? .* ?. ───
