Chapter 26: No Longer Running
We stood our ground now.
For once, we weren’t cowering behind doors or hiding in our rooms, hoping the storm would pass. We were the storm now, or at least the whisper of one.
The courtyard was still. The morning sun filtered through the academy towers, casting long shadows over the stony path beneath our feet. Beside me, Felix stood firm, arms folded like a silent wall. Elise lingered behind, but her presence was steady, quiet strength in the background. And Callum—
I turned to glance at him.
Callum, the one who never raised his voice. Whom always bore bruises on his arms and neck but never let us see him flinch. He always spoke softly, as if louder words would bring punishment down harder. But today, he stood tall, chin raised, his shoulders set like stone.
He had come.
He had chosen to stand.
And something about that... made my chest tighten with pride.
He caught my eyes for a second and gave me a small nod. That was all I needed. That one silent gesture said it all, I believe in this. I believe in you.
But of course, peace doesn’t last long here. Not for us.
Not even ten minutes later, I felt it, like a cold wind down my spine.
The change in the air. The silence twisting into something heavier.