Lycan Unity Academy

Christine's P.O.V

After my mother left, I curled into the dark. My heartbeat was too loud. The air grew thick with tension. Footsteps echoed through the packhouse, accompanied by angry shouts and the sickening crack of wood splintering under force. Then, my father's voice cut through the chaos. I crawled forward on trembling hands, pressing my face desperately to a crack in the wooden panel, desperate for a glimpse. He was on his knees, covered in blood. I gasped, "Father, Father," I screamed, hitting my small fists against the unyielding barrier, tears streaming down my face. His eyes found mine. He smiled as horror flickered across his ashen face. "Christine, oh Christine, my perfect child," he muttered, his voice weak. "Father, I'm here," I cried, reaching toward him. "Please get me out of here. Don't leave me." He dragged himself closer to my hiding place, each movement etched with pure agony. Behind him was red.

Blood moon hung low and ominous in the night sky. He pressed his palm to the wall, directly against mine, the thin wood the only barrier between us. "Be strong, be brave," he whispered, his voice barely audible. I sobbed, shoulders shaking with grief. "You must be strong, Christine." As he spoke, a shadow rose behind him, tall and menacing against the crimson light. Fear twisted his once handsome features. "None of this is your fault," the darkness lunged forward, Rod, stabbing a dark sword through my father's chest. "No!" I screamed, as the world snapped back. "Child, what are you still doing here?" A sharp voice rang out. I gasped, yanked violently from memory into the present.

"Daydreaming again, Christine?" An older servant snarled as she loomed over me like a storm cloud. "I'm sorry," I whispered, fixing my gaze on the worn stone floor, willing my trembling hands to still. "Always sorry," she sneered, venom dripping from each syllable.

"Don't you get tired? You should thank us," she continued cruelly, draping her gown, "for allowing you to stay among us, Omega. Your parents died like failures, she said. If I were you, I would have gone with them." She spat, rolling her eyes. "Finish this before sunset. Madam Cora always punish us for your incompetence, so be quick." She snapped her fingers. I sucked in a sharp breath. "Yes, ma'am. I shall not cause any trouble."

She looked down at my bleeding nose and blinked once before stalking away, her shadow stretching long and dark across the stone floor. Then a bell rang through the evening air, each chime reverberated through the hallways like a proclamation. Excited voices erupted above, echoing down the spiral staircase. "Sir has arrived at last. He has arrived." The words tumbled over each other in breathless anticipation. I gripped tightened on my bucket. This means nothing for me. I stood on my feet, walking down the corridor in silence. Two servants stood nearby, their eyes glowing with anticipation, faces flushed with excitement that I couldn't share. "The moon goddess will choose tonight," one whispered reverently. "Just one wish. Anything anyone desires will be granted. You know anyone could be chosen." Just then a guard's voice echoed sharply through the corridor. "All servants remain out of sight. You must not be found anyway close to the back halls." My bucket fell as I stumbled back instantly, hiding myself behind the stone walls. Any attempt on defiling orders would lead to grievous consequences. Especially for the wolfless one, guard continued his voice filling the corridor. Every gaze turned toward me, a dozen pairs of eyes filled with disgust. Shame burned hot and familiar beneath my skin, an old companion I could never escape. In their eyes, I was empty, unworthy, less. I reached for my bucket. "Christine," a calm voice whispered in my ear. It sounded soft. I froze and looked around me as someone had spoken my name, but no one was behind me. There was absolutely no one. The moonlight crept closer. It touched my skin. I traced its light. "Christine, go!" My breath hitched. That voice, what was that voice? It didn't echo. It landed, hard, inside me. No one else reacted. No one else heard it. I carried my bucket and walked back towards the servants' quarter, ignoring several glares in my direction.

"Christine Vale, you are going the wrong way." I stopped, turned around sharply, my breath stuttering. Go where? I cannot be out there. This thought was reckless. It was madness. Whatever this is, stop! But it didn't. It filled my head, threatening to explode as the voice growled. Christine Vale, go, go.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing here? Get out!" A hand slammed into my shoulder and yanked me backward. Pain shot down my arm as the guard twisted it behind me. "Get back, wolfless. This hall is not for you." I didn't know when I found myself crawling towards the hall, a sacred place I had always been denied access to, summoned only when it needed its floor polished to crystalline perfection. "I... I just wanted to glance. Please," I whispered, my voice trembling like autumn leaves. "No. Keep your eyes forward and your hands on your head, and walk back, or you'll regret it," the guard barked. I twisted against his grip, just enough to look past him. The hall. Silver light. Elders. Power. And then... he slammed me into the wall. Laughter rippled through the corridor. Soft whispers, locking glances that cut deeper than any blade. "Oh, look at her. Even the wolfless thinks she has a chance?" "Careful, she might beg the moon goddess for scraps too." They chuckled. "The moon goddess didn't even grant her a wolf, and now she expects to be honored?" "What a joke. What is she doing here, anyways? Get her out of here before the Luna arrives." Someone threw the brick towards me, hitting my shoulder. I didn't turn. Suddenly, the guard burst in rage.