Arriving in front of the imposing high school building, Miria felt a shiver of apprehension run through her. Yet, she forced herself to move forward. Once in the courtyard, she was immediately greeted by Marlie, her energetic friend, who enthusiastically hugged her.
"I missed you!"
Miria smiled, more to reassure her than to express real joy.
"I have so much to tell you!" exclaimed Marlie. "But... are you okay? You don't look so well."
"Yes, yes. It's just tiredness," replied Miria with a forced smile. "We should hurry, we have class."
Marlie frowned, worried, but didn't press the matter. Yet, throughout the morning, she observed Miria, who seemed elsewhere, tormented. She stared into space, scribbled without listening, and sometimes frowned as if fighting an invisible pain.
During break time, in the cafeteria, Marlie sat down with her. Shortly after, they were joined by Diana, Ray, Isabella, Gale, and Klaus. As soon as Isabella appeared, a dull anger rose within Miria. But she was too overwhelmed by the voices in her head to focus on her jealousy.
"Miria, what's going on?" Marlie asked, growing increasingly worried. "You're scaring me."
"I... I'm fine," Miria murmured.
"Are you sure?" Ray insisted.
"I don't know," Marlie replied. "She's been acting strangely since this morning."
"What's wrong with her?" Isabella snapped.
A cold voice cut through the air like a knife. "You," she said simply.
Everyone turned. Isolde stood there with her arms crossed.
Chapter 3: Betrayed Echoes
"It's you, of course," Isolde continued, stepping forward.
"Isolde, now's not the time," Diana interjected.
"Time for what? To tell the truth? The truth can't wait. Maybe if you stayed away from Ray, Miria would be better off."
Isabella stood up abruptly.
"Listen to me, Isolde. I'm not like you. I accepted Ray being with Miria. And before that, he and I were just friends. That's all we are now."
"Oh, really? And why do you still refuse to get away from him, then?"
"It's not that I don't want to, it's just that… circumstances force us to work together."
"Really?" Isolde sneered. "You're far too attached to him for it to be that simple."
"And I don't see why I should have to justify myself to you. I didn't do anything wrong."
A cold laugh escaped Isolde.
And at that moment, Miria heard voices... but not the ones in her head. Thoughts. Isolde's.
What a liar. She lies like she breathes. If Miria is too stupid to see straight, I'm not. I can see she still loves Ray. All these excuses to be with him are just lies. My Ray. She thinks I'll let her do it? I just have to wait for her to destroy their relationship, and he'll be mine."
Miria's eyes widened. She was reading her thoughts. Impossible.
Then Isabella's voice, this time, reached her too, without her lips moving.
That Isolde is a pest. She wants to break Miria and Ray, and is using me to do it. Clever. But I won't let her win. Ray is mine. He still loves me. Miria is just a fling. Soon, he'll come back to me.
Miria's heart sank. Her face contorted. She stood up abruptly, knocking over her tray. Everyone jumped. She stared at them with rage.
Marlie reached out to her.
"Miria..."
But Miria dodged the contact.
"Don't touch me! Don't follow me! I don't want to see anyone!"
And she strode out of the cafeteria, leaving behind a frozen, shocked Marlie.