𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 1
The rain had been falling for hours, washing the city in silver light. Neon signs flickered across puddles, and the air smelled like cold metal and secrets. Melody Bloodstone pulled her hood tighter around her head as she crossed the street, the world around her buzzing with quiet chaos — honking cars, hurried footsteps, and the low hum of thunder that never seemed to fade.
She always felt like the storm followed her.
“Mel! Wait up!” Polly’s voice echoed from behind. She came running, her pink umbrella bobbing through the rain. “You walk like you’re escaping something.”
Melody gave a small smile. “Maybe I am.”
Polly rolled her eyes playfully. “Drama queen.” But her laughter softened when she saw Melody’s distant gaze. She’d known her best friend long enough to understand — when Melody got quiet, it meant something inside her was loud.
They reached the school gates just as lightning cracked across the sky. The building loomed tall and modern, but something about it always felt ancient — like it had seen too many stories.
That’s when Melody saw him.
Standing near the gate, water dripping from his hair, hands in his pockets, and eyes—
silver.
Not grey. Not pale blue. Silver.
He looked up, and for a heartbeat, the noise of the city vanished.
Her breath caught.
The stranger tilted his head slightly, as if he recognized her — as if he’d been waiting for her.
Polly nudged her. “You good? You look like you saw a ghost.”
Melody blinked, but when she looked back, the boy was gone.
Only the echo of his stare lingered — cold and shimmering, like moonlight caught in her veins.
She whispered to herself, barely audible,
“Who are you?”
But somewhere beyond the storm, someone — maybe that same stranger — whispered back,
“Finally… you found me.”
