I saw a figure enter the room, still immersed in darkness.
Instinctively, I grabbed the wand that I had placed on the bedside table. I might have given up, but I wouldn't let myself be taken out like this, in my bed, without putting up a fight.
However, before I could cast a spell, the room lit up. The intruder must have turned on the light with magic.
I observed the person who had burst into my room, mouth agape with surprise.
«Man, you look awful...» exclamed Sophia Thornton, looking at me like I was a some kind of disgusting bug she had found squashed under her boots.
«Y-you! What the fuck are you doing in my room?!»
I was too bewildered to feel insulted at her comment. And I probably did look awful. Taking into account the mix of sleep deprivation and crying and the fact that I hadn't showered that day, I musn't have been very pleasing to the eyes.
«Believe me, I could think of about a thousand more enjoyable ways to spend my evening. Unfortunately, your friend has been tormenting me all day to come talk to you. I don't know what she hopes I'll achieve, but when she threatened to camp outside my door all night, I decided it was better to come and check on you,» she said, pointing at someone behind her.
The shock of that sudden visit hadn't made me notice Amy, who was currently standing in the doorway, now devoid of a door. She was busy staring at the floor, trying her best to avoid meeting my gaze.
It wasn't hard to understand why. After all I wouldn't have known what to say to her either.
«So,» Sophia continued, «could you explain to me what your brilliant plan is? Don't tell me you're so stupid as to think that the last-place finisher gets sent on vacation to some tropical island? That would be too much even for you...»
Once again, I decided not to give in to provocation. I had to keep my emotions under control and try to appear as rational as possible.
«I simply realized what the best thing to do is,» I explained in a neutral tone, «knowing that I have no chance of beating Valentine, being eliminated in the first round rather than trying to survive as long as possible, seeing many of my classmates die, is the most logical thing to do.»
For once Sophia's mocking smile faded, replaced by a serious expression.
With a harsh voice, she replied, «So it's true then… I thought there was something more to it, but then your friend was telling the truth...»
For a few seconds, her eyes locked onto mine.
I lowered my gaze, unable to stand her inquisitive gaze.
When she spoke again, her tone was firm:
«Think you can fool me? Logic my ass... There's nothing logical about giving up and accepting death. The truth is that you're scared, right?»
«I...» I couldn't deny it.
«That's fine. There's nothing wrong in being afraid. In drastic situations like this, fear can help us avoid reckless choices. It's an emotion that stems from our sense of self-preservation after all,» Sophia replied, interpreting my silence as agreement.
«But what you're doing is letting fear consume you. From fear, you move to terror. Reason is thrown out the window, and you look for the easiest way out, in this case: giving up,» she continued.
I could feel her stern gaze on me.
«So don't try to justify it. You're scared and you want to escape. It's not strange for someone to react this way. But, I admit, from someone that talked big about herself, I expected something better...»
That last sentence stirred something inside me. Perhaps it was the remnants of my pride, which I had thought was dead and buried. But now it gave me the necessary push to raise my eyes again and meet the gaze of that girl, who seemed to have a natural talent for getting on my nerves.
«So can you explain to me what the fuck I'm supposed to do?! It's easy for you to talk! Not everyone can split a fireball in half...» I burst out.
Seeing my reaction, Sophia's mocking expression returned to her face.
«Unlike you, I don't need to resort to tricks to win,» she taunted me in a strident voice, «that was you, right? Were those just words?»
«T-This is different!» I felt my ears burning from embaressment.
It was what I had told her during our argument on the first day of school. I had wanted to act tough, and now I was paying the consequences.
«Against a power like Valentine's...»
«Tell me, are you really sure you fully understand Valentine's power? I remember how skeptical you were about my enchanted sword. Has fear clouded your mind so much?» Sophia interrupted me.
«Huh? What do you mean»
Had I missed something? I had carefully observed the duel between Igor Valentine and Carl Stuart.
I could still vividly see in my mind, in clear detail, poor Carl being decapitated by his own blood. Could I really have overlooked something?
«Moreover, don't you understand that by doing this, you're playing straight into Valentine's hands?» Sophia continued, «I've seen him challenge you to a duel twice. It's clear he wanted to put pressure on you. Sure, he might have done it just because he's a bloody sadist. But, in my opinion, he wants to get rid of you because he's afraid of you.»
«A-Afraid of me...?» I repeated, astonished.
Why would he be afraid of me? In a duel, he could decapitate me instantly like Carl, and I couldn't do anything about it...
«Even if it's as you say, what do you want me to do then?» I asked after a moment, «Should I perhaps duel with him? If your reasoning is wrong, what do you plan to do? Will you bring flowers to my grave?»
Despite everything, I could feel my resolve wavering... Sophia, bursting into my room, had brought with her something I thought I had lost: hope.
A chance, however small, that there was something I hadn't considered.
«Oh, I can even give a speech at your funeral if you want,» Sophia replied, laughing, «but no, for once you're right, it doesn't make sense to risk it. But why not duel some other student, not Valentine, and see how the situation evolves in the coming weeks?»
It made sense. Too much sense. But at those words, I felt the anxiety creeping back to knock on the doors of my mind. I remembered what I had felt when I had tried to duel the day before. As much as I could express good intentions here, safe in my room, I knew that when it came time to act, I would freeze up again.
I lowered my gaze again and expressed the doubts that plagued me.
«And what if, besides you and Valentine, other students have hidden powers? And what if the one I challenge can, I don't know, kill me just by looking at me, stop time, or something like that...?»
I wanted Sophia, with her disdainful tone, to tell me to stop talking nonsense. But instead:
«Could be!» she replied immediately, «I think many of us are gonna have some kind of special ability. The school must have selected people like Valentine for this specific reason.»
«So what's the point of even trying?» I sighed.
«First of all, not everyone is as dumb as Valentine,» declared Sophia.
«Huh? What do you mean?»
«Let me explain it so even your little brain can understand it. Imagine having a special power. Do you think it's a good idea to reveal it to everyone in the first week?» said Sophia, «It's pretty much the same conversation I had with you on the first day. There's no point in painting a target on your back. It's better to keep your trump card hidden until there's a real risk of being eliminated.»
As usual, she was right, but why did she feel the need to slip in an insult at every possible chance?
Anyway...
«And what if the one I challenge is a lunatic like Valentine?» I asked with a note of desperation in my voice. I felt like I was grasping for excuses.
It burned me deeply to appear so weak in front of Sophia, but a part of me wanted her to reassure me.
«Then you just die. But you won't know unless you try, the result will be the same if you don't either way...» she replied nonchalantly
I knew that, but still...
I decided to completely drop my defenses and confess:
«I've already tried, but I couldn't do it. It's like my body refuses...»
Sophia stared at me, for the first time I felt an hint genuine warmth in her gaze.
«Don't try to do everything on your own then. If your body won't move forward, bring someone with you who can give you a push. You happen to have a very convincing friend,» she said, pointing again towards Amy, behind her.
I saw the latter quickly shift her gaze to the floor.
"I don't think she wants anything more to do with me though..."
Seeing me hesitate, Sophia sighed and burst out:
«Listen, you still have a day. Tomorrow is Sunday. No classes. Valentine is still in detention and can't leave his room. You have all the time to have all the duels you want in peace. As for the future...»
For the first time, Sophia looked away. She seemed to be caught in an inner conflict.
In the end, she seemed to make up her mind and said:
«Don't get any strange ideas. I had already thought about it before coming here. I have a plan to get rid of Valentine. I don't want to have a murderer in our class for the rest of the year.»
"A plan?"
Was it really possible? Was there a way to eliminate him outside of a duel?
«What do you m-»
«None of your business. If you want to find out, try to score points tomorrow.»
Was she telling the truth?
I couldn't know. But at that moment, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.
It was pathetic, I knew. I knew I was just leaning on Sophia. But for now, it was fine like this. I needed a crutch to lift myself up.
«Sophia, I... Thank you.»
«I'm not doing it for you!» she replied, turning away. «And if you died, your friend wouldn't leave me alone anymore...»
She headed for the door-free exit.
«If there's nothing else... I hope I didn't waste my time.»
And she disappeared into the darkness of the hallway.
I couldn't help but think that, despite her unpleasant attitude, she was actually a very good person. The fact that she had listened to Amy's pleas for help even if she disliked me was a sign of that.
Speaking of Amy...
It was just me and her, the door lying on the floor between us. A tomb-like silence fell in the room.
The tension was so palpable that the air felt heavy and hard to breathe.
I decided to try and break the stalemate.
Not knowing what to say, I started:
«Amy, I...»
Amy snapped as if I had given her a signal.
Before I could move, she reached me and raised her hand.
Slap!
I felt a sudden pain in my cheek. I touched it. It wasn't a strong pain, but it still hurt. I knew it was nothing, though, compared to what I had made my friend feel.
Amy was finally looking at me, tears in her eyes and her hand still raised. If she wanted to give me more slaps, I would have accepted them. Ten, a hundred, a thousand. I would have deserved them.
But instead, Amy threw herself against my chest. Sobbing desperately.
I put a hand behind her neck, stroking her hair.
«I'm sorry...» I whispered.
It was weak, but I couldn't think of anything else to say to her.
«Why, why didn't you tell me anything?!» Amy shouted through tears.
«I... I didn't want to worry you. I wanted to appear strong. I didn't want to disappoint you...»
I knew how much Amy admired me. The idea of confessing my weaknesses to her felt wrong at the time. But now I knew, I had made the wrong choice...
It was Amy herself who confirmed it:
«You're an idiot. Whether you're the strongest or not doesn't matter. I'll always be by your side anyway..»
«Amy, you're right. I've been stupid... And thank you, without you, I would never have realized it...»
Amy looked up from my chest. She was smiling through tears.
«Heh heh, I knew Sophia would convince you...»
She got me as usual. That strange girl had the ability to ignite a fire inside me.
Suddenly, though, the reality of what had happened in this room hit me.
«AAAAH» I screamed.
Amy jumped, startled.
"Perhaps I should really just die..."
«What state did I show myself in?!» I yelled, punching the pillow.
The idea that I had made Sophia feel pity for me to the point that she decided to save me, like a damsel in distress in need of a prince, reddened my cheeks.
"Never again!"
From now on, I would show her. From tomorrow, I wouldn't allow her to look down on me anymore.