Chereads / Unguided Hearts / Chapter 2 - chapter 2

Chapter 2 - chapter 2

At first, Alexandra

though it was her imagination running wild, but after noticing Tony's shared

concern, she had to re-access.

Onyx hadn't uttered a

single word since the battles.

The theory that shed been

afflicted by a curse had crossed her mind repeatedly, she'd confided in Tony,

who found it possible. However, when Alexandra approached onyx about it, she

shook her head with a furrowed brow.

Alexandra should have

been relieved by the response, but onyx increasingly rare reactions, to

conversations or questions worried her. It didn't seem like Onyx was

intentionally ignoring them, she simply remained silent.

 

Tony assumed that Onyx

might be upset with them and needed space, but Alexandra thought that was a

terrible idea, their friend required support, not isolation, especially when

she seemed lost in her thoughts.

 

As the days turned into

weeks and months, Onyx condition didn't improve, it worsened.

Earlier in the summer, Alexandra

had seen onyx engaged in reading or listening to people around her, but now she

didn't. Onyx hadn't touched a book since that one instance Alexandra had caught

her reading and exchanged a sheepish smile.

 

That fleeting moment of

joy had been rare respite from the dread and desperation growing within

Alexandra, she watched Onyx vitality fade, replaced by listlessness and

numbness

 

"perhaps she simply needs

our presence," Tony said one week before their return to the academy.

"constantly I mean. Onyx

has been trapped in her thoughts for months and I dread considering what's

occupying her mind, and to be honest, I doubt its anything positive."

Alexandra nodded

thoughtfully, aligning with Tony's perspective.

"onyx may actually need

this, it's a good idea."

Alexandra gaze narrowed,

noticing subtle changed in onyx behavior, the nail biting, the involuntary

movements, the veil of neutrality shrouding her emotions.

 

Alexandra and tony

exchanged weighted glances whenever onyx hid her face, slightly hoping she was

concealing vulnerability, not pain.

The thought of Onyx

hiding her true self from them left tony with a bitter taste.

Did she doubt their trust?

had they failed her somehow?

 

Alexandra broke the

silence, her voice soft.

"I love the rain,' she

whispered, her voice radiant

Tony's expression

softened despite his reservations, "the air smells weird after it."

 

Onyx shuddered almost

imperceptibly, her shoulders brushing against Tony's.

 He turned concerned, but she'd already

returned to staring out the window.

 

Tony's heart ached. Onyx

hadn't left the house in months, and this small gesture observing the outside

world, offered a glimmer of hope.

 

 

 

Kids were more resilient

than adults weren't they?, atleast Onyx had been when she was younger. She

hadn't experienced a traditional childhood, and the trauma she'd faced had

forced her to mature prematurely.

Legally, Onyx was no

longer a minor, but emotionally, she felt stagnant. Her adaptability, once a

hallmark of her youth had vanished.

As a child, Onyx had

effortlessly navigated complex social situations, engaging with hundreds of new

people who fawned over her. Now, she struggled to articulate a single sentence.

Children were naturally

effervescent, outgoing and receptive to attention. They thrived on interaction,

craved validation and reveled in being the center of attention.

Onyx however found these

traits exhausting. She appreciated the concern, but the constant inquiries and

sympathetic gazes felt suffocating.

 

Tony's timely

intervention had saved her from the crushing attention, expertly deflecting the

crowd without asking for her consent or commenting on it later.

Onyx was grateful even if

she barely acknowledged it.

 

Alexandra's presence

beside her provided her comfort, a steady reminder that she wasn't alone.

 

The cacophony outside

Wisterias Academy gate assaulted her senses, a jarring contrast to the muffled

voices shed grown accustomed to. Onyx knew she needed to acclimate to the

chaos. To relearn the art of communication and socialization.

But the prospect seemed

daunting

 

Why had she agreed to

return to wisteria? The question echoed in her mind laced with self-doubt.

 

The only conversation

that had stuck with her was Tony any Alexandra verbal sparring with Aiden,

unaware of the weird glances he had given her throughout that interaction,

 

Alexandra's biting

retort, delivered with calm precision and familiarity had brought a fleeting

smile to Onyx face.

Tony's laughter had

momentarily eased the tension in her chest

 

However, Aiden's barb had

struck a nerve, resurrecting the painful truth Onyx had desperately tried to

suppress. The sting of his words lingered, threating to unravel the fragile

threads of her composure.

As the renowned hero who

had saved a world, Onyx felt pressure to project strength.

How would others react if

they witnessed her crumbling beneath the weight of Aiden's insults.

Couldn't they as adults,

rise above petty squabbles? weren't they better than the adolescent who reveled

in malicious fights?

 

Some individuals retained

their inner child, but Onyx had lost hers long ago. The uncertainty of what

this year would bring hung over her like a specter