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