Chapter 2: The First Test
Thak sat in the corner of his room, the Memory Note still clutched tightly in his hand. He had written Marcus's name on the page, but the results hadn't been as immediate or as satisfying as he had hoped. The momentary fear in Marcus's voice had been the only real victory, but the sensation of power faded too quickly. Thak wasn't satisfied, not yet.
It was strange, unsettling even, how the Memory Note worked. The power it gave him felt tangible in his hands, but it wasn't perfect. It was as if there were rules he had to follow, limitations to its power that he hadn't yet fully grasped. Still, he wasn't ready to give up. The notebook was too powerful to abandon now, especially when it offered the chance to get back at those who had made his life a living hell.
His mind drifted back to the bullies—Marcus, Jason, and Lara. And, of course, the others. Each one had wronged him in their own way, and now he had the chance to make them pay. He wasn't sure how yet, but the Memory Note had given him a small taste of what was possible. That was enough for him to continue.
Thak's thoughts were interrupted when he heard the door open. His heart sank as his step-sister, Lara, stepped into the room. She was a year older than him, and though they weren't related by blood, they shared a home. Lara's father worked long hours, leaving her to do as she pleased. She wasn't particularly interested in being a caring sister—she treated him like an inconvenience, someone beneath her. And that suited Thak just fine. It was her arrogance that annoyed him the most, the way she wielded her beauty and charm as if it were a weapon.
Lara had long, silky brown hair that cascaded down her back like a wave of rich chocolate. Her almond-shaped hazel eyes had an intensity that could make anyone feel small, and her sharp features were complemented by her full lips and perfectly arched brows. She had the kind of beauty that commanded attention, the kind that men—and some women—would fawn over. At 16, she was already popular at school, and she made sure to remind everyone that she knew it.
Her slender figure, always dressed in the latest trends, was a stark contrast to Thak's slouching posture and worn-out clothes. It was as if they were from two entirely different worlds. And that was before he even considered the way she treated him. Lara was the queen bee of their small social circle, and she made sure everyone, including Thak, understood that she was untouchable.
Lara stopped in front of him, her gaze sweeping over the room as if she found it beneath her. "You still haven't cleaned up this mess," she said with a snide tone, eyeing the stack of old textbooks and papers scattered across his desk. Her voice was smooth, like honey—sweet to the ears but carrying an underlying venom.
Thak didn't bother responding. He had no energy to engage in her petty games, and besides, she wasn't worth his time. Not right now.
Lara's eyes flickered to the notebook he was still holding in his hand. She raised an eyebrow, an inquisitive expression on her face. "What's that?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Thak clenched the notebook tighter, not willing to let her know about its power. If there was one thing he knew, it was that Lara had a way of getting under his skin, of prying into things she shouldn't. She would never leave him alone if she thought there was something worth investigating. So, he lied.
"It's nothing," he muttered, quickly hiding the notebook beneath the pile of papers. He hoped that would be enough to deter her curiosity, but from the way she was staring at him, he knew it wouldn't be.
Lara took a step forward, her heels clicking against the floor. She was still wearing her school uniform—her skirt neatly pressed and her blouse perfectly fitted to her body. Her demeanor exuded confidence, as if she was on top of the world. She looked down at him, her lips curling into a smirk. "You know, Thak," she said, her voice laced with mockery, "you're so pathetic. I don't even know why I bother talking to you."
Thak looked up at her, his eyes narrowing. He knew it was pointless to argue with her, but the sting of her words still cut deep. She had been tormenting him for as long as he could remember, and he had never done anything about it. Not until now. But something inside him was changing. The desire for revenge was growing stronger, and he could feel it seeping into his bones.
"Just leave me alone, Lara," he said, his voice flat, trying to ignore the growing rage inside him.
But Lara wasn't done. She leaned in closer, her face now mere inches from his. "You're nothing. Do you think anyone would care if you disappeared? If I told everyone what a loser you are? They'd probably thank me."
The words were cruel, but they were nothing new. Lara had always been like this—cold, calculating, and self-serving. She believed she was above everyone else, including him. But Thak was no longer the scared, broken boy he had been. He had power now. And he wasn't going to let her continue walking all over him.
Lara's eyes gleamed with amusement as she took a step back, looking him up and down like he was nothing more than a bug she could squish under her heel. "Don't forget who's in charge here, Thak," she said, before turning and walking out of the room with that same confident swagger.
The door slammed shut behind her, and Thak was left in the silence, his fists clenched at his sides. He could feel his pulse pounding in his ears. His hands were shaking, not from fear, but from anticipation. He had made up his mind. It was time to start using the Memory Note on those who had wronged him—starting with Lara.
Thak sat back down at his desk, his thoughts racing. He could already see it in his mind's eye—Lara, the proud, untouchable queen, reduced to nothing. He wasn't going to take her down with force; that would be too easy. No, he would destroy her from the inside out. He would make her question everything she thought she knew about herself.
With that thought, Thak opened the Memory Note again. The white pages seemed to shimmer in the dim light of his room, beckoning him to write. He hesitated for a moment, then wrote her name: Lara.
He focused, trying to think of the best way to rewrite her memories, to strip her of her power. He could feel the connection, the tug of energy that surged through him as the words settled into the page. But just as he was about to push further, something strange happened. The sensation of control wavered, and a sharp pain shot through his chest. It was as if the Memory Note was rejecting the idea of manipulating Lara.
Thak's heart pounded, and he felt a bead of sweat form on his forehead. Why wasn't it working? He tried again, but the same feeling of resistance came. The note was rejecting his attempts to change her. It was as if there was a deeper connection between them, something that made it impossible for him to rewrite her memories so easily.
But Thak wasn't one to give up easily. His grip tightened on the notebook, his teeth gritting as he tried once more. "This isn't over, Lara," he whispered to himself.
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