Despite his bad premonitions, Caden continued on his way. Meanwhile, Bella entered her home, softly closing the door behind her. A strange sensation sent a chill down her spine. Calmly, she took a deep breath, exhaled, and slowly let go of the door handle. In one swift motion, she turned and launched an attack in the form of a wind spear.
However, her strike was blocked by a solid wall that suddenly appeared in front of her. Startled, she took a step back as the wall dissipated to reveal a young man with short green hair and sparkling blue eyes. A mischievous smile lit up his face.
"Zetch!" Bella exclaimed, annoyed. "How many times do I have to tell you to use the door?"
"Never," he replied with a wink. "This lets me test your reflexes."
Bella rolled her eyes, exasperated by his childish behavior. Yet, she couldn't help but smile slightly.
"What brings you here?" she asked, curious.
"I was in the area and thought I'd pay you a visit," he said casually.
Bella's heart warmed at his words.
"And Aletha? How is she?"
Zetch sighed lightly, lowering his gaze. "She's doing well... but she talks about you a lot. She misses you, Bella."
Bella looked away, biting her lower lip. "I miss her too. But you know I can't just leave like that."
"Why not?" Zetch asked, crossing his arms. "The enemy is after the three of us, Bella. You, me, and Aletha. But you're the one in the most danger here. Do you really think staying here keeps you safe?"
Bella let out a deep sigh, shaking her head. "Zetch, I have a life here. I have friends."
"That's exactly the problem," he insisted. "The more attached you get to this place, the harder it will be to leave. And worse, your attachments become weaknesses the enemy can exploit."
Bella lowered her eyes, Zetch's words ringing like a warning bell in her mind.
"I understand what you're saying," she murmured. "But it's not fair."
"It's not about fairness, Bella. It's about survival. I'm not asking you to leave for Aletha's sake," he added, softening his voice. "I'm asking for you. And for the friends you want to protect. Believe me, the longer you stay, the more you endanger them."
Bella closed her eyes for a moment, holding back her emotions. Then she raised her head, making a decision.
"Fine. Once I finish this year, I'll join you."
Zetch frowned, skeptical. "You always say that."
"This time, I mean it," she replied firmly. "If the enemy shows any sign, I'll leave immediately."
Zetch stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"That's the right decision. It's not just for you but for those you care about here too."
Tears welled up in Bella's eyes, but she refused to let them fall. To lighten the mood, Zetch handed her a bag.
"Here, I got something for you."
Bella opened the bag, finding jewelry, clothes, and books inside. Touched, she hugged him spontaneously.
"Thank you, Zetch…"
"All I wanted was to see you smile," he said gently.
The next morning, Bella was waiting for the bus. Her thoughts still revolved around Zetch's words.
"Hey!"
She flinched slightly at the familiar voice of Caden. He looked at her, concerned.
"Are you okay? You look tired."
Bella nodded, feigning a smile. "Yes, I'm fine."
Once they arrived at school, they headed to their class together and later to the rehearsal room. The duo had landed the lead roles in a play aimed at raising funds for Rosa's orphanage.
The rehearsal began, and soon it was time for their key scene. Bella stepped forward, delivering her lines with palpable intensity:
"Why can't you understand? This will never work, Jay. Your father will always oppose us. The best thing we can do is forget each other and go our separate ways."
Caden knelt before her, gently taking her hands.
"You can ask me for anything, but not this," he said passionately. "Don't ask me to forget the love I feel for you. How could I live without you?"
The moment was charged with emotion, but Bella suddenly froze, her eyes fixating on a figure outside the window. A cold shiver ran down her spine.
"Bella? Are you okay?"
Caden shook her lightly, bringing her back to the moment. She blinked, but the figure had disappeared.
"Yes, I'm fine," she stammered.
The teacher, noticing her unease, suggested a break. But before she could respond, a feminine voice cut through.
"If she can't perform properly, she should give up her role," declared Morgane, a girl with long brown hair.
"If Bella leaves, so do I," Caden said firmly.
Surprised, the teacher asked for an explanation. Caden admitted that Bella had been helping him train late into the night, neglecting her own role to assist him.
The teacher nodded, understanding. "Very well. Let's take a break for today. We'll resume tomorrow."
Morgane shot Bella a venomous glare before walking away.
"Just ignore her," Caden murmured as he walked beside Bella. But Bella knew something far more troubling weighed on her.
In the shadows, a figure watched them, a sinister smile spreading across their face.