Flames and Starlight
TWENTY-FOUR

Peter landed in front of the Raven High School grade nine building. He shifted into his human form, panting heavily, and braced himself against the wall. He was covered head to toe in sweat and his whole body was sore from flying for a day straight. He’d been chased by the supernaturals who were working with Kane Moonblood almost all day and he miraculously evaded them.

He was so exhausted he could barely stand up straight. He leaned his back against the wall, his heart thudding against his rib cage. He tried to catch his breath as he observed his surroundings.

It was dead silent now except for his panting. The supernaturals working for Kane had suddenly pulled back and disappeared. All of the survivors of the fighting had retreated into nearby shelters. He’d run to a shelter just as it closed and begged for them to let him in. The Guardian looked him in the eye and said they were at total capacity and shut the door in his face. Peter had been stunned, unable to believe he’d actually been refused shelter. He thought when he and his family had moved to Raven City he wouldn’t have to deal with any prejudice for being a hybrid, but that was obviously not the case.

It felt like forever before he could catch his breath. He looked around again to see if anyone else was around. He couldn’t hear anything else from the other high school buildings that held the other high school grades. He chanced it and slammed his fist through the window, the sound of broken glass filling the air. He ignored his throbbing fist and reached inside to unlock it.

He climbed in through the window and found himself in a dark, empty classroom. He looked around and saw it was a history classroom, in fact, his grade nine Supernatural History Class, where he met Laura and Ruben for the first time.

He couldn’t help but smile as he looked around the large room. Despite the circumstances, he was currently in, the memory of meeting the two shapeshifters that would eventually become his best friends warmed his heart. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

He and the rest of his family had just moved to Raven City from Ocean Falls in the middle of the school year. He was terrified of being in the ginormous high school which was a lot different from his previous school.

He remembered getting lost since this was a four-story high school that required a million stairs and three elevators to help everyone get to their classes on time.

He’d gotten so turned around on the way here and was almost thirty minutes late to class. He came across two shapeshifters who took pity on him and helped him find his way. They showed them the class and offered to give him a tour of the place during their free time so they wouldn’t get lost.

It was hard making friends here since a lot of the sups that went here already knew each other and friend groups were established and wouldn’t give him the time of day. Laura and Ruben didn’t hesitate to welcome him into their friend group and he had no idea where he’d be without them. It wasn’t the most extravagant story but it was still a great one to reflect on.

He shook his head, wishing he could go back to simple times again. He walked out of the room and searched all four stories of the grade nine building but didn’t find anything. He checked the giant classrooms, many of which he had attended class in. Memories, both good and bad, coursed through him as he gazed at the rooms. He felt nostalgic for the times he spent there and he closed his eyes, hoping that when he opened them this whole nightmare would be over and he could go back to his life from before. Of course, life didn’t work that way and he was still stuck in this hell when he opened them.

With a defeated sigh, he took the elevator down to the cafeteria and saw there were still plates of fresh food left out on the tables. The school had still been in session when the attacks began. The students would have been transferred to a shelter immediately as soon as the attacks began. He sat down and ate the leftover food and kept listening to his surroundings, senses on high alert. He was the only being inside the building. The only sounds came from him and the quiet unnerved him.

After he finished eating, he went into the nurse station where cots were laid out for the sick patients. He climbed on top of one and fell asleep instantly, exhausted from the events of these past two horrific days.

It felt like he’d only just closed his eyes when he heard the sound of shattering glass nearby. He nearly fell out of the cot and scrambled to his feet. His heart jolted when he saw a male gargoyle standing in the shattered doorframe. His eyes were glowing green, a sure sign he was under Kane Moonblood’s influence.

Before he had time to shift into something that could help him fight back, the gargoyle lunged at him and slammed his stone fist against Peter’s jaw. Peter yelled out as he felt his jaw break. He reeled backward but the gargoyle grabbed him by the throat and threw him against the wall.

Agonizing pain shot through his back and he was sure it was broken. In blinding speed, the gargoyled raced over and pulled him up by his hair and he screamed as hair was ripped from his scalp. The gargoyle held him up by his throat and snarled in his face, “Kane Moonblood has damned you to death.”

The gargoyle bit down on Peter’s neck and he felt icy pain rush through him as he was dropped to the floor. He heard the gargoyle’s heavy footsteps stomp away.

He felt like he couldn’t move as the worst pain imaginable kept coursing through him. It was almost indescribable as he managed to raise his hand and saw his flesh slowly turning to stone.

Fear gripped up as he realized the gargoyle had injected his venom into him. A gargoyle’s venom could turn a living creature into stone and it was happening to him.

He had a broken jaw and possibly a broken back now and had no way to fight the venom off. It was spreading rapidly. He wanted to scream for help but it was no use. No one would come.

He was going to die alone, just like Michael.

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