Gym training at Moonridge High was something Amanda had learned to dread. Not just because it was grueling, every drill designed to test agility and stamina as if preparing soldiers instead of students but because it was where she was most exposed. Out on the field, there was no hiding behind books or hallways. Everyone watched, everyone judged and Tessa thrived on it. It's been weeks since the incident at the ridge, the whispers had reduced drastically but they were still there, shadows in the hallways. But at least life was a bit liveable now, somewhat.
Amanda was already breathless, her uniform clinging to her with sweat as she pushed herself through the final set of sprints. When she bent over to catch her breath, she heard Tessa's laugh, sharp as glass.
"Careful, Amanda", Tessa drawled, striding past with her perfect posture and hair that never seemed to frizz.
"Wouldn't want you collapsing again. Or are you hoping the stone will light up under your feet this time too?", she taunted.
The sting in Amanda's chest had nothing to do with exertion. Tessa wasn't done. She pivoted, facing Amanda directly, her voice carrying across the training yard.
"It must have felt so special, didn't it? For one moment, you got to pretend you were something more than ordinary. But news flash, stones react to all kinds of things, sometimes to weakness or worse…", she leaned closer, her eyes narrowing with false pity, "... Sometimes to witches."
Laughter rippled through the gathered students. Amanda's cheeks burned, her fists clenched at her sides. She wanted to shout, to claw back at Tessa's words but something else stirred instead. Heat bloomed in her chest, sharp and bright. The world narrowed, for a split second, Amanda felt something inside her snap loose and she caught a glance at Tessa, she noticed her smirk had faltered, that gave her a flutter of satisfaction and it seemed to feed whatever was going on with her but then gasps rippled through the field.
Amanda didn't understand why until Stacie hissed, "Your eyes!"
Amanda blinked rapidly, heart racing, fear, crippling fear and then the sensation faded. Whatever had happened, it was gone but the silence that followed was deafening.
Everyone had seen.
"Hey", Skylar's voice cut through the tension like a whip crack. Amanda hadn't even realized he'd been standing nearby, leaning casually against the gym wall. "That's enough", he said, his voice low but filled with authority.
Before anyone could react, Skylar slung an arm lazily around Tessa's shoulders, pulling her close with an easy grin.
"Don't mind her, she's You make anyone else look like a toddler in sprints, Tessa."
The sudden shift of attention made the crowd murmur. Tessa blinked, momentarily thrown off by Skylar's sudden act of interest in her, but then preened under the attention, tossing her hair back as if she'd won some unspoken battle.
Amanda's stomach twisted painfully. Jealousy and rage churned together, hotter than she wanted to admit. She wanted to claw Skylar's arm off Tessa, to scream at both of them, to-
"Come on", Stacie's urgent whisper yanked her back. Her friend grabbed her arm, tugging her away from the group before she did something reckless. She didn't resist, her legs felt shaky as Stacie dragged her toward the edge of the yard.
Only when they reached the lockers did Stacie stop and spin her around.
"Amanda, your eyes", she whispered fiercely.
Amanda swallowed.
"What about them?", she asked.
"They glowed", Stacie's voice was sharp with fear.
"Silver, just for a second, but everyone saw", she added.
Amanda's blood ran cold.
"No. That's not possible-", she began to deny.
"It happened", Stacie cut in.
"I don't know what it means, but if the others figure it out, if Samuel or the elders hear… Look, whatever's going on with you, you have to be careful. You can't let it happen again like that", she shook her head.
Amanda pressed her back to the lockers, her chest heaving.
"But I didn't do anything. I didn't want it to happen", she quickly protested.
"I know, but wanting doesn't matter. Whatever this is, it's inside you", Stacie said quickly.
Amanda's throat tightened. She wanted to argue, to deny it, but the memory of Tessa's startled face burned in her mind. And deep down, a terrifying truth whispered, Stacie was right.
---
That night, Amanda tossed and turned. Her dreams returned, darker this time. She ran barefoot through the forest, silver fog curling around her ankles, the massive wolf always just ahead, its golden eyes glowing like fire.
"Luna-born", the voice whispered again, threading through the trees.
Amanda stumbled, her arms scraping against bark. Pain flared, sharp and real, she jolted awake with a gasp. Moonlight spilled through her curtains, pale and cold. Her sheets were tangled around her legs, damp with sweat. She sat up and froze, that's when she realized her arms burned.
She lifted them into the moonlight and her stomach dropped. Thin, jagged scratches crisscrossed her forearms, raw and angry, as if claws had raked through her skin.
"No", she whispered, her breath shaking.
She touched one of the marks, it stung. It was real, just like before, but deeper this time. The line between dream and reality was blurring and she couldn't tell which side she was losing herself to. Suddenly she heard the door creaked open softly.
"Amanda?", it was her mother's voice.
Celeste stepped into the room in her nightgown, her face lined with worry. "Sweetheart, are you all right? I thought I heard you moving around. The house gets so quiet at night, sounds carry", she said as she approached the bed.
Amanda tugged her sleeves down quickly, hiding her arms under the blanket.
"I'm fine", Amanda responded.
Celeste frowned.
"You've seemed… off, ever since the ridge. You've been pale, restless. I know it must have been frightening-"
"I'm fine, Mom", she lied, the lie came too quickly, too practiced. She forced a small smile and added, "Really. I'm just tired."
Celeste sat on the edge of the bed, brushing a strand of hair from Amanda's face. Her touch was gentle, comforting, but her eyes searched Amanda's with quiet desperation. "You can tell me anything, you know that right?", she asked.
Amanda's throat ached, for a moment she almost told her about the stone, the locket, the glowing eyes, the scratches that appeared in the night. But then she saw the exhaustion in her mother's eyes, and she remembered the way Celeste had carried herself as though the whole world rested on her shoulders when it was just the two of them and Amanda couldn't add to that weight.
"Everything's fine", she whispered again.
Celeste studied her for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
"All right, try to get some sleep", she kissed her forehead softly before standing and walking out the room.
The door clicked shut, leaving Amanda alone in the moonlight. She pulled her arms out from under the blanket, staring at the angry red scratches.
'Fine', it was the last thing she was and for the first time, Amanda was terrified, not just of the whispers, not of Tessa or even Skylar but of herself.