Page 12 of Missing

"Sounds... hot," I quipped, earning a giggle from her that felt like a splash of colour on a drab canvas. She had this warmth about her, the kind that made you want to lean in closer, even when you've spent a lifetime building walls.

"Come on, Harper. Let's see what you're made of," she teased, leading the way with a bounce in her step that made her seem almost weightless.

"Lead the way, Melody," I said. There was no turning back now.

The chill from the morning air nipped at my skin as we crossed the courtyard, our footsteps echoing like a drumbeat.

"Melody, if you don't mind me prying," I began, casting a sidelong glance at her, "What's your power? You know, besides being supernaturally chipper?"

Her steps faltered for a heartbeat, and when she looked at me, there was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes – or maybe it was a caution. "Around here, asking about powers is kinda taboo," she said, her voice lowering as if sharing a secret. "But since you're new, I'll let it slide. I've got firepower, healing, and... mimicking."

"Mimicking?" I echoed, my curiosity piqued. The word lingered between us, ripe with possibilities.

"Yep. I can mirror any power I come across and throw it right back." Melody's lips twisted into a wry smile as she tucked a stray lock of blonde hair behind her ear. "Kinda like having an arsenal at my fingertips. But it’s not all it’s cracked up to be."

"Sounds badass," I said, but even as the words left my mouth, I noticed the shadows that played across her face, the way her shoulders tensed ever so slightly. It was as if this gift of hers was a double-edged sword, one that cut her off from the rest as effectively as it sliced through her enemies.

"Sure, until people realize you can turn their own tricks against them." The bitterness in her tone was subtle, but it stung like a slap to the face. "Let's just say, it doesn't win you many friends around here."

I watched her then, really saw her – this girl who could wield fire and mend flesh, who held the power to echo the very essence of others. And yet, she walked beside me, her presence a quiet testament to the solitude she endured. How ironic, that someone who could harness the abilities of those around her was left standing alone.

"Fuck 'em," I muttered under my breath. Melody glanced at me, surprise etched on her delicate features, and I shrugged. "Their loss, right?"

"Right," she agreed, her smile returning, though now it seemed tinged with something akin to gratitude – or was it relief?

"Melody," I said, my voice slicing through the residual tension, "I don't give a rat's ass about what people think, plus you're my friend now"

"Friend?" Her eyes sparked, not with her innate fire, but with a hope that seemed almost out of place on her.

"Yeah, friends." I extended my pinkie toward her, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "Come on, let's make it official. Old school style."

She looped her pinkie with mine, the gesture so earnest it nearly knocked the breath from my lungs. "Pinkie swear," she echoed, the corners of her mouth lifting into a genuine smile.

"Swear it," I affirmed, tightening the bond between our fingers for a moment before we released each other, stepping into the thrumming energy of the class building.

"Ready to set the world on fire?" I teased, nudging her with my elbow.

"Always," Melody shot back, and there was laughter in her voice, the sound cutting through the suffocating weight of solitude that had cloaked her moments ago.

"Let’s burn it up then," I said, feeling the first real flicker of excitement since I'd crossed into this realm of magic and madness.

Chapter 12

Harper Hillstrom

Stepping into the room, my breath snagged on something like awe or maybe just surprise. The space vaulted upward, the ceilings stretching high enough to cradle the sky itself. One entire wall had been sacrificed for a panoramic view, an open invitation to the outside world. Beyond that gaping maw, the harbour sprawled behind the school—a canvas of blues and greys, where white-tipped waves kissed the docks with the tender ferocity of a lover's quarrel.

"Damn," I muttered under my breath, the word slipping out in reverence. It felt like standing inside the ribcage of some ancient leviathan, gazing out at the sea it once ruled.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Melody's voice was a soft accompaniment to the scene as if she were afraid to disturb the serenity.

I nodded, unable to peel my gaze away from the ocean. The desire to explore, to own this new part of my life surged within me. "Hey, Mel," I said, tearing my eyes from the view to glance at her, "do you know if there's a map or something? I want to run the perimeter in the mornings, and get to know the place."

"Sure thing." She fished around in her bag, the action so inherently Melody—always prepared to lend a hand. "Here." She handed me a folded piece of paper, corners worn from use. "I highlighted the best routes that I take for a walk. The sunrise by the harbour is worth waking up early for."

"Thanks." I unfolded the map, tracing the paths with my finger. I needed this, the freedom to lose myself before daybreak, before the chaos of learning how to navigate this supernatural world set in. It was a lot, but like everything else life threw at me, I'd tackle it head-on.

"Careful though," Melody added with a twinkle in her eye. "You might get more of a workout than you bargained for. Some of those hills are brutal."

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