“I’m sorry for your loss.”

“T-they can’t be that bad, right?” Fox shrugged, his attention on his current origami collection. He’d made a variety of different animals, with the one in his hand being the start of a dog.

Our assignment was already done. The second time around, the concepts were finally starting to click. Fox still had to help me, though. “Some places become poison. Some places attract poison. Some people ingest it like it’s water.”

“So they make each other worse.”

“A cycle unending.” He set the paper dog down, adding to the group of creatures on his desk. “What should I make next?”

“…A fox.” I ducked away as he jokingly swatted at me. A laugh bubbled from my mouth despite myself. When I looked back, I caught a flicker of relief flash through Fox’s face. The twist in my gut was back. Even Fox had been worrying about me.

He took out more sheets of origami paper, and I knew he was making a fox despite his play at annoyance. He focused on the task at hand, “They meet every Tuesday right? Are you going to make a plan for tomorrow then?”

“I’m not sure? I was thinking…since Abigail is going to be there I won’t really need to say much.” I also was still avoiding the start point of the story. Going to the club would really be toeing the line between standing still and tipping over the edge.

Fox tilted his head, “Can you really avoid it, I wonder…”

“S-so I…shouldn’t go at all?”

“The story will start regardless. Perhaps it’ll be better to see the start of it with support than to have it suddenly forced on you. Especially when those that play a major role this time won’t be as kind.”

He stilled. I swallowed, ignoring the growing anxiety spilling into my chest, “H-hey, I told you I don’t want you to tell me anything you shouldn’t. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Fox didn’t look convinced. His fingers tapped against the table, origami half-finished. His head turned, attention shifted away from me. Lost in thought. I kept my gaze on him, even as my own thoughts wandered. This was the first time I’d seen him express concern or worry. Despite his help last time, he’d appeared largely unbothered the whole way through.

All I could do was keep my guard up.

//

“So um, were you really thinking about going? To the club thing tomorrow?” Abigail shrugged at my question, and Nia quirked an eyebrow like this was the first time she was hearing about it. It probably was. We hadn’t talked about it at lunch today.

“Club?”

“The Literature Club. One of my friends wants me to stop by but it’s not really my scene.” Abigail picked at her array of bracelets along her wrists. “But yeah, I guess. It’ll be a one time thing just because I was asked to.”

“How generous. Abigail Rose being considerate.” Abigail bumped her shoulder against Nia’s. She only laughed it off, the attack not even moving her.

I leaned against the gate pillar, scanning the students as they walked out. It’d become a habit the past week. Although I’m sure they noticed, they hadn’t made a comment about it. Abigail probably associated it with this mysterious thing I wasn’t telling her about.

With a half pout, Abigail folded her arms across her chest, “I’m totally considerate. Don’t I always have the best intentions, Cinder?”

“Hmm, when it comes to us you do.” Nia nodded as I spoke.

“Sure, but when it comes to everyone else you’re seconds away from tearing them down as needed. Like, is anyone else besides us really your friend?”

Abigail pulled a face, “Does it matter? I’m here for you guys, so who cares about anyone else?”

Me and Nia shared a look, but dropped the topic. Instead, I circled back around to what I’d originally brought up, “A-anyways, could I…tag along? If you decide to go?”

“Seriously?” With wide eyes Abigail leaned towards me. “You never have any interest in clubs or anything. Why so curious now?”

“N-no reason. I don’t have any interest in joining, especially with everything I’ve heard about them but…”

“Curiosity killed the cat.” Nia placed a hand on my shoulder, her voice pitched low. “That place has the messiest people you can imagine.”

I scooted away from her hand and straightened my back, “I know and that’s why I want to go if Abigail goes! I don’t think I can do much to help but…if things get messy I can try to help out. Especially if that creep is going to be there.”

When I leveled my gaze at Abigail, there was a complicated expression on her face. I wondered if my voice shook despite my best attempt at keeping it even or if something in my face gave away my endless negative emotions.

We stared at each for a minute, the silence between us muting everything else. After a moment, she shrugged, “I can handle myself just fine, but it’s sweet of you to play backup. I’ll meet you at your locker tomorrow instead.”

“I can’t believe you’re actually going…” Nia shook her head, and whatever look Abigail had before gave way to a grin.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“It’ll just be a break from our usual routine. Right Cinder?”

“Y-yeah…”

“Whatever you say.”

By now, most of the crowd had slipped away. Me and Abigail waved our goodbyes to Nia, the disbelief never fleeing from her face. I turned on my heel and started walking, only for Abigail to pick up the conversation.

“You don’t need to worry about me.”

I blinked, “O-oh? We’re best friends, that’s normal isn’t it?”

She kept toying with her bracelets, staring straight ahead. I kept step beside her, trying to fish out what she was feeling, “You’re as sweet as ever, but you don’t ever need to put yourself in harms way for me, ok?”

If Abigail knew what I’d done, how would she react? I couldn’t look at her any longer, and instead I mirrored her and stared straight ahead. Our neighborhood wasn’t far, and the section of retail stores were starting to ebb away. The trees were still in the distance, and few cars were on the road. I never noticed how quiet it could be.

“…I want to.”

She finally turned towards me, “Cinder—”

“A-and besides! It’s not fair to say I can’t worry about you. We worry about each other or we don’t. It shouldn’t go one way.” As I spoke, it occurred to me that what I’d felt back then had been frustration. When Abigail was bruised and refused to confide in me, I’d thought my driving motivation had been worry and worry alone. But as my voice caught, I knew it to be so much more.

“I feel like you’ve changed somehow.”

“I-I have?”

“When I wasn’t looking, maybe.” She smiled, but it was weighed down at the corners. I had no response. I still felt how I always did. Anxious and afraid and never reaching for what I want. I wondered what she saw in me, and I was scared to see it, too.

//

Something woke me up. I jerked, adrenaline shooting through my veins killing any chance of grogginess. In the dark, I scanned my room and strained my ears for any hints of noise. There was nothing. The house was quiet. The outside was quiet. I slid to my feet.

My clock read it was after three in the morning. A mild chill encased me as I got out of bed. As my brain caught up to the moment, it finally registered what had punched me awake. Magic.

It was a horrible idea to leave the house at this time of night. I did my best to focus, afraid I’d know who it was. There was only one person who I knew it could be. With my heart in my throat, I forced myself to sit back down.

I needed to help him.

With my phone to my ear and my shoes hazardously thrown on, I tiptoed to the front room and slipped out the door. After a few rings, a voice answered on the other side.

Fox barely sounded alive, “You’re calling way too early on a school night.”

“…It’s Kade.”

“I figured you were one to make terrible decisions on other people’s behalf, but this is extra bad.” I heard the sound of rustling, like he was getting up as well. “You shouldn’t do anything.”

“Even if something is wrong?” My voice frayed at the end, the heavy blue of his magic seeping into the world around me. I knew where he was, all I had to do was follow the choking feeling.

Fox said, “I’ll be there in five.”

“Y-you know where I live?”

“The Headmaster has everyone’s records.” He hung up before I could voice any further concern.

I sat on the edge of the sidewalk, air not cold enough to show my breaths, but enough to sting my lungs. At some point, the heavy blue eased away. The faint tinge of magic remained. A desperation was clawing in my chest with each second that passed by.

Just as my nerves were ready to overpower me, I heard, “That’s Kade’s magic for sure.”

As I jumped to my feet, I turned to see Fox’s form illuminated in an orange haze. It was hard to make out his features, and for a second I even wondered if it was him. He was out of uniform, in sweats and a T-shirt. The print was faded, but even in the dark I noticed it was superhero related. He wasn’t looking at me, head turned towards the source of magic.

“Y-you scared me—”

Sorry, bad habit.” I wondered how it’d become such, but he went on. “You’re going to be anxious until you see what’s wrong, right?”

I slowly nodded, “I know I’m not supposed to but…”

His eyes reflected the lights too well. I didn’t notice until he finally directed his attention towards me. I thought he hadn’t felt real before, but tonight was like I was staring at something otherworldly.

“There’s nothing more you can do for him.” He spoke like he was with the Headmaster. “Do you still want to go?”

“…I do.”

“I can’t let him see you. Take my hand.” Embarrassment stabbed me. I held Abigail’s hand all the time and she’d cuss out anyone who said anything about it. It was a normal thing with Nia, too, when we were younger. But with such a flat expression, Fox looked like he was making sure I wouldn’t run.

It took everything I had to do so. A flare of his magic shot out and wrapped around the both of us. His grip was feather light. If I wasn’t hyperaware of my surroundings, I might not have even noticed. The ice blue of his magic coasted over his eyes, and his expression was once more what I knew it as.

“Come on. Before they notice what we’re doing.”

“They—?” He tugged at my hand, grip firmer and I stumbled towards him. The street blinked away and we were at the edge of the woods. I almost collapsed at the sudden uneven ground. If it wasn’t for Fox’s grip I would have fallen flat on my face. “H-hey.”

Fox only nodded, “Look.”

I did.

Kade was crying. His breaths were labored, each one weighted. He was crouched, his hands over his face avoiding looking at the one beside him. I couldn’t focus on Kade when Wells was there.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry—” His words were barely audible.

It was too dark to see Wells’ face, but his voice was as monotone as always, “It’s ok. You controlled it.”

“You didn’t have to come—”

“I’m glad you didn’t end up waking my parents with that phone call.”

“Sorry.”

This was a private moment. But despite the tears, I felt my entire body relax. I turned away from them and towards Fox. He’d never looked at the two, the entire time he’d been waiting for my reaction.

I swallowed, “I have nothing to do with them anymore.”

Fox lowered his head, face unreadable, “Yeah, you don’t.”

“I didn’t mean to bother you. I’ll head home.” When I blinked I was back on the sidewalk. Fox’s hand let go from mine and the magic encasing us was gone in an instant. Chill sliced into my palm, and I rubbed it against my side to detract from the sensation.

“…Spillover.”

“What?”

“What I was talking about before. How everything matters, even if things get reset. It’s what you saw. The consequences of your choices can’t be completely washed away, so something remains. Kade is trying to control his magic because you planted the idea in his soul that it’s possible.”

I was seconds away from crying about this once more, “…I’m glad.”

“Go to sleep. You have an important meeting tomorrow, right?” For one closure, there was another opening. Even if I was still hesitant to pursue it, I nodded. Fox’s expression didn’t change. “Remember the sword.”

I tensed, but Fox vanished after those words. I lingered on the sidewalk, before hurrying back inside. Once I was safely in my room, I reached for the journal. Inside, I’d tucked away the sword Fox had made. It didn’t offer any comfort.

Questions circled in my head, and if there was anything I could tell, it was that this was going to be a bumpy ride. I was desperate not to get caught up in it, knowing I didn’t have a choice.