Jason stood by the lockers, his demeanor uncharacteristically subdued. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by a strained expression that caught Elyra off guard. She paused, narrowing her eyes as he approached. "I need to talk to you," Jason said, his voice low, almost pleading.

Elyra instinctively stepped back, the memory of his constant taunts and the confrontation with Dain fresh in her mind. "What do you want?"

Jason exhaled shakily. "I want to apologize."

Her brows furrowed in disbelief. "Apologize? After everything you've done?"noveldrama

"I know I've been awful," he continued, his hands fidgeting nervously. "But I'm trying to change. Let me prove it to you. Just... meet me after school in the forest. Please."

Elyra hesitated, a flicker of unease settling in her chest. She didn't trust him, but the raw desperation in his voice made her pause. "Why should I believe you?"

"Because I need to make it right," Jason said, his eyes dropping to the floor.

Against her better judgment, Elyra nodded slowly. "Fine. But if this is a trick, you'll regret it."

That evening, Elyra and Dain trudged toward the forest, the fading sunlight casting long shadows across the trees.

"This is a bad idea," Dain muttered, his fiery orange eyes scanning the woods for any sign of danger.

"I couldn't just ignore him," Elyra replied, though her unease mirrored his.

"And yet you thought walking into a forest with Jason was the smart move," Dain snapped. "I'm not letting you do this alone."

When they reached the meeting spot, Jason was already there, pacing nervously.

"You came," he said, his voice wavering.

"Get to the point," Dain growled, stepping protectively in front of Elyra.

Before Jason could respond, the shadows around them deepened unnaturally, and a suffocating chill filled the air. From the darkness emerged the red-eyed woman, her presence dominating and menacing. "Well done, Jason," she purred, her crimson gaze locking onto Elyra and Dain.

Jason stiffened, the weight of her approval sending shivers down his spine. "I didn't think they'd actually come."

"Yet here they are," the woman replied smoothly, her voice honeyed and cruel. With a flick of her hand, dark tendrils of magic lashed out, binding Elyra and Dain where they stood. The shackles crackled with energy, suppressing their powers and locking them in place. Elyra struggled, her golden eyes wide with panic. "Jason! What are you doing?"

Jason looked away, his jaw tight.

"Finish it," the red-eyed woman commanded, extending a gleaming silver dagger toward him.