ISADORA’S POV

Rage is not loud until it is.

The hallway smelled of bleach and copper, and dried blood was stuck under the tiles. I leaned against the dark wall by the boiler room door, hoping no one would see me. I could feel my palms getting sweaty inside Isaac’s leather gloves, which were too big. I was still trying to act like I belonged in someone else’s life.

My heart pounded against the wall as if it wanted to escape.

I was having trouble breathing, and I couldn’t think. I had to do it. This time, I wasn’t trying to escape; I was negotiating with others.

Are you sure we are in the right place? I heard one of the guys whispering behind me. His tone was low and impatient. Milo. He often acted as if he was too busy for what was happening.

"Yeah. The freak explained it to us. She said the room would be empty," Nyra said in a low voice. Her knife was ready in her hand, shining faintly as if it belonged to her.

"Better be. I’m not going to get cut up tonight," Milo said sharply.

A creak. A shadow shifted. I moved into the area where the light shone.

"It’s me."

They flinched. Milo laughed, and it was a sharp and nervous sound.

You’re not saying much for someone who wants things.

Isaac doesn’t ask for anything, I explained. He is known for making deals.

Dyren, the tallest of them, narrowed his eyes. He was part of the group who avoided the main halls, keeping to himself but still very smart. I enjoyed that. Dangerous men were good listeners.

You mentioned that you found out about Caio.

You want to get away from him. So, we do help each other out."

"Why now?"

I let the quiet last for a while. That was the nature of rebels. They didn’t rely on words very much. I didn’t either.

I know where he keeps his money so that I can take it. I am aware of who he is paying. I am aware of who will be next."

Nyra slightly raised her eyebrow. What is it that you want, mask boy?

"Protection. And silence. I am unknown to everyone. It remains the same."

Milo laughed and said, "You want loyalty from people who are traitors."

You’re all already in danger of getting burned. Let’s go ahead and use a bigger match.

There was a moment of silence. Dyren then smirked.

"You're insane."

"Probably."

He looked at the others. We’ll take one hit to see how it goes. One job. If he’s correct, we destroy everything. If not"

I interrupted, saying, "I’m gone."

Milo gave a shaky laugh. "Gone how? Like, gone-gone?"

Nyra said to herself, "Don’t ask questions that sound stupid."

We acted quickly. The idea was to break into the storage logs, locate the labels Caio used for money laundering, and send them anonymously to the headmaster. It was easy. It was quiet.

There’s always something happening around here.

Caio was there, waiting for me.

As soon as we entered the records wing, loud alarms went off in my ears.

"MOVE!"

I pushed a crate aside and pulled Dyren behind the closest vent shaft. Another boy stumbled and swore, and the sound of footsteps grew louder.

How did they find out? Nyra shouted and threw a smoke bomb at the same time.

Someone is a mole!" Milo shouted.

You think it could be one of us?"

"SHUT UP!"

I didn’t hesitate. I ran as fast as I could down the back corridor I’d studied last week. Smoke bombs appeared like ghosts in the air. I put my hand over my mouth and ran as fast as I could, my heart pounding inside me. Dyren grabbed my hand. We kept running until we reached the end of the hallway and crashed into the east supply closet.

The quiet inside was filled with fear.

We got too close. Too loud.

The air in the room was filled with our uneven and real breathing. The mask I was wearing was itchy. I felt pain in my lungs.

I whispered, "They knew."

"Yeah. They were told by someone."

The next time, I will go by myself.

He looked at me as if I had lost my mind. It’s possible I was. He didn’t try to convince me otherwise.

After I’d cleaned up and changed, I headed back to the dorms, trying to calm my mind. I was trying to forget how Dyren had looked at me as if he was starting to believe in ghosts.

It was then that I saw him once more.

Rafael.

He was on his way from the training wing, his shirt damp with sweat and his chest moving slowly with each breath. The moment our eyes met, he stopped walking. I could see a change in his expression.

He seemed to recognize me. But I am not like that. Just something.

"You alright?" he asked. He spoke in a quiet, measured way.

I felt my throat become dry. I nodded.

He looked down, and his brows came together. Almost confused. Almost hurting?

He said, "You remind me of someone."

I was unable to stop watching.

"Yeah?"

She would look at me with that same expression. She couldn’t beat me like a war she couldn’t win.

I took a deep breath. Perhaps she was correct after all.

He didn’t smile or laugh.

He moved closer to her. Just a little more than a few inches. Too close.

My heart skipped a beat.

You look like there’s a storm inside you. Just as she did."

I was unable to move. I gasped. I felt my hands trembling.

He walked by me without stopping. It was just a light touch. But his voice was barely audible as it reached my ear.

"Careful. Storms destroy."

I was shaking as I stood there. I feel my legs are not strong enough. My hands were so tight they felt like fists.

Why did I think he was looking at me? Like I was digging into my skin, he borrowed?

No. He had no way of knowing.

I didn’t move for a very long time.

That night, I found a note left under my dorm room door. The note was a tiny fragment, tightly folded.

He knows what you’re up to. A Friend

I looked at the words for so long that my eyes became blurry.

I ripped the letter into pieces.

Let them arrive.

Let Caio bring all the demons he has. Let Rafael cut me open and see what’s inside.

If this were the last time, I’d set the place on fire and go with it.

I closed the window with force.

Yet, the wind continued to roar.

What would happen if Rafael discovered my identity? What will I do when I can no longer run?

What occurs when the storm comes to an end?