Analise's POV

Red.

Red was the only thing I could see. On the walls, on the bed, on the floor, on the ceiling, the table, the chairs, the broken windows. Everywhere! It painted every inch of every surface. Bile rose up my throat looking at the lifeless, dismembered bodies on the floor, all in a pool of blood. Looking around the room, my eyes fell on a small figure huddled in a corner.

She had her knees pulled in with her arms around them as she hugged them closer to her. Her face was buried in her arms, shielding her from her gruesome surrounding. Her messy hair cascaded down as she shook slightly. I gasped as she lifted her face, looking at her surrounding.

The girl was me. Years younger with a round face, gentle features, cheeks tainted with blood and red, puffy, stained eyes. I could not believe my eyes. 'It is impossible' I chanted in my head, eyes fixed on her.

Slowly, one by one, the dead bodies moved. At first, one lifted his head, then another moved his hand and another his feet. Together, they all got on their feet and the sounds of their bones cracking reached my ears along with their snarls. 'No' I whimpered, my voice shaky. In a matter of seconds, they were all up forming a barrier between me and my younger self.

I moved around, getting a better view. All of them moved simultaneously toward the same point- younger me. Panic settled in as I watched. She stayed rooted to her space, staring at bodies moving in her direction. I screamed for her to get up, to get out, to run, to shout for help, to defend herself but it all fell on deaf ears.

Not knowing what to do, I threw myself between her and the monsters walking toward her. I tried pushing them away with my magic but it did not work. My magic was not working. Looking around frantically, I tried to grab a vase but my hands passed right through it. I was helpless. I could not do anything.

Before I knew it, they were in front of me and on instinct I shielded myself with my hands. They walked right through me. I was invisible to them. They could not hurt me and I could do nothing to protect the younger me. Turning around, a gasp left my mouth as I saw one lift his sword  before bringing it down on her. The last thing I remember is screaming before everything turned black and I fell in an endless abyss.

I jolted awake screaming. My breathing came out ragged as my body shook slightly from the horror. My hair stuck to my forehead due to the sweat and my hands fisted the blanket tightly. Scrambling on the bed, I turned on the table lamp. Looking at the clock, it was still 5 a.m. A sob escaped my mouth as I hugged my knees close to me. 'It was just a nightmare' I reassured myself. My heart still pounded in my chest as I got my breathing back to normal though the tears kept falling. At times like this, I am thankful for not having a roommate. I stayed in the same position for the next few few minutes before my breathing was stable again.

Not later, it was time to get ready for school. Throwing the covers off me, I got out of bed and got ready for yet another day at school. Once ready, I grabbed my phone, not bothering to take my bag since we were free this week, and went to meet up with Evelyne at the school cafeteria for breakfast.

"So, did you decide yet?" Evelyne asked as I took a bite of my food. I just shook my head, not having the strength to talk. She sighed but did not push me any further. The rest of breakfast went by quickly as we engaged in small, light talks, ignoring the elephant in the room. "You want to accompany me to the mall to search for a dress?" Evelyne suggested as we exited the cafeteria.

"I-" My sentence was cut off by the headmaster's voice resonating in the entire school. "Analise Royal is needed at the office please." I felt several pairs of eyes settle on me while I just frowned in confusion.

"Did you get into trouble without me?" Evelyne asked.

"I guess we will find out soon." I shrugged

"Go ahead. I will meet you in your room in a while." Evelyne said as she ushered me forward.

"What about the mall?" I asked. "You are more important than a dress Ana." She rolled her eyes.

I laughed and made my way toward the headmaster's office, feeling nervous as the other students' gazes were fixed on me in the hallways. As I approached the office, I saw Miss Jennifer- the receptionist- looking stressed as always and typing furiously on the computer. Miss Jennifer was a beautiful woman in her early forties with black hair, hazel eyes, round face, button nose and full lips.

"Good morning Miss Jennifer." I greeted her with a smile.

She lifted her head and returned the smile. "Morning to you Analise. The headmaster is waiting for you. You can go in."

"Thank you." I walked towards the office door. Knocking twice, I twisted the handle and entered the room. As always the headmaster was sitting behind his big mahogany chair, several files displayed on the table as his glasses rested on the bridge of his nose.

"Good morning sir."

"Analise." He acknowledged my presence. "Please take a seat." He motioned the chairs in front of him. As I took my place, he adjusted his glasses and closed the files on his table, stacking them on one another.

The office was plain with basic wood furniture and two large, arch windows behind the headmaster's chair overlooking the courtyard and a large painting of the school's founder in the middle of the windows. On the other two sides of the room stood large shelves accommodating several books.

"Where are you with your speech for tomorrow?" He asked while he searched for something in his drawer.

"Great." I smiled even though I have yet to start it.

"Good." He closed the drawer and placed an envelope in front of me. "I believe this is for you. From your father." Upon hearing the last part, I was confused.

My family never tried contacting me. Let alone my father. What could he want from me?

I took the envelope in my hands and opened the seal, taking the piece of paper in my hands. I could not believe what I was reading. It was all too good to be true.

"Your father called us yesterday." The headmaster started and I put the letter back in the envelope. "He wants you back at the palace as you read in the letter. He informed us that a driver will be picking you up after your graduation tomorrow."

"Okay." I gave him a little smile and got up, leaving the office.

I was dumbfounded as I made my way to my room. They really wanted me back. Did they realise they were wrong and changed? Was I right?

'I would not hope for that much Lizzie.' Crescent, my wolf commented. 'What they did to you is unforgivable'

Life is all about second chances right?

'Don't get your hopes too high.'

Opening the door, I found Evelyne sprawled on my bed with her phone in her hands. As she realised I was back, she sat up straight. "So, what happened?" She asked, impatiently.

I walked to the bed and sat opposite her, giving her the envelope. I could not help but be nervous as she read the letter. "No way!" She exclaimed throwing the letter on the bed. "They do not get to choose if you are going to go back there or live on your own!" She said exasperated. "Who do they think they are to just send you away when they want and then call you back when they want? Do they take you for an object?"

"Evie." I tried to calm her down. "I am going back. I have decided." I said firmly.

"Ana." She sighed. "Are you sure about this? The option of going to my pack is still up."

"I have made my choice. I will go back. Hopefully, they changed." I fumbled with my fingers. "But if they have not, then I will leave again. For good. I will start a life in the human world. That's my decision."

"Fine." She said. "But, if they ever do anything to hurt you in the slightest way, you better get out of there. No more chances for those idiots."

"We'll see." I said vaguely

She pulled me into a hug. "Well, I guess that this is our last day together since you are not coming to my pack." I hugged her back. "Let's make the best out of this day." She said

"But first go get that dress of yours. You need to look your best tomorrow." I said as I pulled away. "Then we can have a girls' night tonight."

"Accompany me to the mall?"

"I have to meet up with someone. We'll have our girl's night for sure." I reassured her.

"Fine then. See you in a while." She hugged me one last time before getting up and leaving the room.

'What are we doing then?' Crescent asked as I got up from the bed.

"Meet up with someone like I said." I shove the letter in my bag and zipped it up. With my phone in hand, I made my way to the training hall.

As I neared the hall, I could already hear his voice resonating in the area. "Stop fighting like a baby. I have seen kids fight better than that!" He shouted at whoever was training

"Stop giving them a hard time. It's the last week of school." I said. Malcom turned around. Even in his late thirties he still looks like that night, if not better with his 6ft muscular body, square shoulders, firm jawline with a five o'clock shadow.

"Training is over!" He shouted and the worn-out students quickly scrambled away, taking all their belongings with them while Malcom laughed. "What are you doing here at this time, little fighter? Shouldn't you be with your friends spending your last day together?"

"Yeah, but I needed to tell you something first." I followed him as he went towards a nearby bench and go this bottle of water. "My parents called me back."

"So are you going back?" He asked, displeasure clearly written over his features. Along with Evelyne, he is the only person to know about what happened to my family.

"Yeah." I said quietly. "But if they did not change, I will return back." I added.

"You made your choice." He finally said after a moment of silence. He kept his bottle back on the bench. "I really hope things go as you want and that they changed. But, if you ever need anything and I am serious right now. No matter how big or how small your problem is, if you need help I will always be there to help you. Understood?"

"I know." I nodded. "I had something else to say too."

"Go ahead."

I cleared my throat. "I have never properly thanked you for everything you did for me."

"Ana-" I did not let him complete his sentence and continued. "If it was not for you that night, I would most probably be dead by now. Without your help all these years, I would not have control over my powers. I would not have met such wonderful people in my life." Tears welled up in my eyes. "Whether you accept it or not, you have been a father figure in my life and you will always have a special place in my heart. Even if I am leaving tomorrow, I won't ever forget you or what you have done." With a small smile, I extended my pinkie towards him. He let out a chuckle as he interlocked his finger with mine. "Promise." I added, my voice cracking at the end.

He pulled me in a hug. "Even without me, you would have made it this far. You are the daughter I wish I had and I will not forget you either." Before I started crying, I said, "Okay enough now. You are so sweaty!" He rolled his eyes as we pulled away and ruffled my hair.

"Will you be here tomorrow?" I asked.

"I have other work. I won't be here." He replied, disappointed

"I guess this is goodbye then." I sniffled. He just nodded in return. Sighing, I turned around to leave.

Only a few steps away he said, "Don't forget that you are a fighter Analise and you can do so much more than you know. And, this is not goodbye." I smiled at him and if I was not wrong, his eyes were glossy. Before I could confirm anything, he took his things and left the room through the other door.

'Let's hope for the best now' Crescent said as I made my way to prepare for our girls' night.