24

24
Mirella

Summer break was supposed to feel like freedom, but for me, it just felt empty

The first few days were fine—I slept in, caught up on manga, and spent way too much time scrolling on my phone—but after that, the boredom hit hard.

My mom and sister barely talked to me unless it was necessary, and when they did, their voices were clipped, cold.

I’d stopped trying to win them over. I was tired of explaining myself to people who’d already made up their minds.

Most days, I stayed in my room, messaging the group chat. It wasn’t the same without everyone around.

Yuki was in Japan visiting her grandparents, sending us photos of neon city lights and cherry blossom-themed desserts.

The stutterer had gotten a summer job at a bookstore.

Dante was spending every day at basketball practice, preparing for tryouts next semester.

That left Iris, who was just as bored as I was.

We hung out a few times—went for walks, watched movies, even made pancakes one morning—but it wasn’t like school.

Everything felt slower.

Too quiet.

Every once in a while, Kaelen texted me. Usually just photos from wherever he was—crowded markets in Italy, glowing streets in Paris, crystal-blue beaches in Greece.

He looked relaxed, happy in a way I’d never seen at school. Each time my phone buzzed with his name, I felt something warm spread in my chest.

I told myself it was just because I missed the chaos of school life, but deep down, I knew it was more than that.

One afternoon, I was halfway through a manga when my phone buzzed again—this time, a video call. I frowned when I saw his name. Kaelen never called.

I answered, and his face filled the screen. He was at a beach, sunlight reflecting off the water behind him. He looked tanned, his hair slightly messy from the wind. “Hey,” he said, smiling. “You look bored.”

“I am bored,” I admitted, laughing. “My summer’s been a whole lot of nothing.”

“Then come here,” he said.

I blinked. “What?”

He grinned. “Come to Italy. I’ll show you around. You could use a vacation.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Right. Let me just convince my mom to let me fly across the world to meet a boy.”

“So that’s a no?”

“That’s a very big no.”

“Shame,” he said, still smiling. “I was kidding. Mostly.”

The conversation drifted from there. We talked about stupid things—his favorite gelato flavor, my obsession with ramen, which anime had the best ending. It wasn’t deep, but it felt easy. For a whole hour, it felt like we were just two friends with nothing to prove, nothing to fight. When he finally said he had to go, I didn’t want to hang up.

After the call ended, I stared at my screen for a long time. My room felt quieter than ever. I missed school. I missed my group. I missed him.

I slapped my cheeks lightly. “Get it together, Mirella,” I muttered. “You’re not catching feelings for a Legion.”

But the truth was, I already had.

Two weeks before school started again, my phone buzzed late at night. I didn’t recognize the number. The message said:

“I’m back. And I’m coming for you.”

My heart froze. I read it again, hoping I was wrong. But no. Those words burned into my mind. There was only one person who would send something like that—the female Legion.

I thought Kaelen had taken care of it. I thought it was over.

My hands shook as I called him. He answered on the second ring, his voice alert even though it was late.
“Mirella? What’s wrong?”

I told him everything, reading the message word for word. He didn’t speak for a few seconds, and the silence made my stomach twist.

“Kaelen?”

“I’ll handle it,” he said finally. His voice was calm, but there was something underneath—tension. Maybe even fear.

“You said that last time,” I whispered. “And look what’s happening again.”

“I’ll handle it,” he repeated, firmer this time. “Just stay safe. Don’t go anywhere alone.”

After the call ended, I couldn’t sleep. Every sound outside made me jump. I kept checking my phone, half-expecting another message to appear.

By morning, my eyes burned from staying awake. And when my phone buzzed again, I almost dropped it. This time, it wasn’t words—it was a photo.

My house. Taken from the street.

My hands went cold. I ran downstairs and showed my mom. She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, but when we called the police, they said they couldn’t do anything without proof of a real threat. A message and a picture weren’t enough.

“Maybe it’s a prank,” my sister said. “You’ve been paranoid lately.”

I glared at her. “This isn’t a prank!”

“Then what do you want us to do?” she snapped. “We can’t hide forever, Mirella.”

I stormed out of the room before I said something I’d regret. I felt helpless. Angry. Terrified.

The first person I called was Dante. He answered immediately.
“What’s wrong?”

I told him everything—about the messages, the photo, the police brushing it off. Without hesitation, he said, “I’m coming over. Don’t go outside.”

An hour later, he showed up with his older brother, who looked serious enough to make anyone think twice. They parked across the street and stayed in the car, taking turns keeping watch.

That night was long. I lay in bed listening to every creak, every distant noise. Nothing happened, but my chest stayed tight, like I was waiting for something bad to crash through the window.

The next morning, Kaelen called. I picked up instantly.
“I’m coming back,” he said before I could speak. “I’m cutting my trip short.”

“What? No, Kaelen, you don’t have to—”

“I already booked my flight. I’ll be there in three days.”

“Three days?” I echoed, panic rising in my voice. “What if something happens before then?”

“Nothing will,” he said firmly. “Dante’s with you, right? You’ll be safe until I get there. Just—trust me.”

I wanted to argue, but I couldn’t. His voice had that same quiet authority it always did when he meant business.