Chapter 17: The Frozen Momen

Elena’s POV

The ride home from school felt heavy and quiet. Daniel kept looking at the empty corner of the classroom. I had told him I was only stressed, but his face showed he did not believe me.

When we reached the house, the warm smell of Grandma’s cooking filled the air. I dropped my bag and tried to walk past Liam. Suddenly, his strong hand caught my wrist and stopped me.

I turned around. “What?”

He put his hand on my forehead and then touched his own. “You don't have a fever,” he said.

“Fever?” I asked, feeling confused.

“You have been acting very strange. Are you sick?” He stared at me with his hazel eyes. I wondered why I had never noticed how beautiful they were before.

“Well, it is not like you ever act normal,” he added in a calm voice.

His words made me angry. If it was not for him, I would not be here pretending to be human. My wings and my full power were gone. But earlier, I had felt his pain as if it was my own. Maybe I still had some power left. Maybe the black book could help me go back home.

I did not realize I was still staring at him until his eyebrows pulled together. His gaze was deep and hard to read. My heart started beating very fast.

“You two, why are you still standing there?”

Grandma called from the kitchen.

She gave some delivery orders to Liam and then looked at me with a smile. “Wait for him.”

I did not want to wait. I couldn't let Liam go out alone. What if something bad happened to him again and I couldn't save him?

“You can’t,” Liam said sharply, like he’d heard the thought.

I blinked. “Why not? It’s late. I’m not letting you go by yourself.”

The air between us went dead quiet. Only the frantic drum of my pulse filled the space.

Grandma chuckled. “Liam, if the girl wants to ride with you, let her. Don’t be difficult.”

Before he could argue, I darted to his side and swung my leg over the bike. He hauled me back by the waist, strong and effortless, then shoved a helmet into my chest.

“Safety first, princess.”

The city blurred past in streaks of neon and shadow. I wrapped my arms around his waist, feeling the steady thunder of his heartbeat through his jacket. For a few precious minutes we talked about nothing. Stupid stuff, safe stuff, trying to pretend the tension wasn’t crackling like electricity between us.

Then everything changed.

We approached the busy intersection when a monstrous black motorbike shot out from a side street, blowing through the red light like it owned the night. Its engine screamed like a demon. Liam’s body went rigid with terror. The bike was seconds from smashing into us, metal glinting, death inches away.

I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for impact.

Silence.

Absolute, ringing silence.

When I opened my eyes, the world had frozen mid-breath. Cars hung suspended, tires frozen above the asphalt. Pedestrians were statues caught mid-step. Even the deadly bike hovered, wheels inches from Liam’s leg, its roar cut off like a severed cord.

Liam was frozen too—eyes wide, knuckles white on the handlebars.

Only I could move.

My breath came out in shaky clouds. What the hell is this?

A girl with long, shimmering silver-black hair glided through the paralyzed traffic like a dream. Her footsteps made no sound. She moved with inhuman grace, power radiating off her in invisible waves. She glanced at the hovering death bike, placed one delicate hand on its frame, and pushed. The heavy machine slid several feet sideways as if it weighed nothing.

She turned toward me, and our eyes met.

Ancient recognition slammed into me like lightning. That smile… I knew that smile from somewhere I couldn’t remember.

The world snapped back into motion with a deafening roar. The black bike streaked past harmlessly into the space she’d cleared. Liam swerved hard, breathing ragged.

His hand shot back, grabbing my thigh. “Elena! Are you okay? Talk to me!”

But I was already twisting around, searching the street.

She was gone. Vanished like smoke.

What are you? My mind screamed. You’re not human. Not even close.

“What happened back there?” Liam asked. He stopped the bike at the side of the road and held my shoulders. “You look like you saw a ghost. You are shaking.”

I couldn't tell him the truth. I shook my head and said, “The motorbike scared me. It was a close call.”

He did not fully believe me, but he said nothing more. We finished the deliveries in silence. All I could think about was that mysterious girl’s smile.

The next morning in class, students were busy talking and moving around. I sat with Daniel and started explaining a hard math problem to him. He looked at me with big surprised eyes.

“How do you know all this?” he whispered. “The teacher has not taught it yet.”

Daniel had been acting strange lately. He watched me too closely and asked many questions. Today, he suddenly asked me to explain the math problems step by step. I pretended not to notice his suspicious looks and kept my voice calm.

“I have a very good memory,” I replied with a small smile. “Liam has also been teaching me at home in the evenings. He is really smart with numbers.”

I could feel Daniel’s eyes on me the whole time. He stared hard, like he was trying to read my thoughts. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to ask something more, but he stayed quiet.

Just then, the classroom door opened. The teacher walked in with a new female student behind her. The girl wore dark sunglasses that covered half her face.

“Class, please welcome our new student,” the teacher said.

The girl took off her sunglasses slowly. My heart almost stopped. It was her,  the same girl from yesterday on the street! The one who froze time and moved the motorbike like a toy.

She had long shining hair and a bright smile on her face.

She waved gently at the whole class, looking friendly and calm, but her eyes found me immediately.

“Nice to meet you all. My name is Seraphina,” she said in a soft, musical voice.

I jumped up from my chair without thinking. “You!” I shouted and pointed my finger straight at her.