Chapter 20: New character

Damien! Does anyone know who Damien is?!”

The loud voice echoed through the crowded school hallway. Lyra froze, spinning toward the sound. A girl with dark hair and sharp eyes was waving frantically, pushing through students.

Lyra’s heart skipped a beat. “Who… who is she?” she muttered under her breath.

The girl’s gaze locked on Lyra. “Excuse me! I’m looking for Damien! Where is he?

Lyra narrowed her eyes and pushed through the crowd toward her. “Hey! Wait a second! Why are you asking for Damien?” she called, jogging to catch up.

The girl stopped, panting slightly, her braid swinging. Her sharp eyes studied Lyra. “My name is Lydia. I...i know how to cure the Devil Flu. Damien… he needs help.”

Lyra blinked, surprised. “You… you don’t know him, right? Then how do you know he has the Devil Flu?”

Lydia’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m a wolf witch, they call me lycaon. I've studied it, tracked it and I got to know the true Alpha is in trouble. Damien… he’s infected, and if we don’t do something fast, he could die.”

Lyra’s heart pounded. She thought of Damien lying weakly with Maya in the abandoned house. “He’s… with Maya, you need to come with me. She’ll know what to do.”

Lydia nodded, urgency in her eyes. “Yes, we have to go now every minute counts.”

Lyra glanced around. “Jack would be freaking out if he knew but we can’t waste time. Let’s move.”

The two girls ran through the hallways, weaving between students. Some stared, some were confused, as Lyra pulled Lydia along. “Hurry!” she called. “He’s very sick!”

Finally, they reached Maya’s old abandoned house. Lyra unlocked the door and rushed inside, Lydia close behind.

The room was quiet.

Lyra’s scanned the room as she looked around. Maya was lying on the floor, pale and trembling, her chest was marked with black, spreading shadows. Her breathing was shallow, she looked weak.

They arrived at Maya's place.

Maya!” Lyra shouted, rushing to her inside. “Damien! Are you....?”

Lydia stepped closer, her eyes scanning both Damien and Maya, who was trembling. “its getting worse, I can feel it. The Devil Flu… it’s getting stronger.”

Maya coughed violently, blood staining her lips. “Lyra… you brought her…here?” she asked, voice weak.

Lyra nodded. “She says she can help Damien. But Maya… you’re sick too.”

Maya groaned, her hand fluttering weakly toward Damien. “Yes… I… caught it too… it spreads fast…”

Lydia’s face hardened. “Then we don’t have much time. I can try to cure him, but this stage… it’s dangerous.”

Lyra’s hands shook slightly as she supported Maya. “We have to try. Damien can’t die, we won’t let him.”

Maya coughed again violently, clutching her chest. “Lydia… the book… the antidote… you…”

Lydia shook her head. “It might work… if I can get to him in time but Maya, you’re already too far gone. I’m afraid it’s too late for you.”

Lyra’s stomach dropped. “No… it can’t be! We have to save both of them!”

Maya’s voice was weak but calm. “Lyra… Damien first. You save him… I’ll hold on as long as I can.”

Lyra glanced at Lydia. “Then… what do we do?”

Lydia pulled a small pouch from her bag. “This is the antidote I prepared, Damien needs it now.” She looked at Lyra. “You’ll need to help me. Hold him steady.”

Lyra’s hands shook, but she nodded. “I can do that, let’s save him.”

Maya’s trembling hand reached toward Damien, who lay slouched on the floor, pale and weak. His golden eyes flickered faintly, dimmed by the illness. “I… I don’t… feel… right…” he whispered.

Lyra gripped his shoulder. “Hold on, Damien! We’re here, you can fight this!”

Jack wasn’t there, but his voice echoed in her mind, telling her to stay strong. She knelt beside Damien, holding him steady as Lydia carefully opened the pouch and prepared the antidote.

Damien’s body shivered violently. “I… I… can’t…”

“Just let it work,” Lydia said firmly. “It will fight the flu inside you. Just stay still.”

Lyra pressed a hand against his forehead, keeping him steady. “Breathe… just breathe…”

Lydia lifted the mixture and poured it into Damien’s mouth. He coughed at first, splattering blood then swallowed. His body trembled, the black mark on his chest pulsing and flickering.

Maya groaned from the floor. “Hurry… hurry… don’t waste time…”

Lyra’s hands shook, gripping Damien’s arm tightly. “Stay awake… you have to fight… please, Damien…”

Damien’s golden eyes flickered, and the black mark seemed to thin slightly. “I… I think… it’s working…” he whispered, his voice weak but hopeful.

But Lydia’s face darkened. She turned to Maya, who was shivering violently, her black mark spreading faster. “It’s too late for her,” she said quietly.

Lyra’s heart sank. “No… Maya can’t… we can’t lose her too!”

Maya coughed again, blood streaking her lips. “Lydia… too late… I… I can’t…”

Damien tried to lift his head, panic in his eyes. “No… not her too…”

Lydia’s expression softened, but her eyes remained serious. “I can only save one at a time. Damien… he’s your priority but Maya… the flu is too strong.”

Lyra frowned."What do you mean, Damien got the flu first."

" Damien is the true Alpha, Maya is a beta. She'll die from a disease before Damien, her body is weak."

Lyra pressed her lips together, trying not to cry. “Its not working... Lydia. ”

"I.. I don't know, I tried, I thought it was the cure , I don't think this is an ordinary flu." Lydia stammered.

Tears rolled down Lyra's eyes. " Why if tis happening, I wish I never knew about this life."

Maya smiled." It's a test Lyra and you all have to take it together, as a pack."

Damien shuddered violently, coughing again. Blood splattered on the floor. His body trembled, his golden eyes barely glowing.

Lydia whispered, her voice low and grim. “Don't tell me it's too ....late.”

The room went silent except for their heavy breathing and Damien’s shallow coughs.