Chapter 47: New girl

"Where’s Damien?" Lyra asked for the tenth time that morning.

Jack didn’t answer. He sat on the bleachers, staring at his phone, scrolling through messages that still showed delivered but never read. The sun was bright, but the air around them felt heavy, almost too still.

"They’ve been gone two days now," Maya said quietly. She leaned against the railing, her eyes tired from staying up all night. "Both Damien and Cole. It’s like they vanished into thin air."

Lyra folded her arms. "Cole’s car is still in the parking lot. They didn’t run away."

"Then where are they?" Jack muttered.

No one answered. The whole school was buzzing with rumors, some said the two boys had been kidnapped, others whispered that they’d gone rogue. But the truth was, none of them knew what really happened.

The bell rang, echoing through the empty hallway. Maya sighed. "Let’s get to class. Maybe we’ll find something."

Lyra nodded, but her stomach twisted with worry. Something didn’t feel right.

The new girl came during lunch.

Everyone noticed her the moment she walked into the cafeteria. She was tall, with honey-blonde hair tied up in a messy braid, wearing a simple black hoodie and ripped jeans. Her eyes bright amber seemed to see everything, like she already knew where to sit, who to avoid, and who to talk to.

Jack nudged Lyra. "Who’s that?"

"No idea," Lyra whispered. "But she looks like trouble."

The girl carried her tray to the far corner and sat alone. Maya watched her closely. "New face," she said. "And she’s not on the student list. I checked this morning when the principal sent out the update."

Jack frowned. "So she just showed up?"

"Yeah," Maya said. "Like magic."

Lyra couldn’t stop looking. Something about the new girl felt off. The way she moved, smooth but too quiet. Her eyes flickered every time someone passed by, like she was studying them.

When the girl finally noticed Lyra staring, she smiled. It wasn’t a friendly smile, it was sharp, almost knowing.

Lyra quickly looked away.

After school, Maya, Jack, and Lyra gathered at the lockers.

"I think we should check the woods again," Lyra said. "That’s where we last saw Damien and Cole."

Jack sighed. "We already searched twice. There’s nothing there."

"Then what do you suggest we do, Jack? Just sit and wait?"

Before he could reply, someone spoke from behind them. "If you’re looking for Damien, I might know where he is."

They all turned. The new girl was standing there, hands in her hoodie pocket, her amber eyes gleaming.

Lyra frowned. "Who are you?"

"Name’s Skye," the girl said with a small smile. "I transferred here this morning. And I’ve seen the two boys you’re talking about."

Maya stepped forward. "Where?"

Skye looked around, lowering her voice. "Not far from the old railway. They were heading north, into the woods. Looked like they were running from something."

Jack’s eyes widened. "You’re serious?"

"Do I look like I’m joking?" Skye said, her tone calm but confident.

Maya narrowed her eyes. "How do you even know who Damien and Cole are? You’ve been here for one day."

Skye shrugged. "People talk. And I listen."

Lyra didn’t trust her. There was something about her presence that made the air around them feel charged, like static before lightning. "If you saw them, then why didn’t you help?"

Skye’s lips curved. "I did. That’s why they’re still alive."

Everyone went silent.

Jack finally asked, "What do you mean?"

Skye looked away. "You wouldn’t believe me if I told you."

"Try us," Maya said.

Skye hesitated, then shook her head. "It’s better if you see for yourself."

They followed her that evening. The woods behind the old railway were thick and cold. The trees looked darker than usual, their branches twisting like hands reaching for the sky.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Jack asked, holding his flashlight up.

Skye didn’t answer. She walked ahead confidently, her steps making no sound. Lyra noticed the way she moved again graceful, almost animal-like.

Suddenly, Skye stopped. "Here."

They looked around. Nothing but dirt and leaves.

"There’s nothing here," Jack said.

"Look closer," Skye replied softly.

Then she crouched and touched the ground. Her hand glowed faintly gold, and the dirt rippled like water. Maya gasped.

"What are you?" Lyra whispered.

Skye didn’t look up. "Someone who shouldn’t be here."

The ground shifted again, revealing faint footprints, two sets. One large, one smaller. Cole and Damien’s.

Maya knelt beside them. "They went north from here," she murmured.

Jack pointed ahead. "Then let’s go."

But Skye stood and blocked their way. "No. You can’t follow. They’re not safe. Neither are you."

Lyra frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Skye’s eyes glowed brighter, golden like a predator in the dark. "There’s something out there hunting them. Something older than your wolves, older than your magic. And if you go after them, it’ll find you too."

Jack stepped back. "What are you?"

Skye smiled faintly. "You’ll find out soon."

Then she turned, fading into the shadows like she was part of them. Within seconds, she was gone.

Lyra’s heart raced. "Did she just disappear?"

Maya swallowed hard. "No. She shifted."

Jack blinked. "Shifted? Into what?"

Maya looked at the ground again, where Skye had stood. There were no footprints left behind. Only faint claw marks.

Lyra whispered, "She’s not human."

Maya nodded slowly. "No. But if she saved Damien and Cole, we need her."

Jack ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, but how do you find someone who can turn invisible?"

No one answered. The forest was quiet again, except for the sound of wind in the trees.

Lyra looked up at the dark sky. "We’ll find her," she said softly. "And we’ll find them too."

But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Skye hadn’t told them everything. The way she’d said you wouldn’t believe me kept echoing in her mind.

Because if Skye really was a shapeshifter… then she wasn’t just here by accident.

And maybe just maybe, Damien and Cole’s disappearance had something to do with her arrival.

When they finally left the woods, Maya glanced back one last time. For a moment, she thought she saw two glowing eyes watching them from the trees.

They blinked once. Then disappeared.