Chapter 3 The Girl in the Tower

“Sharon?” Rowan’s voice sounded distant. Like I was underwater. My eyes stayed locked on the dark figure standing above the arena while panic clawed through every part of me.

It couldn’t be Skylar. It was impossible. I watched my sister disappear three years ago. I searched for her, cried for her, and even buried her in my mind a thousand times because believing she was alive hurt too much.

And yet, that silhouette, that posture, even the way the shadows moved around her like living smoke. I knew it. My body knew it.

The figure tilted her head slightly toward me. Then the arena barrier shattered completely.

A deafening boom exploded overhead as black energy crashed through the protective shield. Students screamed and scattered in every direction.

“MOVE!” Coach Mira shouted. Chaos erupted instantly.

Dark smoke poured into the stadium while professors threw defensive spells across the arena. Fire collided with shadow magic overhead, lighting the air with violent flashes.

Jaden grabbed my arm before the crowd could separate us. “Stay close.” I barely heard him.

My chest felt too tight to breathe properly. The figure above the arena lifted one hand slowly and every shadow in the stadium answered.

The darkness beneath the seats twisted upward like snakes. Students panicked, some tried to fight back with elemental magic, but their attacks vanished straight into the smoke.

“What is happening?!” Rowan yelled beside us. Nobody answered. Because nobody knew.

The figure finally spoke. Her voice echoed unnaturally across the arena. “Bring me the girl.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine. No. No no no. Jaden stiffened beside me. “Who is she talking about?” The shadows around my feet flickered violently. 

His eyes dropped instantly. Damn it.

The figure pointed directly toward me. “There you are,” she whispered. Everything inside me stopped. 

Students near us immediately backed away. Fear spread across their faces as they looked from the shadows around my shoes to the figure above the arena.

Whispers exploded instantly. “It’s her—” “She knows that girl—” “Who is she?!”

Coach Mira’s eyes locked onto me with sudden realization. My stomach dropped. This was very bad.

Jaden stepped slightly in front of me without hesitation. The movement shocked me almost as much as the attack itself.

The figure above laughed softly. “You cannot protect her forever, Captain.” His jaw tightened. “Who are you?”

The figure ignored him completely. Her gaze stayed fixed on me. “You shouldn’t have come here, Sharon.”

My blood ran cold. She knew my name.

Rowan looked between us nervously. “Okay, seriously, does anyone else feel like we skipped several chapters?”

Another wave of dark magic slammed into the arena. Students screamed again as parts of the upper structure cracked apart. Dust and stone rained downward.

Jaden reacted instantly. “DOWN!” He pulled me against him just as debris crashed where I’d been standing seconds earlier. The impact shook the ground hard enough to throw people off balance.

For one disorienting moment, I was pressed against Jaden’s chest while fire magic blazed around us protectively. Heat surrounded me. 

My curse quieted again. I stared up at him in shock. Why did his magic affect me like this?

Jaden looked down at me too. And suddenly, the noise around us faded. His golden eyes searched mine with dangerous intensity. Like he could feel the connection too.

Then Rowan ruined the moment completely. “If you two start flirting during a magical apocalypse, I’m leaving.”

Jaden released me immediately. Heat rushed into my face. Why was I embarrassed right now? People were literally screaming.

Coach Mira appeared beside us suddenly. “Captain, get the students underground.”

“What about the attacker?” Jaden asked.

The coach’s expression darkened. “The professors will handle it.” The explosion that answered her said otherwise. The entire western side of the arena erupted into black flames. Students surged toward the exits in panic.

Jaden cursed under his breath. “Rowan, take the lower division students to the shelter tunnels.”

Rowan nodded immediately. “What about Sharon?” 

“I’ll handle her.” I frowned. “Excuse me? I can handle myself.”

Jaden gave me a sharp look. “Can you?” Annoyingly… The shadows beneath my skin still felt unstable.

Coach Mira suddenly grabbed my chin hard enough to force me to meet her eyes. “What are you hiding?” My heart nearly stopped. “I don’t know what you mean.” “Don’t lie to me.” Before I could answer, another scream echoed overhead.

The figure on the tower had disappeared. My pulse spiked violently. “Where did she go?” Rowan whispered.

A horrible feeling crawled down my spine. The shadows behind us twisted suddenly. 

Jaden reacted first. “GET BACK!” He shoved me sideways just as a blade made entirely of black magic sliced through the air where my head had been.

The figure appeared directly behind us. Too fast. Up close, I could finally see her clearly beneath the hood. Pale skin, silver eyes glowing unnaturally, dark veins crawling across her throat, and despite the changes I knew her face instantly.

My breath shattered. “Skylar…” Her expression flickered. It was pain, recognition, then emptiness. “Run,” she whispered.

Before I could react, another presence dropped from above. A man dressed in black armor landed beside her with terrifying force. His eyes glowed crimson beneath his hood. Corruption magic radiated from him like poison. The air itself felt wrong around him.

He smiled when he saw me. “Well,” he said softly, “this is interesting.”

Jaden immediately stepped in front of me again, flames igniting around his fists. “Who are you?” The stranger’s smile widened. “Someone your kingdom should fear.”

Then his eyes shifted toward me. “And someone she already belongs to.” My stomach dropped. Skylar grabbed the man’s arm suddenly. “We need to leave.”

He looked irritated for half a second before sighing dramatically. “You’re no fun.”

Arena guards rushed toward us from across the stadium. Darkness exploded around the strangers like a storm.

Jaden reached for me instantly. But just before the shadows swallowed them completely, Skylar looked directly into my eyes. And mouthed three terrifying words.

He found me. Then she vanished.