Alone With The Beta

The clock struck twelve, its chimes reverberating through the eerily silent mansion. In my hand, my phone displayed Lana's text in all caps, and it was doing no good, really. My heart was thumping so fast, that I felt hot blood run through my veins.

Here I was – a certified midnight renegade, sneaking out to meet a guy with the air of a grumpy Byronic hero who knew how to make unsettling eye contact way too well.

Tiptoeing down the hallway, I felt like a mischievous sprite on an unauthorized midnight adventure. Every creak of the floorboards sounded like an electrochemical horn, announcing my traitorous steps.

“Okay, Nimue," I muttered to myself, clutching the railing for my dear life. Every muscle in my body felt like it was vibrating at a high frequency. "This is a terrible idea. A TERRIBLE idea!"

"Nonsense!" boomed Umbra in my head. "This is a golden opportunity! Embrace the mystery, girl! Who knows maybe this Beta will turn out to be your own Mr. Darcy?”

Luna, ever the voice o