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The chosen ( the hybrid) 11
*Ethan’s POVAfter the fight, Arden and I stopped talking. Not a single word passed between us—not even a glance. And honestly, I didn’t care. As long as he stayed away from Olivia, I had no problem with it. But staying away from Olivia wasn’t easy for *me*. I caught sight of her walking into the cafeteria with Lisa. That radiant smile of hers—it was like the sun breaking through storm clouds. It was the kind of smile that could stop time, but also one that could twist your insides into knots. She looked stunning in her school uniform, and for reasons I didn’t entirely understand, she stirred something inside me every time I saw her. I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to talk to her, to find a way into her life. When I greeted her, she looked at me, her smile softening as she responded. For a brief moment, I felt like I mattered. But then, her next words shattered that illusion. “Do you know where Arden is?” she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. My chest tightened.
Last Updated : 2025-02-11The chosen ( the hybrid) 12
The hallway felt like it was closing in as Olivia walked out of the classroom, her steps hurried and uneven. Behind her, Lisa trailed, tears streaking her face. Olivia’s eyes flicked toward me for a moment as they passed, but there was no recognition—just a hollow glance, like I was a stranger. Something was wrong.Seconds later, a commotion erupted from the room Olivia had just left. The sharp thud of fists against flesh and muffled shouting spilled into the hall. I rushed to the door and froze at the sight inside: Arden, my best friend, was pummeling Collins with an intensity I’d never seen before. Collins was trying to shield himself, but Arden’s fury was relentless.“Arden, stop!” someone screamed, but the words barely registered to him.My phone buzzed in my pocket, jolting me back. I pulled it out to silence the distraction, but what I saw on the screen made my stomach churn—a video. It was of Olivia and Arden. The angle was grainy, and the context twisted, but the implication
Last Updated : 2025-02-12The chosen ( the hybrid) 13
The clinic smelled of antiseptic and something faintly medicinal, but none of that mattered. Olivia was here, her hands tender as she dressed the wound on my arm. Her touch was soft, deliberate, but her focus was elsewhere. I could see it in her eyes—distant, distracted.And then I saw him.Arden.He was outside the clinic window, his face shadowed but unmistakable. His eyes weren’t on me; they were locked on Olivia. He didn’t know I’d seen him, but I could feel the weight of his gaze. Every small gesture Olivia made—every touch, every glance—stabbed at him like shards of glass. He stood there, motionless, watching us, his anguish palpable. But me? I reveled in it. For once, I had the upper hand. For once, I had the joy I wanted, even if it was a joy laced with bitterness.And then I kissed her.It was sudden, impulsive. Her lips were soft, but the shock in her eyes was sharper than any rejection. She didn’t kiss me back. She didn’t even hesitate. Olivia pushed me away, her expressio
Last Updated : 2025-02-12The chosen ( the hybrid) 14
Olivia’s POVWhen I reached my room that evening, a deep unease settled over me. The walls felt too close, the silence too loud. As much as I tried to reassure myself, the fear bubbling inside me was relentless. I didn’t want to be alone tonight. “Lisa, can you stay with me?” I asked softly, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice. She looked up from her phone, startled by the urgency in my tone, but she didn’t question it. “Of course,” she said, nodding. I couldn’t explain it, but for the past two days, something had been wrong. The bad dreams—no, the *nightmares*—had taken root in my mind, making sleep feel like a battleground. Each time I closed my eyes, I saw fragments of terror, disjointed and suffocating. Flames. Screams. And worst of all, my mother’s face, twisted into a cruel smile as she… set me ablaze. The memory of that dream alone made me shiver. *Why would I dream of Mom like that?* She was my safe place, my sanctuary. But now, even the thought of calling h
Last Updated : 2025-02-12The chosen ( the hybrid) 15
Olivia’s POVThe music room was alive with chatter as I walked in the next day. The piano keys clinked faintly in the background as someone played a lazy melody, and the faint hum of voices mixed with the rustling of sheet music. But amid all the noise, I could feel it—her gaze. Talia. She was watching me, the same way a predator watches its prey, with a smile that didn’t meet her eyes. She had been parading herself as the queen of music for weeks now, but I couldn’t figure out what I’d done to make her target me so viciously. The humiliation of yesterday was still fresh. The video—*that* video—had spread like wildfire. A video of me showing my nude to Arden . Someone wanted to see me broken. And now, here she was. “Olivia,” Talia called out, her voice sweet like honey laced with venom. I turned reluctantly, meeting her gaze as she sauntered toward me, a milkshake in her perfectly manicured hand. She smiled, the kind of smile that could light up a room if it weren’t so fak
Last Updated : 2025-02-13The chosen ( the hybrid) 16
Arden’s POVI never wanted to walk out on her. Every time I turned away, I felt like I was tearing a piece of myself apart. But I had to. For her safety. For her life. Olivia didn’t know the danger she was in just by being near me. She didn’t know the weight of the world I carried on my shoulders, the choices I had to make to keep her alive—even if it meant pushing her farther away. Laken’s ultimatum hung over me like a storm cloud. “Two weeks, Arden,” he had said, his voice like a blade slicing through the air. “Extract her core or introduce her to the pack. If you don’t, the Alpha Pack will take matters into their own hands.” Two weeks. Fourteen days to decide her fate. Extracting her core would strip Olivia of her powers, leaving her a hollow version of herself. It would break her spirit and possibly kill her. But introducing her to the Alpha Pack would be even worse. They didn’t see people—they saw weapons, threats, and tools for their own gain. Olivia, with her dorman
Last Updated : 2025-02-17The chosen ( the hybrid) 17.
Olivia's POVThe night bit at my skin with its icy claws, a cold so sharp it felt like it could carve away the thoughts spinning in my mind. But nothing could erase what Arden had said to me earlier—it replayed over and over, like a haunting melody I couldn’t shake. I was lying in bed, staring at the cracks in the ceiling, when I saw it—a shadow outside my window. For a moment, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, but no, I was certain. It was his silhouette. Arden. What the hell was he doing out there at this hour? Curiosity and unease bubbled in my chest as I sat up and grabbed my coat from the drawer. Whatever he was up to, I needed to know. I was set on following him, no matter what. But there was a problem: the dorm gates were locked at night. There was no way I could just stroll out the front door without getting stopped by the security guard on duty. I glanced toward the window. There was one way out—reckless, but doable. Quietly, I knotted together a couple
Last Updated : 2025-02-21The chosen ( the hybrid) 18.
What’s wrong with this place? I could have sworn there was no crossroad when I first entered the woods. But now, as I stood surrounded by towering trees and eerie silence, there it was—a crossroad, splitting the path into two. Both trails stretched into nothingness, swallowed by shadows and mist. “How is this possible?” I muttered, my voice trembling. I had been so sure of my direction, but now everything felt wrong. I turned in a slow, deliberate circle, trying to retrace my steps. “I just need to go back,” I said, more to myself than to anyone else. “I can still find my way out of here.” But as I turned back the way I came, a chill ran down my spine. The once-clear path was now engulfed in a thick fog, so dense I could barely see a few feet ahead. The air grew colder, biting against my skin, and the forest seemed to close in on me. “Don’t panic, Olivia,” I whispered, gripping my hands into tight fists. My voice sounded small, fragile, as if the trees were swallowing it who
Last Updated : 2025-02-21
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The chosen ( the hybrid) 30
"I never expected you to like it," Martha said, her voice laced with a sincerity that felt…rehearsed. It was a performance, I realized, carefully crafted to project an image of remorse. But behind her eyes, I saw something else – a flicker of triumph, a hint of calculation.I stared at her, a knot of confusion tightening in my stomach. Was this genuine? Could Martha, after all the veiled insults and petty sabotage, actually be feeling regret? Or was this just another layer in her intricate game?"After all the drama that happened between me and you, you still hold no grudges against me?" she continued, her tone almost pleading. The words hung in the air, a challenge and an accusation all rolled into one.I forced a smile, a carefully constructed mask of forgiveness. *Hold no grudges?* The thought echoed in my mind, bitter and ironic. *I'm not ready to strike yet. But when I do, you'll know it.*"All those are bygone," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "This is a new
The chosen ( the hybrid) 29.
The sterile scent of antiseptic clung to me as I walked out of the hospital. Collins was a constant presence, a shadow flitting at the edge of my vision, ever since my father had signed the discharge papers. He’d been there through the stilted small talk with the nurses, the awkward shuffle to the car, and the silent drive back to the dorm. My father dropped me off with a curt nod, a silent promise to return soon, leaving me to face whatever awaited me behind that familiar door.The moment I pushed it open, I gasped. It was like walking into a dream – or perhaps a carefully constructed trap. My dorm room, usually a study in organized chaos, had been transformed. Garlands of flowers draped across the ceiling, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the pale walls. Petals, a riot of reds, pinks, and whites, carpeted the floor, swirling around my bed in a fragrant, dizzying display. My name, "Olivia," was spelled out in meticulously arranged petals on the duvet.My first instinct was to
The chosen ( the hybrid) 28.
The invitation felt like a poisoned chalice, a gilded promise concealing a bitter draught. Collins, bless his earnest heart, didn't see the storm brewing behind my eyes. He only saw my hesitation, the shadow of doubt that flickered across my face.His expression crumpled, a fleeting twist of disappointment that he quickly masked. "It's okay if you don't want to go," he said, his voice carefully neutral as he slipped the invitation back into his bag."It's not that I *don't* want to go," I hedged, the words catching in my throat. "It's just… you know Martha and I don't exactly get along. I can only imagine what she'd do if she found me there." The thought of facing Martha, particularly on her own turf, sent a shiver of apprehension down my spine.Collins's eyes softened, a protective glint entering them. "You don't have to worry about her," he said, his voice firm. "I'll be there to protect you."I managed a weak smile, unconvinced but unwilling to shatter his earnestness. I turned my
The chosen ( the hybrid) 27
The sterile scent of antiseptic clung to everything in the hospital room, a constant, unwelcome reminder of my confinement. Two days. Forty-eight hours trapped within these four walls, and a silent scream building in my chest. Not from the pain – though the dull ache thrumming through my body was persistent – but from the gaping absence where Arden should have been.I’d foolishly imagined that a hospital stay, a genuine brush with mortality (or at least a very persuasive imitation of it), would elicit some flicker of… something… from him. Sympathy? Concern? Even a begrudging visit would have sufficed. Instead, the parade of well-wishers underscored his absence with brutal clarity.Collins was a constant, almost unnervingly cheerful presence. Each morning, he arrived bearing a single, perfect bloom – a rose, a lily, once even a delicate sprig of lavender – its fragrance a fleeting counterpoint to the pervasive medicinal odor. “Good morning, sunshine,” he’d say, his voice a warm rumble
The chosen ( the hybrid) 26.
The back corner table, bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun, was my sanctuary. Close to the window, it offered a panoramic view of the school grounds, a silent observer of the drama unfolding below. A convenient lie, a flimsy excuse to mask my desire for solitude. "I just love the seat because it's close to the window and I could see everything going on from there," I said, forcing a casual tone.Collins studied me, his gaze intense and unwavering. I couldn't decipher the expression in his eyes, a mixture of concern and something else, something I couldn't quite name. He saw through my facade, I was sure of it. But he didn't call me out. He simply placed the tray of food on the table, his movements deliberate and careful."Eat," he said, his voice soft but firm.I hesitated, my stomach churning with a mixture of hunger and apprehension. The jollof rice looked deceptively appealing, a vibrant mound of red and orange, garnished with sprigs of parsley. The aroma was rich and savo
The chosen ( the hybrid) 25.
The cafeteria air hung thick with the aroma of stale pizza and simmering gossip, a noxious blend that mirrored the sour taste in my mouth. Talia's triumphant smirk, a fleeting flash of victory before she trailed after Arden, replayed in my mind like a broken record. *Dating*. So, that was it. The pieces clicked into place with a sickening finality. Arden and Talia. It made a cruel kind of sense.Arden, forever out of reach. The realization settled upon me like a shroud, heavy and suffocating. I slumped onto my desk, the cool surface a small comfort against the burning humiliation that still coursed through me. Lunchtime. A cacophony of noise and forced cheerfulness that I had no energy to face. The cafeteria was a battlefield today, and I was a wounded soldier seeking refuge.I burrowed my face into my arms, seeking oblivion. Sleep offered a temporary escape, a brief respite from the torment of my thoughts. The minutes ticked by, marked only by the distant rumble of voices and the rhy
The chosen ( the hybrid) 24
The pieces of the puzzle slammed together, forming a horrifying picture. Talia's saccharine sweetness, Arden's calculated indifference, the poisoned milkshake in the music room… It all coalesced into a single, chilling truth: Talia had tried to kill me. The realization sent a wave of nausea churning through my stomach, a cold dread settling in my bones. So that was the reason. Jealousy. Pure, unadulterated, murderous jealousy.I turned toward the direction they took, the image of Arden and Talia's departing figures seared into my mind. A fresh wave of humiliation washed over me, threatening to drown me in its bitter depths.I glanced back, only to find Martha and Ethan staring at me, their expressions a mixture of pity and exasperation. Like I was some kind of idiot. Some pathetic creature deserving of the cruelty I endured. This wasn't the first time Arden had publicly humiliated me. And I knew, with a sickening certainty, that it wouldn't be the last.A new video would surface late
The chosen ( the hybrid) 23
The air crackled with unspoken expectation, thick enough to choke on. Arden's smirk, a fleeting, cruel curve of his lips, was the last thing I saw before he abandoned me in the suffocating silence of the room. Abandoned, not just physically, but emotionally, teetering on the precipice of something I desperately craved and simultaneously feared. He *knew* what he was doing. He’d orchestrated this entire scene, a twisted symphony of longing and denial, leaving me exposed and vulnerable.My pulse hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat echoing the turmoil within. He was supposed to kiss me. The script, unspoken but undeniably present, demanded it. The air had been electric, charged with the promise of a connection that transcended the casual flirtations and playful banter we usually engaged in. My skin still tingled with the phantom sensation of his nearness.*Olivia, stop.* The voice in my head, usually a gentle whisper of reason, now screamed with the urgency of a
The chosen ( the hybrid) 22.
"You’re lying to me, Olivia," Mr. Lawson snapped, his voice sharp with anger. His eyes glared down at me like twin blades ready to cut through my weak excuses. I flinched as he raised his cane, its shadow looming over me. My breath hitched, and I shut my eyes, bracing for the sting.But it never came.The sound of wood against flesh was replaced by a dull *thud*. I opened my eyes to see the cane blocked mid-air—by Arden and Ethan. Both boys stood between me and Mr. Lawson like shields, their presence radiating defiance."She’s not lying to you, sir," Ethan said, his voice calm but firm. "She really is a sleepwalker. Most of the time, Lisa sleeps in her room to keep an eye on her, but last night… last night Lisa came in and couldn’t find her. She called me, so I ran to Olivia’s room to confirm."His words were steady, but his gaze flicked nervously to me, then to Arden. I could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating."And you," Mr. Lawson barked, his sharp tone directed at
