Chapter 24- Reminisce Small Bîtchy World
The cold air brushed Aurora's face as she walked to her car, her steps hurried. She needed to leave. The college felt like it was closing in on her, the walls making it hard to breathe.
"Ari!"
Her name echoed. She stopped and turned to see Oma running toward her, sounding worried.
"Ari, where were you?" Oma said, panting and frowning. "I was so worried! You just vanished-I didn't know where you went!"
Aurora took a shaky breath, her fingers gripping her car keys. "I can't stay here, Oma. I just... I need to leave."
"What?" Oma asked, surprised.
"I'm serious," she said calmly. "I can't breathe here. I just want to go home."
Oma hesitated, glancing over her shoulder before saying, "Wait, listen-The project's been canceled. Mr. Roland quit."
Aurora barely reacted. Her eyes stayed on the ground, and her face showed nothing.
"Ari?" Oma moved closer, sounding worried. "Are you okay? What happened?"
Aurora didn't answer, and the silence made things feel tense.
Then, Oma frowned. She leaned in a little, sniffed, and her eyes widened as she realized something.
"You smell like..." She stopped. "You smell like Leonard."
Aurora quickly looked up, her face becoming cold. "No, I don't."
"Yes, you do," Oma said, looking at her closely. "Ari, what-"
"Forget it," Aurora cut her off, walking back toward her car. Her voice was sharp, and her eyes were far away. "I'm leaving."
Oma watched her, confused and suspicious, as Aurora turned and opened her car door. It was like a quick exit she really needed.
"I'll call you." Aurora said and Oma nodded before she drove off.
Oma stayed in the parking lot for a bit, watching the car leave. She sighed and walked back toward the college.
Someone stood in the shadows of the trees nearby, half-hidden. He watched Aurora's car drive away. A small, strange smile touched his lips.
"Soon," Zane whispered, his voice quiet and mean.
He disappeared back into the darkness.
Oma walked back into the college building, her bag hanging over her shoulder. The halls were filled with quiet chatter when a sharp, familiar voice cut through it.
"Bitch!"
Oma turned to see Ivy approaching, her ponytail swinging.
"Class is canceled," Ivy announced dramatically. "Mr. Roland's out, and we get a new teacher tomorrow."
Oma sighed. "Whatever."
Ivy rolled her eyes and smirked, then her gaze darted across the hall. Her smile faded. Ricky was talking with some guys and a usual, girls hovered around them. When his eyes met hers, Ivy quickly looked away, her jaw tightening.
Oma noticed but said nothing, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Later - 4 PM, Raven Mansion
The large doors of Raven Mansion opened, and Oma stepped inside. She smelled lavender and felt the familiar warmth of the house. She went up the big staircase and tapped softly before entering Aurora's room.
Aurora sat on her bed with her legs crossed, looking at the floor.
"Hey," Oma said softly, putting down her bag.
They talked for a few minutes, eating the snacks Oma brought. Then, Aurora suddenly said, her voice flat but sharp:
"I told him."
Oma stopped, surprised. "Told him what?"
Aurora didn't answer right away. She kept looking ahead, her eyes dark and hard to understand.
"I told Leonard everything," she whispered. "I had an attack... and I told him everything."
Oma moved closer. "Wait-what?"
Aurora finally looked at her. Her voice was calm but with a sarcastic tone.
"Yes, Oma. I told that person what happened to me. Isn't that interesting?"
Oma gasped and stared, shocked. She snapped, "What?!"
Aurora gave a dry laugh and shrugged. "Yes. Leonard knows. About high school. About everything."
Oma reached over and held Aurora's hand. "Okay... I don't know what to say. How are we going to handle this, Ari? Leonard knows what happened to you - what almost happened to you."
Aurora sighed. "Yes, he knows. But can we not talk about this right now? I just need to breathe, Oma."
Oma exhaled slowly. "Fine, okay."
---
A few minutes later, Oma went downstairs to the big Raven kitchen. She quickly made spaghetti, put it on plates, and went back upstairs.
They sat cross-legged on Aurora's bed, eating from their bowls.
After they were done, Oma checked her phone and stood up.
"Ohkayy, baby girl. I gotta go. See you tomorrow." Oma smiled, grabbing her bag.
"Sure." Aurora replied simply.
Oma started leaving but paused, "You're not gonna see me out?"
Aurora raised an eyebrow with a smirk and Oma rolled her eyes.
"I hate you so much."
"It's mutual." Aurora replied mockingly.
Oma narrowed her eyes dramatically before leaving the room.
Getting downstairs, she saw Gemma walking in.
"Auntie." She smiled.
"Had homework with Auri." Gemma returned the smile.
"No. Just came to give her something she forgot." Oma lied.
"Thanks for the gift again." She added, pecking Gemma before leaving quickly.
Gemma didn't get the chance to speak before Oma left, so she just went upstairs to Aurora's room.
LEONARD'S VILLA (FLASHBACK- YEARS AGO)
The room was suffocating.
Strange, pulsing red lights washed over the walls, making everything look bloodier than it was. The metallic scent in the air was sharp, almost choking. Leonard's boots stuck to the floor with each step, leaving thick red streaks.
His eyes darted left and froze.
A girl's hand hung limply from under the bed, pale fingers streaked with crimson. A pool of blood seeped out from the shadows, growing larger.
Leonard's jaw clenched, his stomach twisting. He forced himself to look away.
Then he saw her.
Aurora.
She was huddled at the head of the bed, knees pulled to her chest. Her clothes were torn and rumpled. Her hair clung to her damp, tear-streaked face. Her skin was bruised, her lip split, and her entire body trembled.
"Hey..." Leonard's voice was hoarse. He stepped forward slowly, his hands raised, trying to be gentle.
She pressed herself back against the headboard, shaking her head wildly, not wanting to even look at him.
"I'm not gonna hurt you..." He slowly went closer, and a broken sob spilled out of her mouth.
Her black hair is covering her face so he can't see her.
He slowly approached the bed, hands raised in surrender. "I promise... I just want to help you."
Aurora pushed herself further against the headboard, fearfully shaking her head. She was trembling.
Leonard reached out to gently touch her shoulder, and she flinched and began to cry silently.
"Sorry, sorry," he whispered, but she couldn't cry for long before going limp. She lost consciousness.
Leonard panicked and quickly scooped her into his arms. Damn! She was unrecognizable.
Her face was badly wounded, with cuts on her chin, forehead, and lips. Her nose was bleeding, and there was also a trail of blood from the corners of her lips.
She must have cried a lot; her face was a mess, with smeared makeup.
His heart twisted. Brutal, just brutal.
Even her hair was cut in places, leaving her with a disheveled look.
Leonard immediately rushed out of the room with her, determined to save her.
Leonard tightened his grip on Aurora as he moved through the chaos. People screamed and pushed past him, some bumping into him, but he didn't react. He only focused on her.
Then the paramedics reached him.
"Sir! Give her to us-now!" one shouted.
Leonard's breath caught. His world slowed down. The noise - the screaming, the sirens, the frantic footsteps - became a distant sound. All he could hear was his own heart beating.
He looked down at Aurora. Her face was pale, her eyelashes barely moving against her bruised skin.
A hand touched his arm, firm and demanding.
He paused. For a moment, he thought about running, taking her and never looking back. But the flashing lights, the uniforms, the shouting - it all closed in on him.
Slowly, he lowered her into the paramedics' arms.
His hands stayed on her for a moment... then he let go.
"Be careful with her." He said faintly.
The medics rushed off with her, moving quickly through the crowd. Leonard stood still, watching as people pushed past him. Someone shoved him, but he barely noticed. Another person bumped into him-he didn't even flinch.
Everything seemed to be in slow motion.
He watched her disappear down the hallway. Her still body was hidden by flashing lights and worried voices. Then, she was gone.
A sharp pain twisted in his chest.
Bianca.
The memory of her name brought with it feelings of betrayal, loss, and the helplessness he promised himself he'd never feel again. But there it was-coming back, making it hard to breathe.
He squeezed his fists so hard his knuckles hurt. His jaw was tight as he stood there, frozen. Finally, he turned, pushing through the crowd without looking back.
He vanished into the night.
He saved her... But he couldn't keep her.
END OF FLASHBACK ~
Leonard exhaled sharply, dragging deep on his cigarette as he stared out the glass wall of his villa, the city lights blurring below.
Smoke curled around his face, his reflection hard, cold.
He suddenly chuckled. It wasn't an ordinary one, it was dark, sarcastic.
Small world after all. With b?tchy coincidences.
Maybe that's why he's so crazy over her.
Wait...
Crazy?
He chuckled again, even darker this time.
He took another drag from his cigarette.
"Ah... Baby Doll."
His phone dinged in his grey sweatpants pocket and he reached for it.
It's a message from Ricky.
~Still surprised you agreed to celebrate your birthday. And at your place? There's something you're not telling me. Anyway, that party will be wild. The girls are to die forr.
Leonard shoved the phone back into his grey sweatpants pocket without replying.
He exhaled another cloud of smoke, eyes fixed on the glittering chaos of New York at night, his mind already tangled somewhere far darker.
To be continued...
brownbwords Check out her story, please.
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