TRUE NATURE

The grin.

That was the first thing that stuck in my mind. Not Amara’s arrogance, not the shock on the class president’s face, and definitely not the crowd of clueless kids pressed against the hallway glass.

It was her.

Liliana.

The way her lips curled—too sharp, too intentional. This wasn’t a smile born from nerves or defiance. It was pure hunger. A predator finally allowed to show its teeth.

And then she locked eyes with me.

Just for a heartbeat. But in that fleeting moment, her gaze didn’t just brush against mine. It measured me up. As if she wanted to strip away every layer, every secret, just to uncover what lay beneath.

Most people would flinch under a gaze like that. Hudson and Luca practically melted, while Coby froze like a rabbit caught in headlights.

But me?

I gave her nothing.

Stone. Silence.

And that was enough to make her grin waver—just a bit. Not out of weakness. But out of intrigue.

Which is way more dangerous.

Because someone like her… when she gets curious about you… she won’t stop until she digs up what she’s after.

My mind was still tangled up in that grin, the way her eyes seemed to linger on me, when—

“Broooo, did you see that!?”

Luca’s voice sliced through my thoughts like a hot knife through butter.

He grabbed Hudson by the shoulders, practically shaking him, his face glowing as if he’d just seen a miracle.

“That wasn’t just normal, that was… that was divine! Seriously—tell me I’m not losing it, Hud! She’s beautiful and terrifying all at once. How is that even a thing!?”

Hudson nodded so vigorously I thought his neck might snap. “I swear, I swear, I saw it too! The way she smiled man, that was straight out of a movie! Cold-blooded, confident—she’s nothing like the other girls here.”

Luca gasped dramatically. “She’s like… a goddess of war!”

I let out a slow breath. Idiots.

Then, as if on cue, both of them turned to us.

“What about you guys?” Luca asked, his eyes wide with anticipation. “Coby? Sylvester? You saw that, right? You can’t just stand there and pretend that wasn’t the coolest thing ever.”

For a moment, there was silence.

Coby’s eyes darted to me. Mine flicked back to him. It was unspoken, but we both got it: tread carefully.

Coby broke the silence first, his tone steady. “...She’s interesting. But dangerous. Not the kind of person you want to get too close to.”

Luca blinked, leaning in with excitement. “So you do think she’s different!”

Coby shrugged, not willing to say more.

Their focus shifted to me.

I adjusted my sleeve, keeping my voice even. “She’s strong. Stronger than she looks.” A pause. “But that’s all there is to it.”

Hudson frowned. “That’s all you’ve got to say?”

“Yeah.” My response was short, almost dismissive.

But underneath my calm exterior, I couldn’t shake the faint stir of interest. Not because I was impressed like they were… but because I knew.

Someone like her… would either be a shield. Or a storm.

And maybe both.

The courtyard had a different vibe after hours. Most students had already dashed back to their dorms, leaving behind only the soft echoes of their voices fading into the night.

I had my hands buried deep in my pockets as I strolled, my head bobbing slightly to the rhythm of the track still playing in my mind.

That song—Loading—it really stuck with me. Not just the beat, but the way it flowed. Calm, steady, almost untouchable. I found myself humming it softly, letting it lead me along the stone path.

For a brief moment, I almost felt like everything was normal.

Almost.

Because then, I sensed it.

That subtle change in the air. The tingling at the back of my neck.

Someone was tailing me.

Not close enough for me to hear their footsteps. Not obvious. But definitely too consistent to be just a coincidence.

My humming trailed off mid-note.

I didn’t turn around right away. Instead, I eased my pace just a bit, keeping my hands in my pockets, acting like I hadn’t noticed a thing. My shadow stretched long beneath the flickering streetlight, and just for a moment… I caught a glimpse of another shadow overlapping mine.

Quiet. Cautious. Relentless.

Whoever it was, they weren’t just curious. They were testing me.

I veered left down one of those narrow walkways, the kind that wound between the dorms and led to a quiet little nook on campus.

The air was eerily still. Too still.

I didn’t even need to look back to sense the shadow trailing me.

Step for step.

When I hit the end of the path, the brick wall loomed overhead, blocking my way forward. A dead end.

I paused. Just waited.

Seconds ticked by.

I felt the air shift behind me—soft footsteps approached, then halted.

But the corner was empty.

Because I wasn’t there.

“…Looking for me?”

The voice came from behind me, low and sharp.

The figure froze as I emerged from the shadows, now standing right at their back.

I narrowed my eyes, my tone flat but heavy with meaning.

“Why were you following me?”

The person turned slowly, caught in my trap.

Dark blue hair glimmered in the moonlight. A faint smile danced on her lips.

Liliana.

She didn’t respond immediately. She didn’t have to. That smile—playful yet dangerous—said it all.

“…Liliana,” I said, her name slipping from my lips like a warning.

Her grin widened, as if my voice alone had entertained her.

Liliana tilted her head, that sly grin still plastered on her face.

“Oopsie daisy…” she said with a lightness that made it seem like she’d just stumbled off the beaten path instead of creeping up on me through half the campus.

Her tone dripped with mock innocence, sweet yet sharp beneath the surface.

She closed the gap between us. Slowly. Casually.

Then her hand brushed against my chest, her breath a whisper against my neck.

“Mm… I must’ve taken a wrong turn,” she murmured, her lips curling into a smile that felt far too intentional. “Maybe you could guide me to the dorms?”

Her voice dropped, rich and warm. Her fingers traced upward, her lips inching closer—before her teeth playfully nipped at my ear.

But I didn’t flinch. Didn’t even breathe.

Silence.

Then she paused, sensing the stillness. Her gaze flicked up.

And she met my eyes.

Cold. Unyielding. Empty.

“…You Done?”

The words sliced through the air like a knife.

And then everything changed.

Blades—countless blades—materialized around her, their edges glinting like ravenous fangs, forming a deadly circle. Each one aimed, each one quivering with the desire to strike.

Liliana froze for just a moment, not out of fear—but recognition.

The killing intent crashed over her like a tidal wave. Her chest tightened, her skin prickled, her instincts screamed for her to flee.

But instead of retreating, she slowly pulled away from me, her eyes locked onto mine.

What she saw wasn’t just a boy standing there.

What she saw was a beast.

A liger, hungry, waiting for its prey to accept its fate before it pounced.

The sheer bloodlust was overwhelming, spilling forth like a crashing wave. Any ordinary person would’ve crumbled.

But not Liliana.

Her lips quivered.

Then she smiled. Wide. Twisted.

“Ohhh…” she breathed out, her voice trembling with something that wasn’t fear.

And then she whispered the most chilling words, almost purring them:

“…Do it again.”

Her body shuddered, and a low, broken moan escaped her lips—half-laughter, half-excitement.

Like a predator who’d finally found its prey.

For a moment, silence wrapped around us like a thick blanket. Her words echoed in my mind—Do it again—and for the first time in ages, something inside me stirred.

Not fear. Not excitement. Something different.

Creeped out? Maybe. But I brushed it off. I wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of knowing.

The blades surrounding her shimmered once before fading into nothingness. My voice came out flat as I asked:

“…Why are you following me?”

Liliana pouted, her grin slipping into a mock frown. “Tch. And here I thought we were having a moment…”

She tossed her hair back, her smile returning. “But fine. I’ll admit it. You pique my interest.”

I let out a breath through my nose, barely suppressing a scoff. “Of course. You’re a real pain.”

I turned on my heel, striding past her, letting the night envelop my footsteps.

But then—

“Ellie.”

I froze.

The name struck me like a knife. My body stilled, my head dipping slightly as her voice slithered into my ears.

Liliana’s tone was playful, almost teasing. “That was her name, right? Your friend. Ellie~ How adorable.”

Slowly, I turned my head, my expression blank. My voice dropped, cold enough to chill the air.

“…What about her?”

Liliana’s eyes sparkled with mischief. She leaned in a bit, her grin widening as if she’d just discovered a secret.

“Mm… not much.” She dragged the words out, savoring each one. “Just that… if you keep looking at me with those eyes…”

Her cheeks flushed pink, her lips parting just enough for her voice to turn into a breathy confession.

“…I might just fall for you.”

She pressed her hand lightly against her chest, her body trembling.

“Stop making me feel this way…” Her grin twisted, her eyes burning with a wild intensity. “…Stop turning me on.”

The mix of blush and twisted desire on her face made her words land like a curse, one that clung to the night air and refused to let go.