"(Y/n)?" Nico knocked on your door, assuming that your door was locked. "(Y/n), come on. We're going to be late for school."

Nico glanced at the clock and shrugged. "Well, we won't be late, but..." She sighed and knocked again, louder this time. "(Y/n), Mom and Dad left a minute ago. We have to go." She reached for the doorknob and twisted it open to find it unlocked. 'That's odd. She always locks her door.'

She opened your door and discovered you lying unconscious on the ground. "Shit!" Nico gasped out loud and knelt down beside you, shaking your body. "(Y/n)! Wake up, come on!" Nico's gripped your arms tighter as she remembered when she found Amy dead in her bedroom. 'No, please... not again!'

Nico turned you around and laid you on her lap, brushing your hair away from your face. "Come on, sis, wake up..." Nico noticed how pale you look and the dark bags under your eyes when she got a good look at your face. 'How come I have never seen her like this before?'

Well, that's the power of makeup.

You slightly opened your eyes, causing Nico to gasp in relief. She cupped your cheek with one hand before hugging you. "Oh, you're alive! You scared me, sis!"

You stared blankly as you processed what she just said. 'Sis...' Your eyes watered and embraced her back, delighted that she finally got to call you a sister. Nico combed your hair for comfort and pulled away. "Are you okay? Why were you on the floor?"

"Wh-What?" You glanced at the carpeted floor as you tried to remember the events that had happened last night.

Parents' date night.

Nico found her mother's staff and Amy's diary.

Tina's office snowed.

Alex came over to help.

Your eyes slightly widened. 'Alex...' You shook your head and pressed your palms on your forehead. "I-I don't really remember how I got here." You tried to stand up but ended up failing, and you were back on the floor. Nico gripped her hands on your shoulders. "Look, you don't have to come to school today."

Nico stared at you with her eyes full of worry. "You almost look like death..." She whispered. "Just rest all day, okay? I can send Molly over to take care of you."

You shook your head. "I'll just head to her house. I don't want to cause her any trouble coming here."

Nico thought for a moment before sighing. "Fine. But I'll try to come home as soon as possible, okay?" She placed her palm against your forehead and flinched in surprise. "You're sick. Did something happen yesterday?" Nico pulled you close and let you rest your head on her shoulder. "Is it the snow or...?"

"I'll be fine, Nico." You reassured. "I'm going to drink some medicine, and then I can go to school."

"No, you're not—"

"If I still don't feel better, I promise to go back home." You promised Nico. "I'm literally a new student, and I can't have my first absent now."

Nico stifled a laugh before hugging you, scared to lose you and regretting not hugging you sooner. "You're so focused on your studies. I'm beginning to think you're Hermione."

"Later, Hermione."

You clutched on Nico's arm, sighing heavily. "Hm, sure..." You muttered.

'Don't get all comfortable now...'

You closed your eyes, trying to ignore your own voice in the back of your mind.

'...this might not be permanent.'

"(Y/n)?"

You looked up to see Nico. "Hm?"

"Can you do me a favor and not lock your door? Only when it's necessary?"

You blinked your eyes. "Why?"

"I just..." Nico slightly gulped. "I just don't want there to be a time when you hurt yourself, and I wouldn't be in here to come and get you."

You could understand her concern, but you couldn't decide whether she was sincere or not. It's been a long time since you've felt cared for. Tina and Robert have consistently shown that they care about you, but you had a feeling that they, especially Tina, required something from you. You didn't feel like a daughter; you felt like a vulnerable and valuable item. As a result, you nodded and agreed to Nico's request. "Okay."

After a few minutes, you were finally ready for school, and you took some medicines to make you feel better. Despite the fact that the fever was gradually dissipating, your body still felt heavy and exhausted. Nico ordered a Lyft for you two, so you wouldn't have to walk to school. You noticed Alex coming out of his car shortly after you two arrived.

You darted your eyes away, making sure you avoided him, but unluckily for you, Alex turned around with a smile when he saw you beside Nico. "Oh, hey, Sitcom!"

"Sitcom?" Nico asked. You wanted to get away, but Nico had wrapped her arm around your shoulders to keep you close. 'End me.'

"Yeah." Alex chuckled. "I saw her watching an old show, and she said she loves sitcoms." He explained. Alex looked at Nico, and the girl glanced down in nervousness. "Hey, what's up?" He asked with a smile.

"I didn't want to say anything on the phone last night, but after reading Amy's diary..." You looked at Nico, who stared at Alex. "She didn't do it, Alex. I know she didn't. I'm going to the police after school. Come with me?"

You furrowed your eyebrows as you pulled away from her. "Going to the police? And you didn't tell me?"

Nico gave you a worried look. "You're not feeling well, (Y/n). I'm not taking you because you have to rest."

"But going to the police is definitely not a good idea." You replied.

Alex nodded along. "(Y/n)'s right." His mention of your name brought shivers down on your back. He never called you by your name. "Nico, what are you even going to say? That the most prominent families in the city, dressed in matching nightgowns, put a girl in a glowing box that you're pretty sure killed her?"

Nico looked around to see if anyone else was listening. "There are six witnesses..." Nico tried to push until she stopped when two teenagers walked past the three of you. When they were both gone, she continued. "...and a dead body. Two dead bodies."

Alex slightly scoffed. "And then what? Our parents lie for each other or say nothing and demand proof. They have the world's greatest lawyer, my mom. Not to mention, who do you think they're going to suspect turned them in?"

Nico glanced down, processing Alex's words while he resumed explaining. "The only other people at the house that night... us."

Nico slowly nodded. "So, I take it that's a no?" Alex hesitated to answer, causing Nico to sigh. "If the police don't believe me, that's on them. But I'm telling them everything I know about Destiny and my sister." She turned away to leave, and you glanced at Alex. You quickly followed Nico behind and grasped her wrist. "Nico..."

"You don't have to come with me later."

"Alright, fine. But..." You spun Nico around. "Just think about this carefully, okay? Remember, your parents are powerful in this city. It might be possible they could even have connections around the police department."

Nico stared at you while you gave her a brief hug. "I don't want you getting hurt." You told her before pulling away. "I'll stay at Molly's after school. And I'm sure..." You glanced at Alex, who started walking away from the parking lot. "...I'm sure Alex will escort you later."

Before Nico could emit a word, you walked away. You entered the Academy until you bumped into Eiffel, who scoffed and glared at you. "Watch where you—oh! It's Amy 2.0!"

You rolled your eyes and chose to be a bigger person by walking away and not talking to her, but she snatched you back. "What do you want?" You asked.

"I want an apology. That's what I want." Eiffel hissed. "You can't just bump into people like you own the place."

"Well, I'm sure as hell that you don't own this place either." You snatched your arm back and began to walk away again. On the other hand, Eiffel doesn't take no for an answer, so she grabbed your arm once more until you snapped and whirled around, jerking your arm back before grasping and twisting hers. "Ow!" Eiffel yelled.

Alex and Nico redirected their gaze to you and Eiffel, and both were disturbed to see your once innocent and bashful eyes turn annoyed and angry. You cocked a brow and cocked your head to the side. "You touch me again, and I'll fucking break your arm off. You got me, Paris?" You hissed.

Eiffel scoffed at the nickname you gave her but whimpered from pain at the end and nodded. "Alright! Fine, you freak!" You pushed her away and started walking again, avoiding the students' looks. Karolina, who happened to witness everything as well, walked towards Nico. "Did any of you in your family teach her self-defense?"

Nico shook her head. "No..." She shakily replied. "I think there's more to (Y/n) that we don't know about."