Chapter 3 Fear

Elena slumped against the cafeteria wall, the cool brick biting into her back as the chatter of students swirled around her. Her sneakers scuffed the pavement, leaving faint streaks of dirt, and her hands fidgeted with the frayed strap of her backpack. The air smelled of burnt coffee and greasy fries, but it couldn't mask the sour tang of panic still clinging to her throat. She'd barely caught her breath from the sprint to school when Saph's voice cut through the haze, sharp and urgent.

"Lena, what's wrong?" Saph skidded to a stop in front of her, blonde curls bouncing as she dropped her bag with a thud. Her hazel eyes narrowed, scanning Elena's face-pale cheeks, red-rimmed eyes, the tremble in her lips. "You look like you've seen a ghost. Spill it."

Elena's fingers tightened around the strap until her knuckles whitened, the fabric digging into her palm. She opened her mouth, but the words lodged like stones, heavy and jagged. Saph stepped closer, her hand hovering near Elena's shoulder, warm and hesitant, and that small gesture cracked something loose. "I..." Elena's voice broke, a raw edge scraping through. She sucked in a shaky breath, her gaze darting to the crowd before dropping to the ground. "I heard them, Saph. In Adam's study. Josh and him-they..." She swallowed hard, her throat burning. "They killed my parents."

Saph's gasp was a sharp hiss, her hand clamping onto Elena's arm as her eyes widened. "What?" The word punched out, loud enough to draw a few curious glances from nearby tables. She lowered her voice, leaning in, her grip tightening. "You're serious? Oh my God, Lena-killed them? How? Why?"

Elena's knees wobbled, and she pressed harder against the wall to stay upright, the brick scraping her jacket. "It wasn't an accident," she whispered, her voice trembling as the memory replayed-Josh's growl, Adam's panic. "They said it-out loud. They murdered my dad to get the shipping company. For some cartel deal-weapons or something. They need me to sign it over, and I..." Her breath hitched, tears stinging her eyes, and she swiped at them with a shaky hand. "I ran. I couldn't stay there."

Saph's face paled, her mouth parting as she processed the words. Then she yanked Elena into a hug, arms wrapping tight around her shoulders, pulling her in until Elena's cheek pressed against the soft wool of Saph's sweater. The faint scent of lavender hit her, grounding her as Saph's breath warmed her ear. "I've got you," Saph murmured, her voice fierce despite its softness. "You're not going back there, okay? We'll figure this out." Elena's hands fisted in Saph's jacket, clinging as her chest heaved, a sob breaking free before she could stop it.

They stood like that for a moment, the cafeteria's clamor fading to a dull roar, until Elena pulled back, wiping her face with her sleeve. "I can't ask you to take me in," she said, her voice steadier now but still rough. "It's too dangerous-your family..." She shook her head, her jaw tightening. "They won't kill me yet-not till I'm twenty-one and they can force the inheritance. But I'm not waiting around. They're gonna regret this, Saph. I swear it."

Saph's lips quirked into a small, determined smile, though worry still shadowed her eyes. "You're damn right they will. Come on-let's get inside, sit down. You need food or something before you collapse." She grabbed her bag and nudged Elena toward the café doors, her hand lingering on Elena's back like an anchor.

The cafeteria was a chaotic blur-trays clattering, voices overlapping, the squeak of sneakers on linoleum. They snagged a corner table, the metal chair cold against Elena's thighs as she dropped into it. Saph slid in across from her, shoving a tray of fries between them. "Eat," she ordered, pointing a fry at Elena like a tiny spear. "You're shaking like a leaf."

Elena managed a weak laugh, snagging a fry and snapping it in half. The salt stung her lips, but she barely tasted it, her mind racing. "I'm fine," she lied, her foot tapping a restless rhythm under the table. "Just... trying to think. I need proof-something from Dad's office maybe. Files, contracts. If I can get that, I can burn them down."

Saph nodded, her expression fierce. "You're not alone in this, got it? We'll dig up whatever we can. But first, you need a plan-somewhere safe to crash. My place is out, but..." She trailed off, chewing her lip, then brightened. "What about that old storage unit your dad kept? You've still got the key, right?"

Elena's hand drifted to her pocket, brushing the photo of her parents tucked there, the edges worn from years of handling. "Yeah," she said slowly, her mind latching onto the idea. "It's in Queens. Could be something there-papers, maybe even a backup drive. Good call, Saph." She straightened, a spark of resolve flaring in her chest, cutting through the fog of fear.

"See? I'm not just a pretty face," Saph teased, tossing a fry at her. Elena caught it mid-air, popping it into her mouth with a smirk that felt almost real. For a moment, the weight lifted, Saph's laughter a bright thread in the dark tapestry of her day. But it faded fast as the bell rang, sharp and insistent, signaling the end of lunch.

They grabbed their bags and trudged toward history class, the hallways a blur of slamming lockers and jostling shoulders. Elena's sneakers dragged, her stomach sinking as they stepped into the classroom. The teacher-Mr. Hargrove-was already at the board, chalk squeaking as he scribbled dates in uneven lines. She slid into her desk, the wood creaking under her weight, and pulled out her notebook. Her pencil hovered over the page, but her eyes glazed, the chalkboard blurring into a haze of white noise.

Josh's voice echoed in her skull-"Killing Stephen"-and her grip tightened, the pencil digging into her palm. Her foot bounced, knocking the desk ahead, and the girl in front shot her an annoyed glance. Sorry, Elena mouthed, but her mind was elsewhere-Adam's study, the car's screech, the mystery guy's smirk. She scratched a jagged line across the page, then another, her thoughts a tangle of rage and fear. Focus, she hissed inwardly, but the room felt suffocating, the air thick with the weight of what she knew.

"Elena?" Saph's whisper jolted her, soft but urgent from the desk beside her. "You good?"

She nodded, forcing a tight smile, but her hand shook as she scribbled weapons in the margin, circling it hard enough to tear the paper. "Yeah," she muttered, her voice low. "Just... planning." Saph's brow furrowed, but she didn't push, just slid her own notebook closer, a silent offer of solidarity.

The class dragged, each tick of the clock a hammer against Elena's nerves. When the bell finally rang, she bolted upright, shoving her things into her bag with jerky movements. Saph caught her arm as they stepped into the hall, her grip firm. "You're not alone," she said, her voice cutting through the noise. "We'll get through this."

Elena met her gaze, the knot in her chest loosening just enough to breathe. "Thanks, Saph," she said, her lips twitching into a real smile this time. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Starve, probably," Saph quipped, nudging her toward the cafeteria for the next break. "Come on-let's refuel. You've got a fight ahead."

Elena nodded, her steps syncing with Saph's as they moved through the crowd. The road was dark and twisting, but with Saph beside her, she felt a flicker of strength. Revenge wasn't just a dream-it was a promise, and she'd keep it, no matter what it took.