Chapter 2 Shadows in the Hallway

Elira's heart pounded as she stepped into the hallway with the unfamiliar weight of someone else's body, making every movement feel strange and foreign. Lockers slammed and voices echoed around her, but all she could hear was the pounding in her chest. She spotted a reflection in the window-a girl she didn't recognize staring back. The same delicate floral tattoo peeked from under the sleeve, mocking her silently.

Then, a sharp whisper brushed past her ear. "You don't belong here."

She spun around, but no one was there.

A shiver crawled down her spine. Was it her mind playing tricks? Or was someone watching her? Someone who knew the secret she barely understood herself?

Elira swallowed hard. The chatter of students swirled around her, but their words were like static, meaningless noise. She felt isolated-like a ghost trapped in someone else's life. Her footsteps echoed hollowly as she moved forward, each step heavier than the last. The unfamiliar hallways, the strange faces, even the stale scent of the school air-all of it pressed against her like a weight she couldn't shake. She tried to focus on the tasks ahead, but the fear gnawed at her. Was someone here to stop her from uncovering the truth? The truth about the crash, about the lies, about why she was trapped in this body.

Her gaze darted nervously. A group of students passed by, laughing loudly. One of them glanced her way, eyes narrowing for a brief moment before looking away. Was that a warning? Or a challenge?

She gripped the sleeve near her tattoo and felt the smooth skin beneath-real, but not hers. The floral design whispered secrets she couldn't yet decipher. Who had inked it here? What did it mean?

The bell rang sharply, snapping her from her thoughts. Students surged forward, but Elira lingered behind, staring into the reflection again. The girl in the mirror was a stranger-one who carried her memories, her pain, her fear.

But Elira knew one thing for certain: she wouldn't disappear quietly. Someone had lied. Someone wanted her gone.

---