Chapter One
"Did you just talk back to me?" Seraphina repeated, her voice dripping with disbelief. Of course, it was shocking that Elara__the so-called "ugly duckling"__dared challenge her.
Elara's gaze stayed glued to the floor, unwilling to meet Seraphina's eyes. But Seraphina wasn't having it. She grabbed Elara's chin and forced her face up.
"You fuckin hideous thing! I asked you a question. Did you just talk back to me?" she yelled, spittle flying onto Elara's face. Elara could only shiver in fear, too terrified to speak.
"I… I'm sorry. I only___" Her words were frozen in her lips by a tremendous slap. She fell flat to the ground. Her head spun painfully. Her vision blurred as pain seared across her cheek.
"You've really gotten brave, huh? Now reporting us for bullying, huh?" Camille, one of Seraphina's closest friends, sneered.
"I didn't report___I swear__" Elara tried to defend herself, but Violet, Seraphina's second-best friend, grabbed her by the hair and dragged her toward the bathroom stall. Elara screamed.
"Please! I'll never do it again! I'm sorry!" she begged, but Violet forced her head down into the toilet anyway. She struggled to fight her off, but she was already too weak.
After what felt like an eternity, Violet yanked her head out and threw her aside. Elara sank to her knees, her hair a tangled mess, gasping for air.
"Wow! This little thing is tougher than I thought," Seraphina mocked, and the others giggled cruelly. Tears slid down Elara's cheeks.
Why does my life keep getting worse? Why am I so unlucky? she thought bitterly. If only I could stand up for myself… but I never could.
She knew she could never fight them. Seraphina's father, Mr. Vale, was the Minister of Finance, an untouchable figure in Los Angeles. Camille's mother was a renowned public figure, and her father was a U.S. Senator. Violet's parents were both high-profile lawyers. Who was she, a poor high school student relying on her older sister to survive, to stand against them? She had nothing. No family background, no rich parents__ Nothing!
"You still haven't answered us, ugly," Camille said with a cruel smirk. Elara tried to speak, but her lips were bruised and swollen.
"Maybe we should call Adrian and Landon to handle her? That'd be fun, right?" Seraphina laughed.
The mention of their names sent a cold shiver down Elara's spine. She knew both boys were ruthless and clearly hated her. She couldn't risk receiving their punishment with her body already aching all over.
"Please! I'll never report anything again! Don't call them! They'll kill me" she pleaded, her voice trembling with loud sobs.
"So you're scared and you dare report us" Seraphina scoffed. "I don't think you're scared".
"Geez, You're so damn loud!" Violet snapped, scratching her ear dramatically with her index finger.
"Just shut her up already!" Camille said, delivering a sharp kick to Elara's stomach.
Elara gasped holding her stomach as she fell to the floor in pain.
"Please..... I really can't take it. I'm on my period." She whispered, but she was to weak to speak loud enough for them to hear.
Just then, the school bell rang. The three bullies groaned in irritation. Seraphina grabbed Elara by the hair, making her shriek.
"You better watch yourself," she threatened. "One more mistake, and your poor sister will be picking up your remains. Got it?"
"C—Clear" Elara groaned.
"Good girl," Seraphina sneered, tossing her head back dramatically.
"Let's go, girls, before the lecturers start crying," Violet said, and they left, laughing.
Elara curled up in a corner, hugging her knees, weeping bitterly. Her body ached and everywhere felt painful with bruise.
"Oh my God…" she whispered, crying. "I can't do this anymore. Am I going to die before I graduate?"
After a few minutes, exhaustion overtook her. Her head felt heavy and her body was weak. Slowly, she pushed herself up and staggered out of the bathroom and down the hall.
"Miss Nyra! Miss Nyra!" a nurse called.
Nyra snapped awake from a dozing state, lifting her head to meet the nurse's anxious gaze.
"Aren't you Nyra Quinn?" the nurse asked, frowning slightly.
"I… I am," Nyra replied, her lips dry.
"I've been calling for almost a minute. It's your turn to see the doctor," the nurse said politely.
"I'm sorry," Nyra whispered, standing up weakly. She walked toward the doctor's office, sighing as she entered.
"Nyra Quinn?" Doctor Andrew asked.
"Yes… that's me," Nyra said, fidgeting with her nails nervously. The doctor noticed her unease and gave a small, reassuring smile.
"Don't be nervous. Please, have a seat," he said, pointing to the chair across from him. Nyra sat reluctantly.
"You seem hesitant to hear what I have to say," Doctor Andrew began, his voice gentle but serious.
"N__No, doctor," Nyra stammered.
"You should be nervous. You know your health haven't been good." he said, leaning in. "Well, you've been diagnosed with cancer. And it's really processing."
Her chest tightened, disbelief and fear cutting through her.
"Doctor… are you sure?" Nyra asked, tears welling in her eyes.
"I'm afraid so, Nyra. According to what I've heard and seen concerning you, you've been overworking, stressing yourself too much, ignoring your health… and it's finally catching up to you," he explained. "You knew something was wrong with you but you ignored it. The signs were already showing, weren't they?" He asked raising a brow.
Nyra hesitated.
"Remove your cap," he said firmly.
"Doctor…"
"It's showing already, isn't it?" he asked.
Nyra nodded slowly, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Doctor Andrew shook his head in pity.
"Is there a cure?" she whispered, sobbing.
"You need immediate surgery to survive at least a year," he explained. "And it's expensive."
"How much?" she asked, her voice breaking.
"At least $500,000," he said. Nyra's eyes widened, and she collapsed into tears again.
"I'm sorry… there's nothing I can do beyond this," he added.
After a few moments, Nyra wiped her tears, gathering courage. "I'll see what I can do," she said softly. She rose to leave, and the doctor called after her.
"Immedaite surgery, Miss Nyra." He warned.
Nyra nodded before exiting. Doctor Andrew sighed, watching her leave, then turned to call in the next patient.