Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Myla’s POV

I felt the weight of the voice before I made any move to turn.

The voice didn’t just reach me, it pressed into me.

It was low, but sharp enough to cut through the peaceful beauty of the space around us.

My body reacted before my mind did as my shoulders stiffened and my breath hung somewhere in my chest as I slowly turned.

At first, I didn’t fully see him.

More like just a figure stepping out from a dark area beyond the soft glow of the garden lights.

Then he moved forward, and everything about him stood out. He was pretty tall, that was the first thing.

It wasn't just his height that freaked me, but everything about him carried a heavy feeling.

The way he carried himself, like someone who didn’t need to prove anything, like everything around him just adjusted to him instead of the other way around.

He had on a fitted black suit—completely out of place compared to everyone else I had seen in the academy so far.

While others I believed to be students dressed casually, like students they are, he looked… official.

Even more than the lady who took my car or the dining officials.

He looked untouchable.

He had dark, short, hair that was neatly arranged over his head.

His jawline looked sharp and the cold expression across his face complemented his heavy build.

And his eyes, his eyes were the kind that didn’t just look at you. They tore down everything in you.

They were cold, cutting and unforgiving.

My throat went dry.

I didn’t know who he was. But something in me already understood—

He wasn’t someone you wanted to get on the wrong side of.

Kyle shifted slightly beside me, and for the first time since I met him, I felt tension roll off him.

“We—we got lost,” Kyle said quickly, stepping slightly in front of me as if to shield me. “We didn’t mean to—”

“How?” The man cut in smoothly with his voice still low but now carrying a dangerous edge, “How do you get lost in a restricted sector with a clear sign on the top saying, restricted area?”

Okay, he has a point there.

I felt my stomach drop as I didn't even know what I would say to that.

“Are you new?” He added with his gaze now fully on me.

Kyle opened his mouth again, but this time—

“Yes,” I said immediately, letting the word slip out before I could stop it.

Done letting someone talk for me.

Silence followed, then Kyle went still beside me.

Slowly, the man’s gaze shifted, locking onto mine completely.

“And who are you?” He asked, and something about the way he said it made my chest tighten.

Like he wasn’t just asking for a name, like he was asking for every damn thing about me.

I opened my mouth, but before I could speak—

“I’m sorry, sir,” Kyle cut in quickly with his voice tighter now. “It won’t happen again. We’ll leave—”

“Enough,” he cut in firmly, stopping everything else, including my thoughts.

The man began to move, one step after another till he was standing right in front of us. Too close.

I hadn’t realized how much distance there had been until it disappeared.

Now—

Now I didn't just see him, I felt him.

It was strange, like the air around him was heavier, thicker… harder to breathe through.

My heart picked up, playing out loudly in my ears.

He looked at Kyle first. Then at me.

And back to Kyle again, slowly.

And when his eyes settled on mine again, something inside me tightened in a way I didn’t understand.

Fear.

Yes, but not just fear.

Something else. Something that made me want to look away, but didn’t let me.

“If I ever catch either of you in a place like this again,” he said quietly with his voice dropping even lower, “an apology will be the least of your problems.”

The words weren’t yelled out, but they didn’t need to be. They sank deeper this way.

He held my gaze for one second longer, then stepped back.

And just like that. The pressure melted away.

“Leave,” he said firmly and Kyle didn’t hesitate.

He grabbed my wrist lightly and pulled me with him, and this time, I followed without resisting.

We moved quickly, shutting the door behind us as we stepped back into the normal halls of the academy.

Only then did I realize I had been holding my breath. I let it out slowly.

“What was that?” I asked with my voice quieter than I intended.

Kyle ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply as we slowed down. But I don't think his heart did just yet.

“That,” he said, “was Derek.”

My fingers twitched at the name.

“Derek?” I repeated.

Kyle nodded. “Yeah. You don’t want to cross him.”

I frowned slightly. “Who is he?”

Kyle let out a small breath, glancing around before lowering his voice.

“He’s one of the top ranks here. Not just a student anymore—he’s basically an instructor. Handles discipline, training… everything serious.”

I blinked.

“He didn’t look like a student actually,” I muttered and looked back at the door.

“He is,” Kyle said simply. “But not really.”

It dawned on me. “How did he get in?” I asked as I didn't remember hearing the front door open.

“He has access to every room here, does as he pleases,” Kyle replied as we kept walking.

“Mmm,” I hummed as we kept walking and I looked ahead, but my thoughts stayed behind with him.

“There’s a reason everyone respects him,” Kyle continued. “Or fears him. Depends on how you look at it.”

I swallowed slightly. Something about that didn’t sit right with me.

Something I didn’t quite understand.

“Come on,” Kyle added, nudging me lightly. “Let’s just get back before we get into more trouble.”

I nodded slowly. But even as we walked away—

I could still feel it, that lingering presence.

Like it hadn’t fully left me yet.

Later that night, I sat on my bed, staring at nothing in particular.

The room felt empty even if everyone else was there.

Most of the others had settled in, the earlier energy fading into a pretty heavy feeling.

Kyle dropped down beside me, leaning back slightly.

“So,” he said casually, “first day tomorrow.”

I let out a small breath. “Yeah.”

“Excited?”

I hesitated. “I don’t know what I feel,” I admitted.

He chuckled softly. “That’s normal.”

I glanced at him. “Is it?”

“First day here?” He asked, then shrugged. “Everyone’s confused. Just don’t embarrass yourself too much and you’ll be fine.”

I raised a brow. “Embarrass myself? How else can I be more embarrassing?”

He chuckled. “Just don’t… you know… freeze. Or worse.”

“Worse?” I narrowed my eyes slightly.

Kyle laughed. “You don’t want to know.”

“Tell me.”

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice like he was sharing a secret. “Someone once passed out during warm-up.”

I blinked. “Seriously?”

“Yeah,” he grinned. “Didn’t even make it five minutes.”

I huffed a small laugh despite myself. “That’s bad.”

“Exactly. So as long as you don’t do that,” he pointed at me, “you’re good.”

I shook my head lightly. “Good to know.”

He stood up after a moment, stretching slightly.

“I’m heading to bed,” he said. “You should too. Tomorrow’s not going to be easy.”

I nodded. “Yeah. I will.”

“Night, Myla.”

“Night.”

The room slowly fell silent as one by one, the lights dimmed.

And eventually, it was just me.

I reached for my phone without thinking. I hadn't used it all day.

And the moment the screen lit up, my chest tightened instantly.

Missed calls, loads of them.

Messages. So many messages.

All from my parents.

My fingers hovered over the screen before I opened one, then another.

Mom: Please come back.

Dad: We’re sorry.

Mom: We didn’t mean to push you.

Mom: Myla, answer us.

I stared at the words with my throat tightening slightly.

A part of me wanted to respond. To say something. Anything.

But instead, I locked the screen.

“It’s too late,” I whispered softly.

I set the phone aside, turning onto my side.

And this time, when I closed my eyes, sleep came faster than I expected.

Then a loud ringing sound tore through the room.

I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head instinctively.

“What is that?” I mumbled.

“It’s the wake-up call,” Kyle’s voice came from somewhere nearby after a few minutes. “Morning workout. Let’s go.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “Five more minutes.”

“Nope. Doesn’t work like that here,” he responded.

I heard movement, probably the rest were actually getting ready as even the door swung side to side.

Who moves by this time of the day. I'm sure it hadn't reached 5.

So I stayed where I was.

“I’ll come,” I muttered. “Just go.”

There was a pause.

“You sure?” Kyle asked.

“Yeah.”

Another pause. Then, “Alright. Don’t be too late.”

The room emptied out fast and silence followed.

I lay there for a few more seconds, then a few more.

Then, I groaned again and forced myself up.

“Fine,” I muttered, would be bad to be too late on my first day.

I got dressed quickly, barely thinking before rushing out of the room.

By the time I reached the training grounds, everyone was already there.

Great.

I slowed down slightly, trying to blend in as I stepped into a line.

They all stood in different groups and at separate sections. People already organized them.

I had no idea where I was supposed to be as I wandered closer.

Then my body froze as I heard a voice in my direction.

“Stop.”