WEREWOLF SYSTEM

Kyle's POV

I glance at Elena, unsure whether I should push the conversation any further. The cool, yet almost tense air between us has been hanging for a while now, like a storm about to break. Her eyes, deep and unreadable, flicker briefly as if she's considering something, perhaps even deciding whether or not to say what's been on her mind. I want to ask her more, something more personal.

I look down at my tray, pretending to focus on my food. I can't help it—I have so many questions, most of which I know I should just leave alone. But there's this nagging feeling that something is off. I don't know her background, and I can't help but want to understand her better, even if she doesn't give much away.

"Elena, if you don't mind me asking, can I... ask you something personal?" I speak cautiously, gauging her reaction.

She lifts her gaze to meet mine, the slightest raise of her brow showing she's curious, but not in a way that would give me much hope that she would actually answer. "Go ahead," she says, her voice detached, like she's still holding some barrier between us. But there's something in her eyes that hints she might let it slip. For whatever reason, she seems like she's willing to talk today.

I hesitate, then ask, "What happened to your brothers? I noticed you don't really talk about them much, and... I'm just curious. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Her expression doesn't change immediately, but her eyes shift downward, her fingers briefly tracing the edge of her cup before resting still. The way she avoids looking me directly in the eye makes me feel like I've crossed a line. But then, after a long, pregnant pause, she speaks. Her voice is soft, almost as if she's weighing her words carefully before they escape her lips.

"I had two brothers," she begins, her tone unusually flat. "A twin brother and my older brother. They... went missing a few years ago."

I lean in slightly, intrigued and concerned. "Missing?" I repeat, unable to hide the disbelief in my voice. "What happened?"

Elena pauses, looking over my shoulder as if the memory is too painful to hold in her gaze for too long. "They... were on a trip with some friends," she says, her words slower now. "They were going swimming—just a normal day, nothing too different, just kids having fun. They went out to a river deep in the woods. Some sort of... tradition, I guess, that some of the local kids do. It's not far from the edge of town, but..." She shakes her head as though trying to convince herself that what she's about to say is real.

"And your family? How did you... how did you handle it?" I ask, feeling a knot in my chest. The sadness in her voice stirs something deep within me—an unease I don't quite understand.

She laughs bitterly, almost like it's a reflex, then rubs her face with one hand, as though trying to erase something—maybe herself. "I don't know if I've really handled it. I haven't spoken about it to anyone, not in years." She leans back in her chair, her gaze fixed on a distant point in the cafeteria. "I guess... you never really handle losing someone. You just... keep going. People forget that. They think they'll be okay, but... you don't get to decide that. It just happens."

I want to say something comforting, but the words escape me. I can't imagine losing someone like that, especially not family. The fact that she's able to speak about it with such cold detachment throws me off even more. But at the same time, I can't help but feel like there's more to this story—something darker lurking just beneath the surface of her words. Still, I don't press her further. I get the sense she's already said more than she intended.

"And you've never found out what really happened to them?" I ask, unable to help myself.

She shrugs, her expression unreadable. "I don't think anyone really wanted to know. They were just... gone. There were rumors, of course, about the river being cursed or something, but nothing concrete. People always make up stories when they don't have the answers."

"Rumors?" I ask, trying to pry just a little more from her.

Her lips curl into something like a half-smile, but it's void of warmth. "I've heard everything from wild animals to secret government experiments. You name it, and I've heard it. I guess I don't really care about what people think anymore." She picks at the edge of her napkin, her tone suddenly turning defensive. "There's no point in asking questions that aren't going to give you the answers you want."

A pang of curiosity gnaws at me, but I sense that pushing further will only close her off completely. She's already revealed more than I expected her to, and for now, I'll respect the silence that's creeping back between us. It's clear she's been carrying this burden for years, and whatever other secrets she holds inside, she's not ready to share them.

I try to change the subject, hoping to lighten the mood. "So... swimming, huh? Sounds like a dangerous hobby," I say, offering a small, teasing smile.

Her lips twitch, but she doesn't return the smile. Instead, she shrugs again, as if brushing off the conversation. "Maybe," she says. "But it's not the worst thing that could happen."

The conversation lulls into a heavy silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts. Elena seems distant again, retreating into herself. But as I glance at her, I can't shake the feeling that this is far from over—that her past is tied to something bigger, something she might not even understand yet.

Suddenly, my phone buzzes in my pocket, breaking the silence. I pull it out, glancing at the screen. A notification flashes across, sending a chill down my spine.

Alert: Missing Student Confirmed Dead

The text message is simple, but the weight of it is suffocating. I feel my heart skip a beat, the blood draining from my face. A dead student. That means this isn't just some disappearance—this time, there's no hope.

I read the message again, almost expecting the words to change, for it to be some kind of sick mistake, but no. It's real. Someone's life has just been snuffed out.

"Another one?" I mutter under my breath, but Elena catches it.

"What's that?" she asks, her voice sounding just a bit more alert now, her curiosity piqued. She's always so cool and collected, but the slight edge in her voice betrays something deeper—something unsettled.

I show her the screen, the words hanging heavy between us.

"The student that was missing earlier has been found dead," I repeat, my voice hollow. My stomach churns as I see her expression shift. She's no longer the aloof figure I've grown used to, and I can almost see the wheels turning in her mind as she processes the news.

Her face tightens, a flicker of something dark crossing her features. "That's... the third one this month," she says, her voice distant but not unfeeling. "And they still don't know how it happened, do they?"

I shake my head, unsure what to say. "No, nothing. Just the usual... 'investigation ongoing.'" The words leave a bitter taste in my mouth. We both know what that means.

I look at her again, this time more intensely, and I can't help but notice how she seems less shocked than I would expect. Almost resigned.

"Do you know something about this?" I ask, unable to stop myself.

Her lips press into a thin line, her eyes flicking briefly to the door before looking back at me. She doesn't answer right away, but the silence between us grows thick. Then, with a barely perceptible shake of her head, she stands, pushing her chair back with a quiet scrape.

"Maybe it's better if you don't know," she says cryptically, before walking away, her pace steady but quick.

I sit there, watching her retreat, feeling the weight of her words and the chilling news of the day settling like a stone in my gut. Whatever's happening at this school, it's not just a coincidence. There's something far darker lurking beneath the surface, and it's only just beginning to unfold.