NEW LEAF
Scarlett stands there for a moment, catching her breath, and feeling the weight of her hard-won victory. The scent of the dragon's blood fills the air, and she can feel the eyes of all those around her watching in awe and admiration. "I can't believe it! I did it! I defeated my first opponent!" she was happy. The moment was etched into Scarlett's memory forever, as it marked her first mission, a test of her courage, determination, and skill. As she emerged from the building, feeling drained and exhausted, she couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. However, her euphoria was short-lived as she stumbled, her mind hazy and her body heavy.
Suddenly, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, holding her up and steadying her. Confused, she looked up to see Kate's concerned face peering down at her. Scarlett's mind raced with questions, "Why is he holding me? What's going on?" She shrugged him off, trying to regain her balance, but her body felt weak.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Kate asked, his hand still hovering around her waist. Scarlett couldn't shake off the feeling of confusion and unease. She didn't know why she felt that way, as Kate was a trusted colleague and a friend. "Yeah, I'm fine," she repeated, taking a few steps forward to try and regain her composure. As she walked away, she couldn't help but wonder why Kate had been holding her in the first place. With that, Scarlett strode down the hallway of her school, her eyes fixed straight ahead and a cold expression on her face. Some girls came to surround her, but Scarlett pushed past them without a word. She didn't care about their sneers or contempt she reveled in it.
Without warning, the girls began to tear the books out of Scarlett's arms, ripping pages and throwing them onto the ground in a flurry of paper and ink. Scarlett tried to hold onto her books, but the girls were too strong, and with each tug, more pages were torn and ripped apart.
The sound of the pages being torn echoed through the hallway, and Scarlett remained cold and quiet. She felt her heart pounding in her chest, but she didn't allow any hint of fear to show on her face. Instead of shouting for help, she calmly tried to hold onto her books, determined not to let anyone see her vulnerability. As Scarlett watched the girls tearing her books apart, she felt empty, like the world around her had faded away. The sound of ripping pages and the jeers of her tormentors seemed to come from a distant place, and Scarlett couldn't shake off the feeling of detachment. It was as if she was watching the scene unfold from outside her own body, observing the chaos with a detached sense of calm. At that moment, Scarlett felt like nothing could touch her - not the bullies, not the noise, not even the pain of losing her belongings. She was a shell, numb to the world around her, and for a fleeting moment, that emptiness was almost comforting. Despite her despair, Scarlett refused to give in to the bullies.