chapter 2. The test results

Damon perspective

"Mum, I've got to go. It's getting late, and I don't want to be late," I tell her.

"Wait, have you finished your food?" she asks.

"Yes," I answer, waiting for my mum to give me the green light

My house, just like any regular human dwelling, was a modest place. Two rooms made up the entire space, where everyday life unfolded. No fancy decorations or luxurious furnishings, just the basics to get by. It might not have been grand, but it was home, the place where my mom and I shared the struggles and triumphs of our daily existence.

My mom, a true warrior in her own right, never had it easy. She took up various jobs, borrowing money anywhere just to put food on our table. There were times when the burden of responsibility looked heavy on her , but she never relent.

She did any job that came her way, no matter how tough, demanding or rough it is. Whether it was cleaning someone else's house or doing odd jobs in the neighborhood. Every penny earned was a lifeline, not just for her but for me.

There were moments when she looked weak, worn out from the struggles life threw at her. Yet, she keeps going forward, fueled by a mother's love and determination. The sacrifices she made, the corners she cut, all for the sake of a better life for me.

In the midst of financial hardships, she remained a pillar of strength. Borrowing money wasn't a sign of weakness but a testament to her resilience. The debts were just temporary hurdles on our journey, obstacles she faced head-on to ensure we never went to bed hungry.

Her hands, calloused from hard work, told stories of sacrifice and tenacity. She might not have had the luxury of a glamorous job, but her unwavering commitment to providing for her family painted her as a true hero in my eyes.

After a while,she emerges.

"Have you packed all the necessary things?" she asks.

"Yes," I replied.

We set off, and she uses her van to drop me off at the school gate before heading to work. It's a routine, a daily dance of responsibilities as we navigate the balance between home and the outside world.

Weeks have passed since I joined Campbell Academy. As I step out of my mom's van in front of the gate, thoughts of the past weeks linger. It's been a constant effort to steer clear of trouble from all sides, especially from Jude's end. I've been doing my best to stay low-key and avoid anything that might draw attention my way.

In the midst of this, Jack has been my only friend. Despite my initial harshness towards him on my first day, he didn't give up on being helpful. He's been a guiding force, showing me the ropes around school, both what I should know and what I'm better off not knowing. The only hitch? He's so talkative, a contrast to my preference for silence.

Lost in thought, I hear someone calling my name. It's Jackson.

"Hey," he greets.

"Good morning. How are you doing?" I ask.

"I'm fine. Didn't your mom drop you off today?" he inquires.

"She did. You're the one who didn't arrive on time," I reply.

"Okay," he says, glancing around like a thief.

"Did you hear what happened yesterday in the woods near our school?" he asks.

"No, I didn't," I answered.

"Two werewolves were killed by the werewolf hunters last night. They were both students of our school," he reveals, and the news hits me like a sudden storm.

Shocked by what I heard about werewolves, I couldn't help but ask.

"Are there werewolves in our school?" I inquire.

"Yes, we have them, but we don't know who they are. Everyone hides their identity. But I can recognize one if I see them," Jackson reveals.

His words shock me. Does he know that I'm a werewolf, or is he just pretending? I look at him and ask, "So what am I?"

"You're human, come on,A werewolf can't be as handsome as you are," he reassures with a grin.

Relieved, I can see in his eyes that he's telling the truth. He doesn't know I'm a werewolf. I must've been talking nonsense when I said he knows them if he sees them. We both laugh and head inside the classroom, leaving the mysterious world of werewolves momentarily behind.

After many periods, the class coordinator steps in.

"Good afternoon, class," she greets.

"Afternoon," the class responds.

"I brought the results of your CA test," she announces, calling out everyone's name with their scores. My name isn't mentioned until she drops the bomb.

"The person with the highest score in the test is Damon Ramsey," she declares. My name echoes in the classroom, and all eyes are on me. I stand up, and the class erupts into applause. Some are genuinely happy for me, but I catch Rosie, looking visibly upset.

After the clapping, the teacher hands me my script and leaves. As I check my script, Rosie blocks my way.

"Did you bribe the teacher?" she accuses.

"No, why would I do such a thing?" I responded.

"How can your score be higher than mine? How did you do that?" she rudely questions.

"Must everyone fail just because you did?" I retorted. She raises her hand to slap me, but I block it.

"Don't you dare," I warn. The tension in the air hangs thick as our clash continues in the aftermath of academic success.

As I blocked Rosie's hand, I felt the weight of every pair of eyes in the classroom fixed on me. The air tensed up, and the atmosphere thickened with an impending storm. At that moment, I could sense trouble brewing, not just from Rosie, but from the entire classroom.

Jude and his gang stood up, their collective gaze piercing through the room. It was like a silent signal, a cue for something ominous about to unfold. The silence in the room was deafening, a prelude to the storm that was about to break loose.

Rosie, her face flushed with anger, stepped back. The classroom seemed to shrink as tension filled every inch of space. It was a standoff, a clash of forces waiting for the spark to ignite the looming conflict.

Suddenly, the bell rang, interrupting the ominous silence. The abrupt sound reverberated through the room, breaking the spell. The moment shattered like fragile glass, and everyone dispersed, each carrying the weight of the unresolved tension.

As I left the classroom, I could feel the lingering eyes of Jude and his gang. The suspense hung in the air, leaving me with a sense of foreboding. Little did I know, the confrontation with Rosie and the looming threat from Jude were just the beginning of a twisted journey into the depths of Campbell Academy's secrets.