Dark Bonds

My head was pounding, literally. I woke up feeling like my heart had migrated to the back of my skull, each beat replaced by a wave of pain threatening to split it open.

Somehow, I had the distinct sense I was forgetting something. Then, like a cursed memory surfacing at the worst possible time, it hit me.

Of course. The headache. My body's not-so-gentle reminder of that crazy woman.

"Ouch," I groaned, pressing my fingers against my temples. With a wince, I swung my legs off the bed, stretched briefly, and stole a glance at the massive vintage wall clock above my headboard.

Unbelievable. Six a.m. If not for this blinding headache, a miracle like this wouldn't have happened.

Gosh, this was torture.

"Lights on," I called out. The room lit up brilliantly, and I flicked on the speakers, letting music fill the space as I shuffled into the bathroom. After a quick shower, I slipped into a black, long-sleeved dress, ran a comb through my hair, and paused to study myself in the wall mirror.

"Darn," I muttered when my gaze returned to the clock. Seven a.m. already. I bolted out of the room and down the stairs, nearly colliding with a startled Bernice. Her wide eyes betrayed her shock at seeing me up this early.

"Morning, Dad. Bye, Dad," I blurted in one breath as I hit the foot of the stairs. Dad just stared, too stunned to reply. Without breaking stride, I sped toward the front door.

"What about breakfast?" he called after me.

"Later!" I shot back, dashing outside and heading straight for the car. Moments later, I was at the school gates, the heavy iron swinging open as we pulled through.

The car barely stopped before I was out, striding briskly toward the main doors.

"You're almost late, Miss Ada," Mrs. Jane, one of the supervisors, greeted me as I stepped inside. "I thought this new responsibility might change your attitude."

"Tell me all about it," I muttered, walking past her toward my locker. Seriously, was this woman sent just to annoy me?

The hallway was quiet. Most students arrived late, but I always managed to set the bar for extreme.

After stowing my laptop in my locker, I turned to see Aisha leaning casually against the one beside mine.

"Everyone's in the waiting room," she said. "No way I'm going in without you."

"Oh, come on," I groaned. "You've got this."

"I do, but we both created this mess," she replied, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear with a grin. "Honey, let's go show that bitch who's boss."

Her confidence made me smile, and together we headed toward the waiting room, giggling. "What are they like?" I asked. "The new ones, I mean."

"What do you think? Shy. Nervous. Typical first-day vibes."

Aisha pushed open the doors, and I was pleasantly surprised. The first batch of students didn't look bad. Most leaned casually against the sparkling white walls, their faces buried in their phones.

There were about fifteen of them—not a small number for a school like Nederland—and we were still expecting more. Mrs. Ailatu must have really cast her net wide.

As we entered, all eyes turned toward us. For a brief moment, it felt like I was the one caught off guard. Still, I managed a smile.

These were the moments I thrived on; being the center of attention always felt like home.

"We're not here for a staring contest, are we?" I quipped. That broke the ice, and laughter rippled through the group.

I took a slow lap around the room, studying their features. The air was thick with nervous energy.

"On behalf of the school, the teachers, and every other Nederland student out there, welcome to Nederland High." My voice carried a hint of drama, earning their full attention. "If you're worried about making a good first impression, cut it out. This is a place where you're free to embarrass yourselves because, honestly, no one cares."

That earned another round of laughter, and I could feel the tension ease. Good. They were warming up to me.

"But," I added, letting my tone grow serious,

"I know some of you might be dwelling on what you left behind to come here. That's just life. Sometimes we lose things—relationships, places—only to gain new ones. We keep moving forward. So, if you're feeling lost, remember: the right people will find you. Party. Make friends. Socialize. In the end, it's the experience that matters."

Their excitement bubbled over at the mention of a party. Typical.

"Don't get too excited," Aisha interjected with a mischievous smile. Uh-oh. I knew where this was going. "The school acknowledges you with this tour, but the older students? They have their own... ceremony."

"Is it like a welcome party?" a boy asked, his curiosity mirrored by the others.

I laughed. "Oh, you have no idea. But let's just say—it'll be a surprise."

"The way you say that makes me uneasy," a petite, brown-eyed girl muttered, raising an eyebrow.

"That's the point," I replied with a grin. "It's going to hurt. A lot."

The room fell silent. Their wide-eyed expressions made it hard not to laugh.

"Alright, that's enough for today," I said, my voice light again. "Time for the tour. Let's move—no time to waste."

They stood hesitantly, mumbling as they filed toward the door. I could feel their wary glances on me and Aisha, as if they could decipher the mystery of the ceremony by staring hard enough.

"I'll lead the way, senorita," said a boy in a sharp, corporate-style outfit. With a dramatic bow, he held the door open.

"See, guys? This is a gentleman. Ladies, he's a catch," I announced. Behind me, a trio of girls giggled shyly.

On second thought, maybe he was just a playboy.