300 Days With The Alpha Beta Triplets

Bella:

Today was cheerful enough for most of the students at Howlstone Academy. The vibrant energy of exam prep filled the air, a relief from the tension that had shadowed the halls two weeks ago when Fae was expelled. There were no bullies lurking around to ruin the day, and for once, I didn't have to glance over my shoulder, expecting someone to plot my demise.

As usual, I walked to class with Hazel and the triplets. The sun streamed through the tall windows, casting long beams across the polished floor, but something about the brightness felt off. It was too cheerful, too perfect. As soon as we stepped into the hallway, the bell blared through the air, startling me.

"That's the bell for class," Hazel said, her voice snapping me back to reality.

"See you guys later," I said to the triplets, giving them a quick wave as I grabbed Hazel's hand.

We made our way down the corridor, the familiar hum of conversation and footsteps filling the space. At our lockers, I grabbed the books I needed while Hazel quietly did the same, but there was something unsettling about the silence between us. Normally, Hazel filled every moment with chatter, but today she seemed as distracted as I was.

When we reached the classroom, we took our usual seats. Hazel sat behind me in the bustling room filled with students who couldn't stop chattering. I glanced at the schedule and began arranging my notes. The routine of it all felt weird. This wasn't my person, because I never arranged my books according to periods. I became so engrossed in lining up my pens and organizing my papers that I didn't notice when the classroom noise died down.

A cold shiver ran through me as I lifted my head. Standing at the front of the room was Mr. Black-Moon, his usually stern face twisted into an unfamiliar smile.

"Good day, class," he greeted, adjusting his tie with slow, deliberate movements. His voice was too cheerful for my liking that one would think I am a sadist.

"Good day, sir," the class echoed in unison.

I swallowed hard, expecting him to introduce some torturous topic or announce another grueling research project on pack history. That was his usual routine-serious, strict, and never one to smile. But today, something was wrong. The smile clung to his face.

"Is it just me, or is something seriously wrong with Mr. Black-Moon?" Hazel whispered from behind me, leaning closer.

I nodded, unable to tear my eyes away from him.

The class began to murmur, uneasy glances passing between students. Mr. Black-Moon remained perfectly still, his smile never faltering, as though it were carved into his face.

"Students," he called, his voice cutting through the whispers like a blade. "I have some special news for you today. We have a new transfer student in our midst, and it is your duty to welcome her warmly."

I glanced at Hazel, who raised her eyebrows in confusion. A transfer student? Two weeks before exams? That was beyond strange.

The door creaked open slowly, and the sound sent a shudder down my spine. She walked in, and the moment my eyes landed on her, my blood turned to ice. The room seemed to tilt, and I had to grip the edge of my desk to steady myself.

There in the flesh stood my dead friend, best friend Bonnie.

The name fell from my lips before I could stop it. "That's Bonnie," I whispered, panic lacing my voice.

"I think I know that girl from somewhere," Hazel said, her brow furrowed.

"Because it is Bonnie," I repeated.

"Yes, Bella, you're correct." Mr. Black-Moon's voice seemed to echo unnaturally through the room. "Bonnie, this is the class."

Everyone chorused a stiff, unsettling welcome, their voices blending together like a single, soulless chant. I sat frozen, staring at Bonnie, who smiled as though nothing had changed-like we were still friends. But that smile wasn't right. None of this was right.

"Bonnie, where would you like to sit?" Mr. Black-Moon asked, and I held my breath.

"I want to sit next to Bella. We'll be best friends again," Bonnie said sweetly. I shook my head, trying to snap out of the spell, but before I could respond, a scream erupted from behind me.

I spun around with my heart racing, and Hazel was gone. Her seat was empty, and my head swiveled to scan the classroom. But everyone acted like Hazel hadn't just vanished. The entire class remained eerily calm, with everyone's eyes fixed ahead, and soon their faces stretched into the same unsettling grin as Bonnie's.

Deliberately, Bonnie moved toward Hazel's vacant seat. She slid into Hazel's chair, crossing her legs with a practiced ease, her eyes never leaving mine.

"Where is Hazel? What have you done to her?" I demanded, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger. "That's no way to talk to your best friend," Bonnie said in a calm tone. "She's gone, Bella. Now it's just us again-like before."

My heart pounded, and I leapt to my feet, ready to run, but before I could move, Bonnie's hand shot out and gripped my wrist. The touch was ice-cold, burning through my skin.

"You're not going anywhere," she hissed, her eyes darkening until they were completely black.

"You left me to die, Bella. You moved on, and you made other friends. Do you think I'll let you live after that? No. I'll kill you, and your new best friend, too."

I wrenched my hand free, but not without her digging her nails into my skin and leaving a mark. As I looked around, the horror sank in further as every face in the room-every single one-was Bonnie. They all stood in unison, their smiles still plastered on their faces. Mr. Black-Moon stepped forward, blocking the door.

I screamed and lashed out, punching him in the face, and his head snapped back before it rolled clean off his shoulders, thudding to the floor. My scream echoed through the classroom.

I bolted for the door, but when I reached for the handle, it vanished, leaving nothing but smooth wood under my fingers.

"Where do you think you're going, Bella?" Bonnie's voice rang out, and I turned to see the sea of identical grinning faces closing in on me.

"You can't run. You could have saved us, but you didn't. Now you'll die here, with us," they chanted in harmony.

I backed against the door with heart pounding, and my mind spinning with panic. They crowded around me, trapping me in their circle. I crouched down, covering my head with my arms, while waiting for the end. But then, the door gave way behind me, and I felt myself falling into nothing.

I screamed as I plummeted into the hollow void, but the blackness swallowed my voice. I kept falling for a while, then suddenly I woke with a jolt, gasping for breath as Hazel's alarm blared through the room.

"What happened?" Hazel asked, and I turned around to see her lying on her bed, unharmed.

I was about to speak when I felt a tingle on my hand. I raised it to see a mark on it, and then I recalled Bonnie

grabbing it in my dream, causing my heart to skip a beat.

"Bella?" Hazel reached for my hand, and I looked at her, swallowing hard.

"I... I had a nightmare. Everything with my dad has been terrifying, but I'll... I'll be fine," I lied. She sat close to me on the bed.

"I know it hasn't been easy, but you need to keep a clear mind. He is still your father, and it is best not to pick sides yet. You heard Carmille's point of view, and your mother's, so you might want to hear his side of the story first," she said, and I forced a smile.

Of course, I would have to hear his side of the story, but I feared it, and I thought it would be best not to confront it. Also, that was the least of my problems at the moment.

Hazel's phone beeped, and she got up from my bed, walking to hers to take her phone from under her pillow. She peered down at it, putting a hand over her mouth.

"Oh, my gosh!"

My heart skipped a beat as she exclaimed.

"What?" I asked at once, pushing my legs off the bed.

"I totally forgot it's the weekend, and Riley is coming over to pick me up!"

My face fell when she said this, and my brows furrowed.

"Of course he is," I muttered.

"What did you say?" she asked, and I shook my head, then threw my head down on the bed, shutting my eyes, trying

to recall my awkward dream.

I had seen Hazel, Bonnie, and that man. I couldn't remember his name, but I could recall his face. He was tall, with dark eyes and an aura that sent a chill through my spine.

As soon as I recalled his features, I sat up, reaching for my nightstand where there was a note, and jotted down all the things I could recall from the dream.

"How do I look?" Hazel asked the moment I put a full stop on my note.

I shut it at once and looked up to see her dressed in a yellow floral gown that made her skin shine. She had a white sandal on, and her hair was neatly pulled back.

"You look great. But I'm sure Riley would love you even if you showed up in a towel."

She chuckled at this, then grabbed her phone, which was ringing.

"I'll be down in a second," she said, grabbing her bags, planting a quick kiss on my forehead, and screaming "Bye"

before she left.

A few minutes after she left, the door to the room swung open, and Finn walked in.

"I saw Hazel rushing down the hall, so I knew you were alone," Finn said before I could start judging him about

knocking.

I ignored him and continued scribbling in my book while he sat down on the bed. Soon, the name I was thinking of

popped in.

"That's it! Black-Moon!" I exclaimed, and Finn looked at me.

"What about him?" he asked.

"You know him?" I questioned, causing him to shrug.

"Everyone knows Principal Black-Moon. He died about three years ago, before your mother became principal of the

school."