I have to admit, the letters weren’t that interesting. And worst of all, they made me gag. It is not fun to read about your parents’ love life, especially from before you were born. I regretted it, but one thing that I realised was that my mother lived quite far away from my father. She had to come to meet him and it would often get difficult for her to make it. She always wrote how much she missed him and how strange it was where she lived. I checked the addresses on the letters, and I couldn’t recognise any of the names. I shrugged and returned the letters to the box.

“What was it?” Limia asked as I returned to the dining room. It had almost been half an hour since I had disappeared and I was surprised she still remembered. In fact, I didn’t remember. “Er… I don’t know. Oh, the phone was ringing but I couldn’t pick it up on time,” I said as I sat down to finish my food.

“Alright,” she eyed me suspiciously, wiping some wet plates and disappeared into the kitchen. I sighed as I finished my food and returned to my room. I spent the rest of the morning doing the randomise things, dressing up in my sister’s special clothes, reading half my novel, starting a movie and making some origami stuff for decorating my room. The whole time I was just trying to distract myself from the fact that soon Urna would appear at the door with today’s homework, and life will return to normal.

The bell rang. A sigh escaped from my lips as I made my way to the door, imagining a tall pile of books and worksheets in Urna’s arms. I pulled open the door and peered out, but I realised that nobody was standing there. I could see a few students climbing the lifts to come home after school on the ground level, and a few on the Paths, but there was nobody at the door. Strange. I started closing the door when I spotted something on the ground of the bridge like structure. I picked it up. A pink heart shaped card. Ugh, when would they give up? I took it inside and kept it on the table, then sat down before it, deliberating whether to read it or not. I didn’t even know who it was from, and I was a bit tempted to throw it into the bin when the bell rang again.

Urna was standing there, but she wasn’t facing me. She was looking behind her at another girl, a bit shorter than her with dull green hair and chocolate brown skin. They were both absorbed in an animated conversation and failed to notice that I had answered the door.

“Hello?” I called out awkwardly.

“Oh, hi Melga. Feeling any better? We’ve got loads of homework today, especially in history and math. I was wondering if Rory and I could do it at your place if you are feeling all right,” she rushed through like an express train while I stood there speech less.

“I- Uh- Sure,” I stuttered, my jaw hanging open.

“Thanks,” she brushed past me and into the house. The girl with the dull green braids and dark pink glasses followed her, giving me an apologetic shrug. Why did the name ring a bell? It hit me. Rory. She was one of the people that hung around with Sempa, those girls that follow her around like puppies. I wondered what she was doing with Urna.

“Ooh, another card!” I heard Urna squeak from inside.

I flinched as I rushed to the table and grabbed the card to attempt to hide it then held it behind my back. “It was just lying in front of the door.”

“Oh, what does it say?” Urna nudged me.

“I haven’t opened it yet,” I could feel my cheeks going red. “I don’t even know who it’s from.”

Meanwhile Rory was watching with an utterly dumbfounded expression. her raised eyebrows were almost merging into her hair. “You have lovers?” she said the word like she would be asking whether I had arthritis or a lost treasure. The incredulous tone in her voice made me want to giggle.

“I wouldn’t exactly call it that,” I shrugged awkwardly, then gave Urna the evil eye for bringing her. Urna didn’t get the message.

“She has two, actually,” Urna turned to Rory. I immediately wanted to strangle her.

“Two?” Rory’s mouth fell open.

Urna dug into her bag and fished out some candy. “Roney also sent this for you as a get well soon gift.”

I would have definitely buried my burning face in my arms if Urna hadn’t thrust the bag of candy into my hands. I stood there like a complete moron. “What am I supposed to do with this?”

“Eat it, of course. And give us a few. Sharing is caring, right?” she grinned as she took out a few textbooks from her backpack.

I gawped back at her as she seated herself on the table and began doing some maths problems. “Your mouth is open, dear,” she pointed out to me and I closed it in embarrassment.

What the heck had just happened? Why the hell was Rory there? Urna and I had been best friends for years and although we maintained a casual relationship with our other classmates, we had never had anyone over to do homework with us. It was our personal thing. I couldn’t believe that Urna had brought over another dwarf, let alone a follower of Sempa, to come do homework with us! And without even asking me. I knew she had my best interests at heart and probably a good, reasonable explanation, but deep down somewhere I felt betrayed. One of the threads of my bond with Urna just snapped.

“Are you going to open that card or not?” Rory stood next to the table.

I almost snapped back at her, but then I realised there was no point. At least I should try to be civil. I sighed and pulled it from behind me, then kept it back on the table like it was a bomb that was about to explode. I still didn’t feel like touching it.

“Oh, what’s all this fuss about?” Urna reached over from the other side and flipped open the card. There was a drawing in it of I girl. I realised it was supposed to be me, and I shuddered. there was some writing also. I didn’t want to read it.

“ ‘Hope to see you soon. Take care and get well. You have all my love and wishes. Missing you, Karir.’ ,” Rory read it out. I suddenly felt so exposed, like every aspect of my life, every pore of my skin had been laid out there for anyone to examine. I was no longer a nobody, I could no longer even attempt to blend into the shadows. I was the girl with two lovers, rumours and scandals fed on me, stories were circulated about my life, my every action was watched for any slip up. I would be utterly ruined.

“I think boys can be a little overdramatic,” Urna chewed on the edge of her pencil.

“A little?” Rory settled down beside her with the card. As I looked at both of them sitting and giggling together, i felt something world in my heart, like it had just flipped over and tripped. Jealousy, I realised. I was so used to being the one with Urna everywhere that seeing her so intimate and friendly with someone else hurt. I don’t want to be a restricting and controlling friend, but the jealousy that burned in me and flowed through my blood made me want to attack Rory at that instant. Wow! I took in a deep breath to control myself. I had been having such random violent impulses lately, and I wondered what was wrong with me. I suddenly became frightened of myself, of what I might unleash if I got out of control.

Red lights suddenly started blaring through the windows, the whole house went dark and Rory screamed. I could barely keep myself from panicking as I rushed to the window and looked out. All the streetlights were spreading a bloody hue through the city, and the houses were all dark. The people who were out on the streets or Paths were trembling with fear, while others rushed into their houses or the nearest buildings. Terrified faces peeked out of the widows and looked around perplexed as an announcement rang out through the city. “A human has entered the city of Rothem. he is presently on the loose, but we are going to get the situation under control. Please do not panic. Go to the nearest shelters and lock up your houses. If you see anything suspicious or notice the human, report immediately."