‡† The Unseen †‡

07 † More shadows †

Silence crashed into the room like a dropped plate.

Mr. Alden blinked, frozen. His mouth opened slightly but no words came out.

Raven stood there, chest rising and falling, heat rising up his neck, and then—just like that—the fury drained. He felt the air rush out of him in one crushing wave. The panic attack reduced itself to the background, like a devious little devil who had done his job—making Raven fall for it.

And he did. Badly.

He looked around. Everyone was staring. Even the kids who usually never looked up were watching him now.

And then he saw Mr. Alden's expression—not angry.

Concerned.

That made it worse.

So much worse.

Because then Raven realized what he’d done.

He had cracked it—the perfect mask. The image everyone knew Raven Eli to be. He had let something through. He had broken the one thing he worked so hard to keep polished and untouchable.

"I'm—" his voice caught, panic bubbling. "I’m sorry. Mr. Alden, I didn’t—I didn’t mean to—please, I just... I haven’t been myself. I—”

God, this hurts...

His breath quickened. His eyes stung.

I can't breathe..

“I didn’t mean it. Please. Don’t… don’t look at me like that.”

He dropped into his seat, shaking, hands flat on the desk like he could pin himself in place. Like he could glue it all back together if he held still long enough.

The class remained quiet.

Mr. Alden cleared his throat gently. “It’s okay, Raven. Why don’t you head to the nurse’s office for a minute, yeah?”

But Raven didn’t move.

Because the nurse couldn’t help with this kind of fracture.

Not when it was inside.

Not when something was already breaking loose.

—————

The bell rang, and the classroom emptied slowly, students whispering like something sacred had cracked.

Something sacred had cracked. Raven Eli, that's what.

No one said Raven’s name out loud, but he felt it vibrating through the space between footsteps and sideways glances.

He moved fast—backpack slung over one shoulder, eyes down, mouth shut.

I've got to disappear.

But outside the classroom, someone was waiting.

“Hey—Raven?”

It was Cara. Quiet, observant, one of the few who actually listened in class. She stepped up beside him, walking at his pace, clutching her notebook to her chest.

“I just—wanted to ask if you were okay,” she said gently. “Back there, you looked like—”

“I’m fine,” Raven cut in, too fast.

Too sharp. Fake the smile.

Cara blinked. “It’s just… you don’t usually—”

“I said I’m fine.” His tone snapped like a rubber band. “Seriously. Just… drop it, alright?”