#Chapter 88: And Still it Lingers

The morning light filtered through the classroom windows, a stark contrast to the dark thoughts swirling in my mind. Despite my best efforts to focus, my eyes glazed over, staring blankly at the textbook in front of me. Mr. Thompson's voice droned on, a distant hum that barely registered. My heart was still pounding from the nightmares, and every shadow seemed to morph into a werewolf waiting to pounce. “Ella, are you paying attention?” Mr. Thompson's sharp voice cut through my haze, dragging me back to the present. I blinked, realizing that the entire class was staring at me. My cheeks burned with embarrassment. “Uh, yes, Mr. Thompson. Sorry,” I mumbled, trying to avoid the curious gazes of my classmates. I could feel their eyes boring into me with curiosity. “It's quite clear you weren't,” Mr. Thompson said, crossing his arms. “Just because your book became popular online and everyone knows you're Opheliathescribe, doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. This is still a clas