58. Old Victim

Jayden staggered backward, blood pouring from his nose. “Stay away from me!” she snapped. And in the blink of an eye, she was gone—vanishing into the night with the speed of a lightning bolt, leaving Jayden bleeding and breathless in the cold, dark woods. Jayden sniffed sharply, pressing his fingers against his nostrils to slow the bleeding. His nose throbbed, but the pain was nothing compared to the chaos swirling in his mind. Rose had changed. That much was clear. But how much of her was still left? With a heavy sigh, he turned away from the woods, disappointment weighing him down. Then— A scream. His head snapped up. It came from the school. Without hesitation, Jayden took off running, his heart pounding as he sprinted across the grounds. When he reached the schoolyard, his breath caught in his throat. Up on the rooftop, swinging at the very edge of the wall, stood a student. Jayden’s stomach twisted. He recognized him instantly—one of the kids he had bullied in the past. But someth