I slowly began lifting my hands.
My entire body had gone numb at this point. Every ounce of resistance I had left disappeared the moment those words left the hunter's mouth.
It was over.
There was no point denying it anymore.
My stupid actions had finally caught up to me. How pathetic.
Just as I was about to stand up, Lyra suddenly spoke.
"Wait a moment."
The classroom went silent again.
The commanding hunter turned towards her immediately.
"What is it?"
Lyra slowly stood up from her seat. Her body was trembling too but her face still wore that same gentle expression she always had whenever she spoke to me.
"Sir, may I ask why you singled Hassan out?" The hunter frowned slightly.
"Why do you ask? Are you suggesting we've identified the wrong person?"
"Yes I do and I have a very good explanation for that"
The classroom fell into a deep silence, every eye on me and Lyra which was unsettling. My main concern was in what Lyra meant by I wasn't their target and she had an explanation for it. Hold on, is she trying to give herself in for me? No it can't…
"Well let's hear it. I really want to know what made you think that"
No Lyra, don't do it !!! My eyes darted around her in utmost panic. I knew Lyra, if it meant giving up her freedom for mine then she will without a second thought. That alone makes me inferior and weak. I don't want to lose anyone again; not even her.
"Sir I…"
"Let me tell him Hassy, it's ok" tell him? What does she want to really say?
"Sir… if you don't mind, could you point your scanners towards the back left corner of the classroom? I believe that's where your actual targets are." Lyra pointed at the back corner of the class where two students were seated. Their eyes were filled with shock as students began to flee from their sides.
" I noticed that when you walked into the classroom, they immediately changed their seats and went to the back in order for them not to be spotted. I had my doubts but those long claws under the desk can't be from a human right?" Everyone's eyes went under the desk revealing the little part of it.
The classroom resumed its chaos as students clashed into one another, trying their very best to run away from the two other students who were still stunned at their exposure. But then…
"Lyra you bastard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" One of them charged towards us on a full sprint but just as it got close, a series of gunshots were released on both of them, dropping them unconscious at the spot.
"Mr Edward, report this immediately. I want this school lockdown for now"
"R…R…Right" Mr Edward bolted out of the classroom as if he'd seen a ghost.
"This is Scott from unit seven. Target not found but currently apprehended two werewolves as we speak." The commanding hunter spoke to his Comms as the others handcuffed the students away. Just as he was about to leave, he turned and looked at Lyra who still had a gentle face looking at him.
"One more thing. Don't mistake what happened here for incompetence. Those two have been under surveillance for quite some time now. Your friend was simply used to observing their reaction."Lyra simply nodded with a bright smile on her face. He gave her a disgusting stare and scoffed as he stepped out of the class
As soon as he left, the classroom became rowdy as ever. Students began to drop on their seats in relief, talking about the scene that just unfolded in front of them.
"Why did you do it?" I stared at Lyra in confusion.
She turned towards me and blinked twice.
"Hm?"
"Those two you knew them personally. So why did you betray them like that knowing fully well the danger it poses to us?" I lowered my head with my hands on my face
"Why do such a terrible thing?"
Lyra remained silent for a moment before sitting back down on her seat.
"Well…"
She tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"That's because you're more important to me than they will ever be" she gave a broad smile which I find annoying at a time like this.
"What...?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
"They trusted you, Lyra."
"I know."
"You betrayed them."
"I did."
"You don't even regret it?"
She tilted her head innocently.
"Should I?"
I stared at her in disbelief.
"You're unbelievable..."
Lyra rested her cheek on her palm, still smiling.
"Hassy, if I had to choose between saving you and saving everyone else in this school..." she paused for a moment before meeting my eyes.
"I'd choose you every single time."
A chill crawled down my spine as I clenched my fists tightly.
"Who were they?"
"Hm?"
"Those two. You knew them."
"Oh yeah,they belonged to the Fenrir Pack."
"The Fenrir Pack?" I asked looking at Lyra confused
I've heard of the Fenrir Pack many times from my parents. They were known for their combat strength and influence throughout the district. They took pride in their Pack's reputation and flaunted their strength wherever they went. After our existence was exposed to the world, their great traits became their downfall. Instead of going into hiding like every other pack, they charged and killed hunters like rogue werewolves on a spiteful hunger.
Just when they thought they were winning, a special but brutal squad was sent that nearly wiped them off the earth; the rest that survived fled and haven't been heard from everyone since. The squad were later known as the Executors Of The Fallen Plague and never appeared after that incident.
I'm surprised that the Fenrir Pack still exists after the heavy damage they received.
"Yeah, our packs formed a temporary alliance several months ago. Their Alpha entrusted them to me while they adjusted to life here at Lumina Crest."
"You were... protecting them?"
"I was supposed to."
My eyes widened.
"Supposed to?"
"Yep."
Her answer came without hesitation.
"But then you got yourself into trouble."
Silence.
"So I changed my priorities." I felt my chest tighten.
"You... sacrificed them?"
"I protected what mattered most."
The words struck harder than I expected.
"How can you say that so calmly?"
"Because it's the truth."
She smiled again.
"They would've done the same for someone precious to them."
"No, they wouldn't!"
"They would've."
"You don't know that!"
"I do."
She spoke so confidently that I couldn't even argue.
I lowered my head, gripping my hair.
"They'll tell the hunters everything... They'll tell them about us... about you..."
"They won't."
I looked up immediately.
"What?"
"They're not going to tell anyone."
"How can you possibly know that?" Lyra leaned closer until only I could hear her voice.
"You don't need to concern yourself over little matters as this Hassy, no one's going to snitch on us okay? Trust me" she smiled at me patting my head.
"What do you mean by that?" I frowned.
Instead of answering, she looked toward the classroom windows.
"You'll understand eventually."
Her words only deepened the knot forming in my stomach.
She suddenly looked toward two empty desks near the middle row.
"Oh... they're gone."
"Who?"
"The two students sitting over there." I followed her gaze.the seats in which she was looking at, were empty.
"They've been watching us for weeks."
"What are you talking about?" I gave a confused facial as I couldn't make out what she's trying to say.
"Those two sitting there weren't students. They were undercover detectives." My expression stiffened.
"They report directly to the hunters."
"What?!"
She nodded casually.
"I noticed them during the first week of school."
"How?"
"They never took proper notes, they never answered questions unless called, they rotated shifts every few days, they always left campus before everyone else and…" she smiled.
"I caught one of them using a military comms device near the girls' restroom one afternoon. After that, I started watching them instead... and they gave themselves away." I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"You knew all this... and never told me?"
"You worry too much already." She reached over and gently patted my head again.
"So I decided to worry for both of us." Her calmness as we discussed was something terrifying. She spoke with certainty and assurance which doesn't add up. She was shaking with me minutes ago. Was that all an act to fool the hunters that she was scared?
Just as I drowned in my thoughts, the announcement speakers suddenly crackled to life.
"Attention all students. By order of the District Security Bureau, Lumina Crest Academy is now under temporary lockdown. Every student will undergo identity verification before leaving campus. Please remain calm and follow staff instructions." Groans echoed throughout the classroom.
My heart sank. A checkpoint? If they scanned us…
Lyra suddenly stood up.
"Well." She stretched lazily. "I've got something to take care of."
"Huh?"
"Meet me at our usual place after school." she winked at me as she picked her bag from the chair.
"What are you talking about? Where are you going?" She simply smiled.
"I'll be fine. I promise not to get into trouble, okay?"
Before I could stop her, she walked out of the classroom as calmly as if nothing had happened.
I watched her disappear into the hallway...and for the first time since we'd met, I couldn't understand what was going through her mind.