The sky hung low and heavy, lead-gray clouds pressing down like a suffocating weight over the city. The air itself felt thick, carrying a quiet tension that made everything seem slightly off. Harley walked along the campus path, her steps light and unhurried, her mood strangely buoyant despite the oppressive atmosphere.
The old buildings on either side of the walkway carried a worn, classical charm, their stone walls weathered by time. Against that backdrop, her pale skin stood out even more starkly, almost unnatural in contrast, as if she didn't quite belong in the scene.
"Harley?"
The voice came from the side, tinged with surprise. A girl with a high ponytail and tan skin approached quickly, flanked by two others—one white, one black—both dressed in the same school uniform.
"Lina. Morning," Harley replied calmly, her tone casual and even.
The three girls stopped in their tracks, confusion spreading across their faces almost instantly.
"…What?" Lina blinked, then suddenly burst out laughing. "Harley Quinn, did I hear that right? You just said good morning to me?"
She shoved her hands into her pockets and sauntered closer, her posture loose but deliberate. When she reached Harley, she slung an arm over her shoulder and yanked her forward with a bit of force.
"Where are your stupid black-rimmed glasses, huh?" Lina sneered, the corners of her mouth curling upward in mockery.
Normally, Harley would've shrunk back, embarrassed and quiet, avoiding eye contact. That was what everyone expected.
Instead, she slowly lifted her head.
A wide, exaggerated smile stretched across her lips, her eyes fixed directly on Lina without a trace of hesitation.
The shift was subtle, but unmistakable.
A chill crept up Lina's spine. The air around her suddenly felt colder, heavier, like something unseen had closed in. Goosebumps prickled across her bare arms, and for a brief moment, her mind went completely blank.
Her expression stiffened. Almost instinctively, she pulled her arm away and took a small step back.
"…?"
Behind her, the other two girls exchanged confused glances, clearly thrown off by Lina's sudden reaction.
Harley gave a faint nod, her expression returning to neutral as if nothing had happened. Then she turned and continued down the path, her steps light and steady.
"Lina, what was that about?" one of the girls asked, frowning.
"I thought you were gonna mess with her like usual," the other added with a grin, looping an arm around Lina's shoulders.
Lina shook her head hard, trying to shake off the lingering unease. Her ponytail swayed with the motion, the movement almost playful, but her voice carried irritation.
"Damn it… what the hell was that?" she muttered, then her tone sharpened. "That freak thinks she's brave now? Let's see how brave she really is!"
Annoyance replaced the fear. She took off after Harley without hesitation, her two friends following closely behind, excitement written all over their faces.
They caught up quickly.
Seeing Harley walking ahead with her backpack, seemingly unaware, Lina didn't slow down. She rushed forward and kicked her hard from behind.
Thud!
Harley hit the ground instantly, her body collapsing forward as she lay there motionless, her head lowered as if she didn't dare fight back.
Lina's face lit up with satisfaction. She stepped forward, grabbing a fistful of Harley's blonde hair and yanking her head up.
The two girls behind her moved in as well, eager to watch.
Then—
Harley's hand shot up and clamped onto Lina's wrist.
"…?"
Lina froze, shock flashing across her face. Anger followed immediately, and she tried to yank her hand free.
Crack!
A sharp, sickening sound rang out as her wrist twisted unnaturally in the opposite direction.
"AHHH!"
The scream tore through the air, high and piercing. Lina's eyes widened in horror as she stared at Harley.
Before she could react again—
Smack!
A brutal slap landed across her face. The force spun her entire body twice before she crashed to the ground, her vision blurring.
"Harley's lost it!" one of the girls shrieked.
"Help!"
Panic took over. They turned to run—but they didn't get far.
Harley moved with unnatural speed, her grin widening as she lunged forward. She grabbed them both, dragging them down with ease.
Her hands lashed out left and right, striking with precision and force. One girl's face snapped to the side, streaks of red marking her skin before she went limp under the barrage.
The other was thrown to the ground, struggling, but it didn't matter.
Three minutes later, silence settled over the scene.
Harley crouched over one of them, her breathing steady, her gaze locked on the girl's exposed neck. The pale skin there pulsed faintly with life.
She licked her lips without realizing it.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
A passing student shouted, sprinting toward them.
The spell shattered instantly.
Harley blinked, her expression snapping back to something human—something panicked. She looked down at the three unconscious bodies beneath her, confusion and fear flooding her face.
Without another second of hesitation, she grabbed her dropped backpack and bolted.
The incident didn't spread.
A violent fight had broken out on Highland Campus, but it was quickly suppressed, reduced to whispers and buried under routine discipline.
By the time morning classes resumed, there was no open talk of it.
Harley sat in her seat, her body tense, unease lingering beneath her skin. Slowly, she pulled a small round mirror from her bag and lifted it to her face.
Her reflection stared back at her.
Her skin looked even paler than usual, almost bloodless.
"…Am I always this pale?" she murmured, her brows knitting slightly.
But her thoughts refused to stay there.
The image from earlier forced its way back—her hand pulling open the girl's collar, revealing that slender neck.
Her tongue flicked unconsciously against her lips.
The realization hit, and fear surged through her chest. She grabbed her water bottle and drank quickly, gulp after gulp, as if trying to wash something away.
Only when her stomach felt uncomfortably full did she lower it back onto the desk.
"What's wrong with me…" she whispered.
A low buzzing began in her head, faint at first, then growing louder. It vibrated through her skull, disrupting her thoughts, drowning out everything else.
The rest of the lesson passed in a blur. She didn't hear a single word.
When the bell rang, she shot to her feet, slinging her bag over her shoulder and rushing out of the classroom.
The buzzing didn't stop.
If anything, it grew more insistent, like something was calling her, guiding her.
Her feet moved before she could think.
She ran.
Past the abandoned church.
Across streets filled with idle chatter and passing crowds.
Through shifting currents of people, weaving without slowing, her direction fixed by something she couldn't see.
Eventually, the noise in her head cut off abruptly.
She stopped.
In front of her stretched an open, desolate field. The atmosphere was quiet, almost eerily so, the emptiness pressing in from all sides.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Donglin Cemetery.
An old cemetery, long abandoned and left to decay.
"How… did I get here?" she muttered, her voice trembling.
Her face had gone pale again, fear creeping into her expression. It didn't feel like she had chosen this. It felt like her body had simply… obeyed something else.
"Hey there."
The voice came out of nowhere—light, almost playful.
"Were you summoned by the Blood God too?"
Harley's entire body tensed. She spun around instantly, her heart pounding.
A tall, middle-aged man stood a short distance away, dressed in a spotless white robe. His posture was straight, composed, and his face carried a faint, pleasant smile.
But his eyes—
A flash of scarlet light flickered within them.
Harley stumbled back, shock surging through her as fear gripped her chest.
....
Join my exclusive P@treon community for 60+ thrilling chapters!
Link: pa*treon.com/MidnightWonder (Remove the *)
If you join now you will get 2 Chapters for free as well.
Don't miss out, join now!