I huffed, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps as I tried to steady myself. My chest felt tight, and my thoughts spiralled uncontrollably in confusion.

    What was that?

    Whose memory was it?

    Who was that blue-haired girl?

    The image of her sharp, icy gaze lingered in my mind, sticking itself into my memory as if it had been etched by a burning Hatred? Love?. My hands trembled as I raked my fingers through my hair, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

    "Hey, are you okay?" Natasha''s voice cut through the noise around me, and I looked up to see her standing a few feet away, her expression a mix of worry and confusion.

    "I..." My voice faltered as I struggled to form words. "I''m fine."

    "Fine? You screamed like someone stabbed you," Claire said bluntly, coming way closer to me. Her brow furrowed as she scanned me from head to toe. "What''s going on, Austin?"

    By now, a small group of students had gathered, whispering among themselves as they tried to figure out what had just happened. Their curious stares burned into me.

    I forced myself to straighten up, putting on what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "Really, I''m fine," I said louder, waving a hand dismissively. "Just got spooked by the glow. Didn''t expect it to light up like that."

    "That''s all?" Claire crossed her arms, clearly skeptical.@@@@

    Natasha hovered nearby, her hand outstretched as if she wanted to steady me but wasn''t sure if she should. Zayn stood a little further back, his nervous and hesitation for every single thing is bizarre on its own.

    Maya, as always, was quiet. Her piercing eyes fixed on me, unblinking, as if she was trying to read my soul.

    I exhaled slowly, forcing my racing heart to calm. "I''m okay, really," I said, this time with more conviction. "Nothing to worry about."

    Finally, the other student bodies began to disperse, their curiosity sated for now. But my friends weren''t so easily convinced.

    "Are you sure?" Natasha asked again, her brow gleaming with concern.

    I nodded, plastering on a sweaty smile. "Yeah. Just a little shaken, that''s all."

    Speaking of the source of my ''shaken'' state, the archaeological student I had bumped into was now standing awkwardly in front of me, waiting for me to return it to him.

    "Here," I said, holding it out to him. "Your, uh, rock."

    "Thanks," he muttered, taking it back.

    "Where did you get it?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

    His face lit up, and he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "My team found it during a dig in the mountains. We were working on a research project and came across it while excavating."

    "Interesting," I said, keeping my tone neutral. "And what are you planning to do with it?"

    The boy grinned and winked at me. "We''re using it for tomorrow''s treasure hunt game. It''s gonna blow everyone''s minds."

    "Cool," I replied, forcing a smile.

    The student gave me a thumbs-up before walking off, the faintly glowing stone still clutched in his hands.

    As I watched him leave, a chill ran down my spine. My mind replayed the memory—or vision—of the blue-haired girl and her ominous words.

    "I swear, this is better than any late-night TV," his friend replied, barely blinking.

    "Natasha''s gonna give someone a heart attack with those moves," another chimed in, elbowing his buddy.

    "You mean those moves," one said with a pointed nod, his grin wide as Natasha leapt for a rebound, her body stretching in a way that had half the boys collectively holding their breath.

    I wasn''t immune. The seductive sheen of sweat glistening along their bodies, the occasional flash of a shy smile or cheers from the girls, it was all enough to distract me from that artifact.

    "Game''s heating up, huh?" someone muttered, but it wasn''t about the score.

    I chuckled dryly, shaking my head. ~Heavenly Distractions. I thought, unable to stop my lips from curving into a small, amused smirk.

    Maya, as expected, was calm and steady. She didn''t make flashy moves but consistently scored, her precision unmatched. Zayn struggled a bit, his timid nature holding him back, but we covered for him.

    The game peaked up as the opposing team tried to rally, but Claire and I worked seamlessly together, our combined speed and skill too much for them to handle.

    When I scored another basket, the girls on the sidelines erupted into cheers, their voices rising above the noise.

    "Geez, you''re like a celebrity," Claire teased, bumping her shoulder against mine.

    "What can I say?" I replied, spinning the ball on my finger with a grin. "Some of us are just born to shine."

    Natasha rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless.

    By the time the final whistle blew, we had won decisively. Our teamwork had carried us through, and the energy among us was infectious as we celebrated on the court.

    The sun was beginning to set as we gathered near the exit, the day''s events finally coming to an end. The festival grounds were starting to empty, the noise and excitement gradually fading into the evening stillness.

    "Good work today, everyone," I said, stretching my arms above my head.

    "Tomorrow, we crush it even harder," Claire declared, punching the air.

    Natasha gave a small smile, her usual calm demeanor intact. "We''re in a good place. I am enjoying it"

    Zayn nodded timidly, "Me too.." his exhaustion clear but his spirit seemingly lifted by our victories.

    "See you all tomorrow," Maya said quietly before walking off, her steps measured and deliberate.

    As the others dispersed, I started making my way home, the weight of the day finally settling on my shoulders.

    The streets were quiet, the festival''s energy a distant hum behind me. The sky was painted in hues of orange and pink, the sun dipping below the horizon as a cool breeze swept through the air.

    As I turned a corner, I saw her.

    "Uhh!?" I expressed in sudden confusion and surprise.

    Maya was leaning against a lamppost, her arms crossed and her eyes closed. Her figure was silhouetted against the glowing light, her calm, composed presence almost as if she was waiting for me to come here.

    "Maya?" I called out, stopping in my tracks.

    She opened her eyes, her gaze locking into mine.

    "Hey," she said, her voice calm but firm. "I want to talk to you, Austin."

    Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.