The doors of the cafeteria opened wide and the new students rushed in like people trying to grab freebies at a mall sale. The place was huge, buzzing with voices and footsteps. Some students were already eating, others lined up at the chef stands, waving their green and blue ID cards like glowing tags on a festival night.
Every new student had five hundred dollars loaded into their cards. It could grow with earned points or shrink when they lost points. Some could even end up in serious debt. But Ben was not bothered by that. He stood at the entrance, eyes sweeping through the crowd, clearly searching for someone.
He spotted her almost at once.
A girl with long black hair tied in a neat ponytail sat with three other students, her back turned to him. Ben did not need a second look. He knew that posture, that way of sitting, that hair ribbon. That was Kate. His sister.
His heart kicked in excitement. He moved fast across the room, nearly breaking into a run but stopping himself so he would not look like a lost puppy. When he reached her, he slipped his arms around her stomach and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Hello, big sis. I missed you so much," he said softly, his voice warm.
Kate stiffened. Her reaction was not surprise. It was something sharp.
Before Ben could blink, she grabbed his wrists, stood up and flipped him over her shoulder. He hit the cafeteria floor with a loud smack that echoed through the room. Every student turned. Some gasped. Some laughed. Others paused mid-bite.
Ben winced and sat up slowly, staring at her in shock. "Sister," he whispered, confused. "Why did you do that? You knew it was me."
"Are you stupid?" Kate shot back, her tone cold enough to freeze the soup on her table. "You came out of nowhere and hugged me like that."
Ben blinked, more confused than hurt. Three years had passed since he last saw her, but he remembered her as the type who hugged like she was trying to squeeze love into someone. This cold version of her felt wrong.
"It has been so long," he said, his voice small but honest. "I missed you."
The room stared at them like the cafeteria had become a stage. Some students whispered. Some chuckled and nudged each other. The humiliation stung, but the confusion stung more.
Kate leaned closer, her eyes blazing. "Listen well. I am not your sister. If you try something stupid like that again, I will make sure you never hug anyone again for the rest of your life."
She stood, left her tray behind and walked away without looking back.
Ben sat frozen on the floor. His mind scrambled for sense.
Did she just deny me? Maybe she is not Kate? No, that is impossible. The ribbon on her head was handmade by their mum. And he saw the name clearly on her green ID card: Kate Wells. She even had the same sharp way of walking.
Then why talk like a stranger? Did she lose her memory? Did something happen?
A shadow crouched beside him.
Ben looked up and saw a boy with a blue ID card, emerald yellow eyes, and messy white hair that looked like he had a habit of running his hands through it all day. He was shorter than Ben but carried himself like someone who enjoyed watching trouble unfold.
"Is she your sister?" the boy asked, his voice calm but edged with a hint of mockery.
Ben stayed silent, still staring at Kate's retreating figure like his gaze alone could pull her back. His chest tightened with confusion and hurt.
Beside him, the white-haired boy let out a low chuckle. He followed Ben's line of sight and then called out, loud and sharp, "Kate Wells."
His voice hit the room like a command. Strong. Cold. Absolute.
Kate froze instantly. Even from behind, Ben saw her shoulders shake. She stood stiff for a moment, praying silently. Please not Michael. Please not him.
She turned slowly.
It was him.
Her face drained of color. The boy gave her a small, sly smile, then crooked one finger at her, silently telling her to come back.
And she obeyed.
Not a single moment of hesitation. She walked back like someone approaching a dangerous beast, her body trembling so hard it was almost visible from across the room.
Ben's shock deepened. How can he control her like that? She never feared anyone, not even Dad when she was younger.
Michael, still squatting beside Ben, looked up at her. Up close, Ben finally noticed Kate's face. She was as beautiful as he remembered, but the fire he knew so well was gone. Replaced with pure fear.
"Is he your brother?" Michael asked her.
Ben jerked forward. "Who the hell are you? Stop talking to her like she—"
Pow.
Pow.
Two heavy punches landed on Ben's face so fast he barely saw the white gloves move. Pain shot through his jaw and warm blood slid down his lip. His head rang from the impact.
This guy looked weak a second ago. What the hell was that?
"Shut your trap," Michael said with a grin. "I am not talking to you yet."
He stood and walked toward Kate. She was taller, but that did not matter. Her whole body shook like she was standing in the cold.
Michael reached out, grabbed her by the ponytail, and yanked her forward before pressing a long kiss against her lips. Gasps echoed around the cafeteria. Ben's heart stopped.
What? Is this creep her boyfriend? Since when?
Michael pulled away slowly but kept his grip in her hair, twisting it just enough to remind her she had no power.
"Come on, Kate. You do not want me angry, do you?" His voice was calm, but the threat in it was sharp. Terrifying.
Kate shook her head quickly. "No."
"Then answer the question," he said. "Is he your brother?"
She swallowed hard. Her eyes were already wet. When she spoke, her voice cracked like a girl holding back sobs.
"He is."
The words stabbed Ben deeper than the punches.
This was Kate. His sister. The strongest girl he knew. The girl who broke sticks over boys' heads when they teased him. The girl who could fight ten people and walk away smiling.
And now she trembled in front of some boy with pretty eyes and messy hair.
Ben's mind spun.
What happened to her? Why did she deny me? How did someone break her like this? Who is this guy?
He had no answers.
Only questions and the growing fear that the Academy was far more dangerous than anything he had imagined.