Beyond the Pack’s Law: My stepsister or nobody else

Hayley’s Pov

The air washed over me like a wave of reminiscence, providing an abrupt dichotomy to the turbulent inner strife within. My heart chilled as if imprisoned in ice, with each thump resonating the agony of deceitfulness. Entering the inadequately illuminated foyer and perceiving flickering lights casting a bland radiance upon mismatched furnishings.

A recognizable voice called out, “Hey, is that Hayley?” from the reception desk. I spun around to find Nora gazing back at me-the compassionate front-desk attendant who’d always had my back whenever I was in need of comfort. Seeing my face dampened with tears stirred a sense of worry within her bright eyes as she extended her observations towards me.

Attempting to control my voice, I whispered, “Nora.”

She leaned across the counter with a concerned expression, asking, “Something happened? You appear like you’ve witnessed an apparition.”

“I sighed, rubbing my temples in an attempt to ward off the headache brewing behind my eyes. It’s… complicated,” I expressed with difficulty.

With a serious expression, Nora emerged from the desk and spoke softly. “If you need someone to talk to, I’m always here for you.”

Not knowing how to begin, my head shook in perplexity. I struggled to articulate the sensation of betrayal by someone who was supposed to safeguard my heart against harm. “I could do with some fresh air,” I muttered eventually while managing a feeble grin that failed to reach my eyes.

“Alright,” she said in a gentle tone, observing me with worry. “Please make sure to take good care of yourself.”

I gave a nod, even though I couldn’t fathom how to accomplish the task at hand. Exiting into the outside world, a chilly breeze greeted me with its frosty touch on my skin-akin to cold water thrown in one’s face-both refreshing and numbing against the storm raging inside of me. Approaching an unsteady bench stationed before our hostel, I collapsed onto it as tears cascaded down my cheeks, no longer able to be contained or concealed any further.

I retrieved my phone from my pocket and began scrolling through our conversations, hoping to find solace or guidance in the words of those closest to me.

Instead, all I stumbled upon were recollections of happier days: snapshots capturing Aiden and myself caught up in laughter, trivial messages exchanged back-and-forth between us with ease.

late-night discussions that now seemed like cruel reminders contrasted against the stark reality. In particular, the picture featuring a girl holding onto Aiden caused me considerable distress; seeing her smile effortlessly paired beside him felt intensely painful instead of as familiar as it once did.

My thoughts were interrupted by a sudden vibration in my hand, signaling an incoming text from Aiden. I paused for a moment, feeling the tightening of my chest, before reluctantly opening the message after what felt like an eternity.

Aiden inquires, “Where are you? I have been searching for your whereabouts.”

Over the keyboard, my fingers hesitated with an intense desire to spill everything out. But then again, what could I possibly say? “I left because I saw you embrace another girl.” No way! That would only result in a barrage of inquiries and more heartache. Hence, as composedly as possible, I typed back my response.

I’m at the hostel, and I am doing well.

After clicking the send button, I was overcome with regret. What exactly did he intend to convey by saying, “Looking for me?” Where had he been all this time? Did it even matter enough to him that he actively searched for my presence? A few moments passed, and suddenly my phone vibrated once again.

Is it possible for us to have a conversation, Aiden?

My eyes were fixated on the screen, and my heart had accelerated with a blend of fury and yearning. It wasn’t fair that I was left to escape while he relished his time casually in the company of another girl. Though anger dominated me, there remained a hint of longing for him to speak or explain himself. Without second thoughts, I hastily typed just one word: “fine.”

As soon as I clicked “send,” the sound of footsteps caught my attention. Glancing up, a shadowy figure stood over me. My heart pounded when I realized it wasn’t Aiden but rather Ryan, whom I hadn’t seen in some time. Approaching with concern etched on his face and brows furrowed, he appeared troubled.

He greeted her, “Hi Hayley! I’ve been searching for you,” his voice carried a welcoming tone but with an undertone of concern.

I responded to Ryan, attempting to control my feelings. “Why are you present here?”

“Rumor has it that you’re upset, and I just wanted to make sure everything is alright. Are you okay?” His gaze scrutinized me, leaving me with a mix of assurance and susceptibility.

“I’m afraid not,” I sighed, feeling tears once again brim at the corners of my eyes. “The situation is just too complex.”

Ryan expressed his comprehension through a slow nod and asked, “Would you like to discuss it?”

Uncertain, I paused. One side of me yearned to divulge everything-all the anguish and uncertainty regarding Aiden-but apprehension over our friendship’s outcome held me back. Henceforth, instead of speaking out-rightly, I directed my hand towards the bench beside me while remarking, I’m not sure if we should talk about it.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

With a small yet comforting smile, he settled into his seat and remarked, “Occasionally, just speaking can be truly helpful.”

As I prepared to disclose my inner conflicts, I inhaled deeply. However, before doing so, another notification arrived on my phone from Aiden, who persistently sought for me to attend to him once more.

Aiden expressed his strong desire to meet with you.

Even though those words caused my heart to ache, something about the way Ryan looked at me with care made me believe that not all of my relationships were ruined. I switched off my phone and concentrated on the friend sitting alongside me.

After some hesitation, I leaned towards Ryan and confessed that perhaps a small diversion was in order.

“Okay, we can do that,” he said with a warm aura. “What do you prefer? Shall we have ice cream or take a stroll?”

Amidst my discomfort, I let out a gentle chuckle. “Opting for ice cream would be ideal.”

As we rose to our feet, the image of Aiden awaiting a reply lingered in my mind. However, amidst the refreshing night breeze and with Ryan’s unwavering support by my side at that precise moment, I sensed a faint glimmering of comfort taking root within me. It appeared plausible that perhaps I possessed enough fortitude to independently fend for myself after all.

Ryan got up, dusted off his jeans, and flashed me a final smile. “I’ll swing by later to see how you’re doing, alright? Don’t think twice about reaching out if you need any help.”

“Ryan, thank you,” I responded, and a surge of warmth spread inside me, although the weight on my chest lingered. As he departed, gratitude mixed with regret flooded over me-thankful for his friendship yet rueful about the turmoil that led to this instance.

As soon as I sat down on the bench and took a deep breath to compose myself, my phone buzzed anew. Picking it up, an unsettling sensation began to gnaw at me when I noticed that the message came from an unfamiliar number. My heart raced with trepidation as I anxiously opened it up.

Message: You need to leave Australia immediately because things won’t be funny soon. If you don’t leave, you will die.