Heidi shakes herself and addresses Valentina. "So that’s why you’re a little..." She circles a hand. "Prideful."
Valentina’s mouth curves in what can’t quite be called a smile. "You’d be prideful too, if you spent your entire life being told you were better than everyone else... and then suddenly found out you weren’t."
That breeds a sudden silence until Junie breaks it with a too-loud laugh. "Okay, tough act to follow, but I’ll try."
She wipes her hands on her joggers, then waves both like she’s starting a vlog. "Hi! I’m Juniper Alcaraz, but everyone calls me Junie. Please don’t call me Juniper unless you want me to hate you forever."
Heidi smirks. "Duly noted."
Junie continues. "I’m... well, technically I’m a content creator. I started YouTube about six months ago. I film random things—makeup tutorials, rants about my dysfunctional family, and that one time my cousin set our backyard on fire trying to fry a turkey."
Valentina blinks. "Do you... make money from that?"
Junie deflates instantly. "Not yet. I barely have fifty subscribers. My mom doesn’t even watch my videos... she says my lighting makes me look like a raccoon. But hey, someday!"
Heidi hides a smile behind her mug. Junie’s energy is contagious, even if it’s a mess.
Junie scratches her arm. "Anyway, yeah. Dysfunctional family. Screaming matches at breakfast, my dad walked out years ago, my brothers act like they’re in some mafia role-play, and me? I just decided if I was going to survive, I’d make people laugh about it online."
There’s a moment of silence. It’s an awkward but real one.
Valentina tilts her head. "At least you own it."
"Damn right I do," Junie chirps, recovering fast. She elbows Heidi. "Your turn, boss."
Heidi exhales slowly. She feels both smaller and larger under their eyes; smaller, because she has nothing flashy like Duarte money or YouTube antics, but larger, because her wolf thrums beneath her ribs like it’s waiting for her to claim her space.
"I’m Heidi Grace Remington," she says. "I’m not rich. I’m not famous. I just... studied. A lot."
Junie squints. "Like... nerd studied?"
"Like top of my class every year studied," Heidi corrects with a tiny smile tugging her lips. "I planned on topping every class here too. Doesn’t matter if it’s mate bond and relations, history, or labyrinth survival."
Her wolf chimes in with a low purr. "Ambition. Sharp as a blade. That, at least, is worthy."
Heidi continues, pushing past the sudden lump in her throat. "Back home, I wanted to be a doctor. I liked fixing things, learning how the body worked. Then the wolf came, and suddenly everything I thought I knew about myself had to be rewritten. But I’m still me. And I’m still going to be the best. Even here."
Valentina studies her like she’s trying to measure that confidence against reality. Junie looks at her like she’s just announced she’s secretly Superman.
"Okay," Heidi says briskly, clapping her hands once. "Introductions done. We’ve got a rich girl, a chaotic YouTuber, and a nerd. Sounds like the start of a bad joke."
Junie cackles. "Oh my God, we’re a sitcom already."
Valentina lifts her coffee, shrugging. "As long as this sitcom survives the labyrinth."
At the mention of that, the atmosphere grows gloomy again. For a second, they’re not three girls in scratchy clothes, but candidates standing at the edge of something monstrous.
Heidi feels it in her chest. The ticking clock. The claws of her wolf stretched in anticipation. Then, the speakers overhead crackle to life.
"All Moon Blessed participants, report to the Convergence Hall," a voice commands. "The grounds will be opened shortly. You have ten minutes."
Junie freezes mid-bite, half a red velvet waffle hanging from her mouth. "Oh, crap."
Valentina closes her book with a snap, sliding it into her bag. "Showtime."
Heidi stands, adjusting the waistband of her pants. Her wolf presses against her skin, whispering like a storm.
"Time to see if your little team survives the first step."
Thus, they move together. Three girls bound not by friendship but by necessity and survival. And Heidi knows... this is only the beginning.
The moment the doors swing open, the air outside feels different. Heidi swears it presses down on her chest like a hand. The morning isn’t bright the way mornings should be. It’s gray and heavy, as though the sky itself has decided to mourn them early. The grounds stretch wide, paved with neat tiles that gleam faintly with dew, but no one is admiring the scenery. The line of Moon Blessed shuffles forward like prisoners to execution.
Heidi is in the middle, sandwiched between Junie and Valentina. She feels the weight of every footstep, the thud of boots, the squeak of sneakers that weren’t built for death runs. The rustle of attire mixes with nervous whispers, and the occasional cough betrays how dry everyone’s throats are.
Her palms are clammy. Her heart won’t slow down. She presses her fingers to her thighs to ground herself, but the itch beneath her skin makes her want to crawl right out of it.
"Breathe," Junie mutters beside her, though her voice wobbles. "In through the nose, out through the mouth. Pretend you’re in yoga class."
Heidi throws her a look. Junie’s lips are twitching like she’s trying to be funny, but her eyes betray her as they are wide and glinting with fear.
Heidi scoffs internally. Look who’s trying to teach her courage.
Before she can reply to her silly friend, a voice booms from above.
"Well, well, look at our little heroes marching to their doom!"
Heads snap up to see balconies that line the dormitories that face the square, and already half a dozen seniors lean over the rails. Some still wear pajamas. Some hold steaming mugs of coffee as though this is nothing but their morning entertainment. Their grins are cruel like the kind that sink into your stomach like knives.
"Oh, I can smell the fear from here," another senior calls, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Careful not to wet yourselves before you even make it to the gate!"
Laughter erupts from the balconies.
Bloody dickheads!