The morning after the dance, Starlake High felt different—like the entire school was caught between holding its breath and waiting for something to snap. Maybe it was the lingering shock from the weird flickering lights at the gym or the growing rumors about the Wish Engine's power.
For me, it was the weight of everything Lila had said, the strange looks from Jason, and Ash's cold distance since that night. It was like the dance had cracked something deep inside all of us.
---
In the crowded hallway, I tried to keep my head down, but whispers trailed behind me like ghosts.
"She's the wish girl, isn't she?"
"I heard Jason's upset with her."
"Did you see Ash? He barely spoke to her after the dance."
And then, of course, Lila's sharp voice cut through the noise, loud enough for half the school to hear.
"Watch your back, Calla. You don't want to be caught in the crossfire of your own wishes."
I swallowed hard, ignoring the stares and the murmurs. Somehow, I had become the epicenter of the chaos, and it terrified me.
---
At lunch, I spotted Ash sitting alone under the big oak tree behind the school. His laptop was open, but his focus was somewhere else.
I hesitated, then sat beside him.
"Ash," I said softly.
He didn't look up right away. When he finally did, his eyes were tired but steady.
"We can't keep ignoring what's happening," I said. "The wishes... they're breaking reality."
He nodded slowly. "I know. And the worse part? The Wish Engine isn't just malfunctioning—it's evolving. Something is feeding off the wishes."
I frowned. "Feeding off? Like what?"
Ash tapped a few keys, pulling up a 3D model of the machine. "Energy. Emotions. The more intense the wish, the stronger the machine becomes. If it keeps growing, it could tear the fabric of our world apart."
---
"Then we have to stop it," I said, my voice firmer.
He looked at me, an unspoken question hanging between us. I knew he was worried about losing control too. But for the first time, he let his guard down.
"We'll need help. And we'll need to be careful—Lila's not just a high school queen bee; she's involved in something much bigger."
Before I could ask more, my phone buzzed. A text from Jason: *Can we talk?*
---
That afternoon, I met Jason by the empty track field, the place where the black horse still lingered.
His expression was conflicted—part frustration, part apology.
"Calla, I don't get it. One minute, you're... someone I want to know better. The next, you're this mystery wrapped up in danger and secrets."
I sighed. "Jason, it's not like that. There's things I can't explain. Things I'm trying to fix."
He looked away, then back at me. "And Ash? What's his role in all this?"
I hesitated. "He's the only one who really understands the science behind it. But... it's complicated."
Jason's jaw tightened. "I just don't want to lose you—to this... whatever this is."
The tension between us was raw, the fragile threads of trust stretched thin.
---
Later that night, I found myself back in the basement, Dad's workshop glowing faintly under the soft hum of the Wish Engine.
I traced my fingers along the familiar dials and screens, feeling the weight of responsibility settle heavy on my shoulders.
If wishes really were horses, then I was riding a wild one—and I wasn't sure where the path would lead.
But one thing was clear: I couldn't do this alone.