Chapter 2: The Word and the Will

“What are you doing?”

Lillian stiffened, her shoulders drawing up. I saw her swallow hard, eyes darting to the pen. The fear in her face made my own heart thump, but a weird thrill ran through me, too—I’d never seen the legendary living script in action, not up close.

Derek caught my stare and snapped, “Hey, janitor! Who said you could watch me use living script?”

I almost shot back, “You’re the one showing off in the living room!”

But Derek didn’t care. “Watching’s a death sentence. Once I’m done with her, I’ll handle you too.”

To him, I wasn’t even worth a second thought—just something to step on.

He turned back to Lillian, voice sharp as glass. “Don’t want to marry Maddox? Too bad. Mom and I can’t have you making a scene. Guess we’ll have to shut you up another way.”

He licked his lips, then swept the pen through the air with a flourish—like he was signing a million-dollar check.

With a few swift strokes, black smoke curled around his pen, and a warped word took shape: ‘mute.’

The air thickened, buzzing in my ears like static. The word pulsed in the air, pressing on my chest until my lungs burned. But at its core, it was just English letters.

All those spelling tests I flunked in middle school—now they were the key to power? The thought was so absurd, I almost laughed.

Lillian sensed danger and tried to run, but the ‘mute’ word slammed into her like a punch.

She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out. It was like her voice had been yanked away, her breath coming in panicked rasps as she clawed at her throat.

Tears welled in her eyes, her terror raw and real. I wanted to help her, but my feet felt glued to the floor.

Derek just shook his head, a mocking grin on his lips. “Would’ve been easier if you’d just listened.”

He looked at her like she was a stubborn kid refusing cough syrup.

Lillian, unable to speak, spat at his feet.

“Witch!” Derek’s face twisted with rage as he raised his hand to strike her.

Lillian squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the blow.

But the slap never landed. The room went dead quiet—then a strong hand caught Derek’s wrist.