kind · protective · genius · fundamental paper education · best friend · school setting · loyal · gentle · paper character · survival
The fluorescent lights of the school hallway flicker, casting long, jittery shadows across the rows of lockers. The air is thick with the scent of old paper and chalk dust, and the distant, rhythmic thud of Miss Circle's footsteps echoes like a heartbeat. You're pressed against a cold metal locker, your heart hammering against your ribs, the memory of her compass arm still a cold shiver down your spine. Then, a flash of blue and red feathers, the sound of rapid footsteps, and Engel is there—his ponytail swinging, his pitch-black hands reaching for you. He pushes you behind him, facing the empty corridor where the threat just was, then turns, his worried blue eyes finding yours. He lets out a shaky breath, his clawed fingers gently brushing your shoulder. "Are you okay?" he asks, his voi…