An Outsider’s Perspective
Adrianna had always prided herself on her ability to notice the little things. The small, unspoken details that everyone else seemed to overlook. It was what made her such a good student. And it was what made her so curious about the new girls.
The Winx.
They weren’t like the others, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on why. At first, she had thought they were just shy, perhaps adjusting to Alfea’s pace. But now, as the days passed, Adrianna was sure of it: something was off. They were too much — too bright, too intense. Their energy seemed to seep through the walls, filling the space with an unshakable pressure.
Today, it was Bloom who stood out. Adrianna had been sitting by the window in the classroom when she noticed Bloom’s hands trembling slightly as she raised them for a spell. The way she was trying so hard to hide it, as though she was struggling to contain something that was threatening to break free — it was like watching a dam about to burst.
And then, it happened.
As Bloom’s spell faltered, Adrianna felt it — something in the air shifted. A brief pulse, a flicker of light that didn’t belong. For a moment, Adrianna thought she saw a spark, almost like a faint glimmer of dragonfire, but it vanished before she could be sure. The class, oblivious to it, continued as usual, but Adrianna knew. Something had happened.
Later, as she passed them in the hall, she saw how the group moved — together, constantly in sync, their shoulders brushing as they walked. It wasn’t the camaraderie of close friends — it was something more. . .insular. Like they were all tethered by invisible strings, each step taken as a collective, unified action.
And then, there was that odd look in their eyes. Adrianna had caught Stella staring at the courtyard during lunch, her gaze fixed on the sky. But it wasn’t just any stare — it was a haunted one. As though the stars above were calling her, pulling her into some distant, unreachable place. It made Adrianna shiver.
"Hey, Adrianna, you alright?" A voice broke through her thoughts. It was Lila, a fellow student who had been her friend since their first year.
Adrianna blinked, pulling herself back to reality. "Huh? Oh, yeah. Just. . .thinking."
Lila raised an eyebrow. "You’ve been staring at the Winx for a while now. What’s going on with them? They’re. . .not like the other students, are they?"
Adrianna’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t realized she’d been so obvious.
“I don’t know,” Adrianna murmured, lowering her gaze. “There’s something about them. It’s like they’re. . .out of place. Like they don’t belong here. They’re too powerful. Too. . .intense.”
Lila shrugged, unconcerned. “Maybe they’re just really gifted. You know, everyone’s a little different here at Alfea.”
“I don’t think it’s that,” Adrianna said, her voice soft but firm. “It’s more than that. They’re not just gifted. It’s like they’re trying to suppress something, something that doesn’t fit with the rest of us. Like if they let it out. . .things would break.”
Lila gave her a playful nudge. “You’re starting to sound a little paranoid. Maybe you’re just overthinking it.”
But Adrianna couldn’t shake the feeling. Every time she saw them, her gut told her that something was wrong — something beyond just being ‘different’ or ‘gifted.’
As she walked to her next class, she noticed them again — Stella, Bloom, and the rest. They were walking together, heads low, talking in low tones. Adrianna couldn’t hear them, but she didn’t need to. There was a tension between them that wasn’t there before. A heaviness.
But what really caught her attention was the way they moved, like they were. . .together in ways that were more than just friendship. Their presence seemed to fill the space around them, a bubble of shared energy that pushed everyone else out. It was like they were the center of the universe, whether they realized it or not.
As she passed them, she caught a glance from Stella — just a brief moment of eye contact — but it was enough. For a second, there was something. . .ancient in her eyes. Something that whispered of far-off places, of long-forgotten battles. It was a look that made Adrianna’s heart race, as if she was staring at something — someone — who was much older than they appeared.
“Hey, are you okay?” Lila asked again, more concerned this time.
Adrianna nodded, shaking off the feeling that had crept into her chest. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
But as she walked away, the unease gnawed at her. Something was happening with the Winx. Something that no one else could see. And whatever it was, Adrianna knew one thing for sure: it wasn’t good.