Amara Benson stepped through the tall iron gates of Ravenhill Academy, an uneasy feeling settled deep in her chest. The school looked beautiful too beautiful. The buildings were old but perfectly preserved, their walls spotless, their windows shining like mirrors. Yet something about the place felt wrong, as though it were pretending to be normal.
Students moved through the courtyard in neat lines. They spoke quietly, their voices low and careful. No one laughed loudly. No one ran. It was as if the school had trained them to fear noise. Amara tightened her grip on her bag and followed the crowd inside.
The corridors were long and narrow, stretching farther than they should have. Her footsteps echoed softly, but the sound seemed to disappear halfway down the hall, swallowed by the walls. She noticed the clocks hanging above each classroom door. Every one of them ticked at the exact same rhythm.
In her new classroom, the teacher welcomed her without smiling. His eyes lingered on her for a second too long before he pointed to an empty seat beside the window.
As Amara sat down, a cold chill passed through her body. The desk felt strangely cold, as though someone has just left it moments ago. She glanced around, expecting to see another student returnin but no one came.
During roll call, the teacher read out names in a flat, emotionless voice. Then, without pause, he skipped one name entirely. The silence that followed felt heavy, and no one dared to speak.
Amara raised her hand slightly, then slowly lowered it when the teacher's gaze flicked toward her. His eyes were dark, empty, and watching.
When the bell rang, students stood up at once, moving like they had rehearsed it. As Amara gathered her things, she noticed deep scratches carved into the side of her desk.
They formed a name.
ELIAS TURNER.
A shiver ran down her spine. She had never heard the name before, yet it felt familiar like someone calling from a distant place.
As Amara left the classroom, she didn't notice the faint whisper drifting through the corridor.
"Another one has arrived."