The group remained silent for a few seconds after Adrian disappeared through the school doors.Lena was still staring at the entrance. Something about the encounter felt weird. It's not scary. Not threatening. Just odd. Like a moment that weighed more than it should have.
Cassidy was the first to interrupt the hush."Okay," she replied abruptly. Lyra looked at her."Okay what?" Cassidy turned to face them with startled eyes. "Okay, he's handsome." Naomi quickly burst out laughing. "That's your takeaway?" Cassidy shrugged apologetically. "I'm just stating facts." Lyra rolled her eyes. "You say that about every new guy." Cassidy pointed a finger at her.
"Correction. "I say that about every attractive new guy." Lena finally looked away from the school's entrance. "Cassidy…" "What?" Cassidy spoke innocently. Naomi moved forward slightly and rested her elbows on her knees. "But seriously," she added carefully, "Vale." Lyra looked at her."What about it?" Naomi shrugged. "My grandmother used to talk about them." Cassidy snorted. "Your grandmother talks about everyone." "That's because she's old," Naomi explained defensively.
Lyra smirked. "Fair point." Naomi persisted nonetheless. "She said the Vale family was one of the founding families of Rothswood, just like yours and Cassidy's." Lena nodded slowly.Everyone in town knew the founding families. The Harts. The Blake family. The Calders. The reyes.The Whitmore family. And the Vales. Six families had been associated with Rothswood since its inception.
However, the Vale name had always been distinct."They disappeared though, right?" Cassidy asked.Naomi nodded. "Yeah. My grandmother stated that they simply fled the town one day. "Left?" Lyra repeated. "Apparently." Cassidy frowned."That's weird." Naomi shrugged again. "My grandma says a lot of weird things." Lyra leaned in closer. "Like what?" Naomi paused. Then she spoke casually. "Like how she told me I'm a witch." Cassidy blinked. "…What?" Naomi laughed awkwardly.
"See? Exactly." Lyra smirked. "Wait. Did she really say that? Naomi nodded. "Yeah. Apparently I come from some 'ancient witch bloodline' or anything." Cassidy burst into laughter. "Oh my God." Naomi pointed at her. "Hey! "Do not laugh.""I'm not laughing," Cassidy replied, still plainly chuckling. Lyra grinned. "Okay but… if you are a witch, does that mean you can like—hex people?"Naomi rolled her eyes.
"No." "Because I have a list," Lyra explained. "Of course you do." Lena chuckled gently. For a brief while, the thick cloud that had followed her all day lifted slightly. Naomi leaned back. "My grandma says a lot of stuff," she shrugged."Sometimes she makes sense…" She stopped before ending with a tiny laugh. "…and sometimes she really doesn't." Cassidy wiped away fake tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm still stuck on the witch thing." Lyra smirked mischievously. "Careful Cassidy, she might turn you into a frog."
Naomi grumbled. "You guys are the worst." The group laughed gently. Lena's gaze eventually returned to the school door. Towards the location where Adrian had previously disappeared.Something about him continued to worry her. Not in a negative way. It was just a feeling she couldn't articulate. Perhaps the moment they locked eyes meant something. Even if she wasn't sure what.Located in the main building of Rothswood High.
Adrian Vale stood in the admissions office, filling out paperwork to re-enroll as a student. His pen glided effortlessly across the form. Name. Adrian Valle. Birthplace. Rothswood. He hesitated briefly before continuing. Across the desk, the secretary cast a quizzical gaze at him. "You look familiar," she commented. Adrian gave a courteous smile."Small town." She nodded. "Yes… I suppose it is."
The wind shook the trees that surrounded the school grounds outside her window. Adrian's attention shifted briefly to the distant trees. His expression deepened slightly. The instant he returned to Rothswood... He'd felt it. Something ancient. Something is waking. And if his instincts are correct— The town was starting to realise why some family had never fully departed. And why certain legends refused to die. 🌙