The old wing of Northwood University was always silent, but today, the silence felt heavier—almost like it was breathing.
Sia, a first-year student with a playful heart and a curious mind, was walking across the campus. She was known for her positive aura and a smile that could brighten the dullest hallways of Northwood. But right now, that smile was fading.
Suddenly, Sia stopped in her tracks, a sharp pain shooting through her lower abdomen.
"Lisa," Sia gasped, clutching her friend's arm. "I think I got my periods. Can you please come with me to check?"
Lisa looked around at the crowded courtyard. "Yeah sure, but where? Everywhere is so crowded right now." She pointed toward the distance. "The only empty place is the dusty corridor of the old wing. Should we go there?"
Sia checked her watch. The break was almost over, and the nearest washroom was too far. "Yeah, of course. If we head to the main washrooms, we'll be late for the next lecture. Let's just go to the old wing."
"But... isn't that place restricted?" Lisa asked, sounding hesitant.
"Oh please, Lisa! It's just an old building. There is nothing to fear, let's go!" Sia insisted, ignoring the slight chill that ran down her spine.
"Yup, no worries," Lisa finally agreed, and they both started walking toward the shadows of the old wing.
Sia stood up in the dusty corridor with Lisa , her eyes fixed on the rusted 'Red Door' at the end of the hallway. For years, students had whispered rumours about this door - scandals, disappearances and secrets that were buried long ago.
Why do I feel like it's calling me? Sia thought, her heart racing.
Suddenly a voice came from behind,Hurry up!! You need a sanitary pads go to washroom, the break time is over we are getting late sia, Lisa said.
Huhh! Okhay Lisa you leave to lecture room , I will ahead to you as fast as I can, Go 'hurry up'.
Lisa head to lecture room and sia was going to washroom and kept thinking that why she felt so uncomfortable in dusty corridor but after all she focused to do fast and reach to lecture room soon.
Sia was entering in the lecture room suddenly she saw a boy beside her ,wearing a black hoodie , hanging headphones in his neck , he was tall but really looks very tired and sweaty and a messy hair
Huhh, Again entry of a college rude guy, Sia whispered.
You both come and sit on the last bench, Lecturer said them very disappointingly!
Always gets late in class and just give excuses to teacher thinking that we are fools, Lecturer shouted on them .
What a bad luck got shouted and even can't I sit with my best friend and had to sit next to this rude guy,ahh yukk!! , Sia murmured
The rude guy was Zayan .
He usually comes to late in every lecture and sit on backbench. So, that's why he was a backbencher but he used to stay always very quiet that's why he is also known as a mysterious boy of a college.
He sat in the corner of bench, his head low, scribbling intensely in a worn-out leather notebook.
English lecture is going on, the mam is very strict, she will punish you Zayan, Sia whispered in his ears.
Zayan ignored her and again start looking to his weird notebook. Sia's curiosity got the best of her , as she sit more closer to him, pretending to look for on board , but her eyes were on his notebook . As she saw a little bit of his book , her breath caught in her throat.
On the page, Zayan had drawn a perfect chilling sketch of Red door . But in his drawing the door was slightly open , and a dark shadow was reaching out from the inside .
"Hey, Zayan.. " Sia whispered, her voice was trembling . "Why had you drawn that door ? "
Zayan didn't looked up immediately. He closed the book with a sharp thud and slowly lifted his head. His dark ,intense eyes met hers, cold and unreadable.
" Stay away from the things you don't understand, Sia ", he said, his voice was low and dangerous.
Before she could respond, the bell rangs, he stood up and walked away, leaving a tensed sia behind . But as he left , a small, folded piece of paper fell from his bag.
Sia picked it up. As she opened it she was really shocked , In the paper there was a specific symbol drawn, which is exact similar to her father's diary front cover.
"This symbol, Why he has drawn my father's diary specific symbol in his weird notebook page "
Her eyes filled with full of tears....
Sia followed him ,determined to get answers.
She saw him entering the restricted storage area near the Red Door. She slipped inside behind him.
Zayan! Answer me! Why do you have this specific symbol in your weird notebook page? She shouted to him.
Zayan turned around, shocked to see her.
"You followed me? Are you crazy? "
Suddenly, they heard heavy footsteps outside. The sound of a metallic lock clicking shut echoed through the room. Clack!
"Wait! Someone just locked us in! " Sia panicked, rushing to the door. It wouldn't budge .
Zayan grabbed her arm and pulled her into the shadows as a flashlight beam flickered through the small crack in the door. "Be quite", he hissed, his face inches away from hers in the cramped space .
Sia could feel his rapid heartbeat against her own. In the suffocating darkness, she realized two things: They were trapped, and Zayan was hiding something far more dangerous than a simple sketch!.
Note: Chapter 2 is coming soon. I hope you guy's liked it!!