The day had started like any other at the academy, with students bustling through the corridors and laughter echoing off the stone walls. I had woken up late, groggy from a restless night filled with dreams that left a sense of unease lingering in my chest. The sun had barely peeked through the clouds as I made my way to breakfast, a pile of books tucked under one arm.
"Hey, are you coming to the training session later?" Callen asked, his dark hair falling over his eyes as he leaned against the doorframe.
I shook my head, trying to shake off the heaviness that clung to me. "I have some studying to catch up on. Besides, I'm not in the mood to get my ass kicked today."
He chuckled, but his laughter faded as he studied my expression. "You sure? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I'm fine," I replied, forcing a smile. But the truth was, I felt anything but fine. Something was off, a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I couldn't quite shake.
The day dragged on, each class blurring into the next, but I couldn't focus on the lessons. I kept stealing glances out the window, watching the trees sway in the breeze, their shadows twisting ominously on the ground. It wasn't just my imagination; something was definitely brewing, a storm lurking just beyond the horizon.
By the time dinner rolled around, I was restless. Seraphina, my closest friend, joined me at the table, her laughter a bright spot in my clouded thoughts. She recounted tales from her day, animatedly describing the latest mischief of the younger students, but my mind drifted.
"Are you listening?" she asked, her brows furrowed in concern.
"Yeah, sorry. Just... tired," I lied, forcing myself to nod.
"Let's go for a walk after this," she suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I need some fresh air."
I hesitated, the warning bells in my head growing louder. "Maybe it's not the best idea. I mean, it's getting dark out, and you know how things can get around here at night."
"Don't be such a baby," she teased, elbowing me playfully. "It'll be fine. Just a quick stroll. Besides, you need to relax."
With a sigh, I relented. "Fine, but only for a little while."
As we left the dining hall, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a dim glow across the grounds. The academy, once vibrant and lively, now loomed around us like a fortress, its shadows growing longer and more menacing. I tried to shake the sense of dread that gnawed at my insides.
We wandered down the main path, the crunch of gravel underfoot echoing in the silence. I could feel my anxiety building as we ventured deeper into the heart of the academy grounds, past the training fields and towards the woods.
"Look at the stars," Seraphina said, tilting her head back to admire the twinkling sky. "It's beautiful."
I forced a smile, but my eyes were scanning the treeline. "Yeah, it is."
But beneath that beauty was an undercurrent of danger, a sense of foreboding that I couldn't ignore. "Let's head back," I said, my voice firmer than I felt.
"Aw, come on! Just a little longer?" she pleaded, her gaze pleading.
I opened my mouth to argue when a rustling noise came from the bushes nearby. My heart dropped. "Did you hear that?"
Seraphina frowned, her playful demeanor shifting to concern. "What was it?"
Before I could answer, a dark figure slipped through the trees, the movement too quick for my eyes to fully process. My instincts flared, and I grabbed Seraphina's arm, pulling her closer.
"Run!" I shouted, adrenaline surging through my veins.
We turned on our heels, sprinting back the way we'd come. My heart raced as I glanced back, the shadows seeming to stretch and claw at us as if trying to hold us back. I could feel something pursuing us, a presence that sent chills down my spine.
"Faster!" I urged, my breaths coming in quick bursts. "We have to get inside!"
We dashed across the courtyard, the academy's stone walls looming closer with each frantic step. Just as we reached the entrance, I heard a soft, mocking laugh echoing behind us, chilling my blood.
"Whoever that was, we can't let them follow us in," I said, my voice trembling as I fumbled for the door.
We stumbled into the safety of the building, locking the door behind us. I leaned against the cool wood, trying to catch my breath, but the weight of unease settled heavily in my chest.
"What just happened?" Seraphina gasped, wide-eyed.
"I don't know," I admitted, the reality of the night crashing down on me. "But I have a feeling this is just the beginning."
The feeling of dread only intensified as I glanced out the window, the darkness outside swallowing the light as I realized we were no longer safe. The shadows were closing in, and something was coming for Seraphina. I could feel it in my bones.
Little did I know, the worst was yet to come.