The dormitory was quiet, the flickering light of the moon barely penetrating the wooden shutters. Most of the students were half-asleep, their breathing slow and steady. But just as the quiet settled like a blanket over the village, it began.
A woman's cry.
The sound wasn't distant. It was right there, as if she were standing next to each student, whispering her sorrow into their ears. Her voice was broken, fragmented, and incomprehensible, but the anguish was undeniable. The crying wasn't just heard—it pierced through them, making it feel as though her sobs were crawling under their skin.
Cai rolled over in his bed and groaned. "What in the abyss is that?"
Marvin sat upright, shivering. "It's her, isn't it? The spirit."
Theodore, however, remained still, his sharp mind analyzing the situation. He glanced toward Cai and Marvin, who looked far more shaken. "You two are scared of some crying?" he asked, feigning nonchalance.
Cai sneered, trying to regain his bravado. "Shouldn't you be sleeping, kid? Leave the ghosts to the adults."
Theodore had enough of their constant bullying. He smirked, an idea forming in his mind. He wanted to prank them—just a little. Without a sound, he activated a small portion of his shadow energy, careful to conceal it from Mr. June. In the darkness, he crafted a shadowy figure—a tall, faceless entity with unnaturally long arms.
As the three stepped outside to investigate the source of the crying, the shadow figure appeared at the edge of the village square, waving at them.
"What... what is that?" Marvin shrieked, his voice cracking as he stumbled backward.
Cai's face went pale. "A monster! It's real!"
Their screams echoed into the night, loud enough to wake the other students. But when the rest of the seniors rushed out, the shadow figure dissolved into nothing.
"There's nothing there," one student said, squinting into the darkness.
Marvin and Cai looked around in disbelief. "We saw it!" Marvin exclaimed, his voice trembling. "It was right there!"
Theodore leaned casually against a wooden post, a sly smile playing on his lips. "I didn't see anything," he said, feigning innocence.
Marvin fainted on the spot, and Cai was left shivering and clutching his arms. Theodore had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.
But the prank was short-lived.
The crying turned into a scream—a bloodcurdling, ear-piercing wail that sent shivers down everyone's spine. Villagers hurriedly locked their windows and doors, and the students huddled together in fear. The night itself seemed to grow colder, darker.
Vincent appeared suddenly, grabbing Theodore by the arm. "Stay close to me," he said. "I'll protect you."
A red-haired girl beside Vincent placed a hand on Theodore's shoulder. "Don't worry, Your Highness. We're here for you."
Theodore yanked his shoulder free. "Don't touch me," he snapped, glaring at the girl.
Vincent smiled awkwardly. "This is Faith, my fiancée."
Theodore stared at her for a moment, unimpressed. "Lovely. Now, stop treating me like a child if you want to talk to me."
Vincent chuckled, his usual calm demeanor unfazed. "Anything for you, Theo. You're my favorite cousin, after all."
Theodore scoffed. If you knew the real me—the one who reincarnated into this body—you wouldn't talk to me so casually, he thought.
Suddenly, another scream tore through the night. This one was different, more human, more real. The students ran toward the source, led by Mr. June and Miss Lidia.
They arrived at a small house, its door hanging open. Inside, a man was kneeling on the floor, his face buried in his hands as he sobbed uncontrollably.
His wife lay beside him, sliced into pieces, her blood pooling on the wooden floor.
Miss Lidia quickly turned the students away, shielding their eyes from the horrific scene. "Everyone back to the dorms. Now!" she commanded.
Most of the students obeyed, pale and trembling, but Theodore remained still. His sharp gaze locked on the body. This wasn't just a killing—it was a message.
"The creature came," Mr. June muttered, his voice cold. "She took the child... and left this."
Theodore turned to follow the group, but as he glanced toward the forest, he froze.
She was there.
A woman stood at the tree line, impossibly tall—at least ten feet. Her hair cascaded down her back like a black river, and though her features were blurry, her smile was unmistakable. It wasn't kind or gentle. It was the smile of a predator, cold and hungry.
Her voice, soft and haunting, whispered through the air: "You... soon."
A chill ran down Theodore's spine, though he refused to let it show. He'd faced terrifying monsters before, but this woman was different. There was something primal, something ancient about her presence that made the hairs on his neck stand on end.
Then she turned and disappeared into the forest, vanishing like a shadow into the night.
Back in the dormitory, the students were restless, their nerves on edge. Theodore, however, was calm. He sat on his bed, deep in thought. Who was that woman? Was she truly a spirit, or something else entirely? He decided not to press further—for now. There would be other nights to hunt her.
Just as he began to relax, Marvin stirred from his fainting spell. Still groggy, he stumbled toward the door. "I... I need to pee," he mumbled, barely coherent.
Theodore watched him leave, sensing something was off. Minutes passed, and Marvin didn't return.
Then, faintly, Theodore heard a voice in his ear, so close it made him flinch.
"Thanks for the meal," it whispered, soft and venomous.
Theodore's blood ran cold. He jumped to his feet and slapped Cai awake. "Get up!"
Cai groaned, rubbing his face. "What's wrong with you?"
"Marvin's missing," Theodore said, his tone sharp.
"What?" Cai's drowsiness vanished. He bolted upright.
"Go get Mr. June," Theodore ordered. "Now."
Without hesitation, Cai sprinted out the door, leaving Theodore alone.
The prince grabbed his coat and stepped into the cold night. The village was eerily silent, the crying woman's wail long gone. As he reached the edge of the forest, his eyes caught movement.
She was there again.
The tall woman stood between the trees, her dark silhouette framed by moonlight. Her face was sad now, her predatory smile replaced by something almost... mournful.
"Come," she said, her voice carrying through the wind.
Theodore smirked. "You come here instead."
Her sad expression twisted, her face contorting into something monstrous. "Soon," she hissed, her voice echoing unnaturally.
Before Theodore could respond, Mr. June appeared behind him, grabbing his shoulder.
"You shouldn't be out here," Mr. June scolded, his tone uncharacteristically serious.
Theodore turned back toward the forest, but the woman was gone, her presence erased as if she'd never been there.
"Go back to bed," Mr. June commanded. "You'll need your strength for tomorrow."
Theodore followed him reluctantly, but his mind was already racing. The woman wasn't done with them. Not yet.