Keira stepped out of the car with a mix of nervousness and excitement. The building of her new school's dormitory stood tall in front of her, rising under the darkening evening sky. The ancient Victorian-style architecture made it look like a castle straight out of a fairy tale, yet with a mysterious aura that somehow made Keira feel a little uneasy.

"So this is where I'll be staying for the next three years" Keira murmured as she took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. However, her heart continued to race, imagining all the new things she would face.

Keira's first step into the main hall was immediately met with a bustling atmosphere. Students were coming and going, some seemed familiar with each other, laughing and joking, while others, like herself, appeared awkward, still searching for their place among the crowd. Keira glanced at the paper in her hand, which read: North Dormitory, Room 206.

Pulling her suitcase along, she walked down the long corridor with its polished wooden floors. Antique chandeliers cast dim yellow light, creating long shadows that moved with her footsteps. The sound of the suitcase wheels creaking on the floor was loud, as though breaking the silence of the old clock's soft ticking.

"Keira?" A cheerful voice called her name.

Keira turned and saw a petite girl with short, wavy hair standing near the door of a room. Her wide smile made her look friendly. The girl wore the same uniform as Keira but had a rabbit-shaped pin on her collar.

"I'm Hana! We're roommates!" she said cheerfully, extending her hand.

Keira hesitated slightly but accepted the handshake, and Hana's warmth was enough to make her feel at ease. "Nice to meet you. I'm still trying to adjust here."

Hana chuckled, her voice like a bell. "I'm new too. But… I've heard some interesting rumors about this place."

"Rumors?" Keira raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

Hana leaned in a little closer, as if about to whisper a big secret. "You know Room 301 upstairs, right?"

Keira shook her head, although her curiosity was piqued.

"That room is empty. It hasn't been used for years. But some students say they hear footsteps coming from inside every night. Sometimes, they even see the curtains move, like someone's in there," Hana whispered in a low tone.

Keira tried to laugh, though her voice sounded more nervous than relaxed. "It's probably just a story to scare new kids like us."

But deep inside, a sense of curiosity began to ignite, one she couldn't ignore.

---

Keira's first night in Room 206 turned out to be much harder than she expected. Hana was already asleep, breathing steadily, but Keira lay awake, tossing and turning in her bed. Thoughts of Hana's story continued to haunt her. The hallway outside their room felt too quiet, as though waiting for something to break the silence.

As her eyes grew heavy, a sound suddenly pierced the stillness. Footsteps, slow but steady, echoed from outside. The sound moved slowly down the hall, heading toward the stairs, as if climbing to the upper floor.

Keira sat up straight, her breath caught in her throat. She glanced at Hana, who remained fast asleep. Her hand reached for the doorknob, turning it slowly to avoid making any noise. She peered out, but the hallway was empty, yet the footsteps still lingered, now fading into the distance.

Something urged her to step outside. Fear mixed with burning curiosity. She knew this was a dangerous decision, but her feet moved without hesitation.

The wooden stairs to the upper floor felt cold beneath her feet. Each step she took creaked quietly, making Keira more alert. When she reached the front of Room 301, she froze.

The curtains moved.

Not just fluttering lightly, but as if someone had deliberately touched the fabric from behind. There was no wind, and Keira was sure the window was shut.

"Who's there?" her voice trembled, but it was loud enough to break the silence.

No answer. Keira bit her lip, trying to muster the courage to approach the door. But her steps stopped when a heavy voice suddenly called from behind her.

"You shouldn't be here."

Keira quickly turned around. At the end of the corridor stood a tall student with messy black hair. His sharp eyes seemed to pierce right through her.

"Why?" Keira dared to ask, her voice shaking slightly.

"Because there's a reason that room is locked," he replied shortly, his tone full of warning.

The student took a step closer, each footstep firm. Keira backed away slowly, her back almost touching the wall.

"Who are you?" she finally asked, her breath quickening.

"Renji," he replied without hesitation. "And you should go back to your room before something happens that you'll regret."

---

(Hope you like the story! Sorry if it's a bit short, this is my first time writing something like this, hehe)

(If there are any typos, let me know ^^)

(Lop lop all 💋)