As I stepped onto the school grounds, the energy of the place hit me like a tidal wave. The towering buildings gleamed with futuristic elegance, their crystalline structures reflecting the morning sun. Hovering transports zipped through the air, students disembarked with effortless grace, their uniforms subtly shifting colors to match their moods. I clutched my backpack, my heart pounding in my chest.
Mia and I parked our bikes in the designated docking station, and she gave me a reassuring smile. "Ready for this, Hero?" she asked, her voice brimming with excitement.
"Yeah," I replied, though my stomach twisted in anticipation.
Before I could dwell on my nerves, a deep chime echoed through the school grounds, signaling the start of the day. Students around us hurried toward the main building, their footsteps blending with the hum of automated announcements. The air was filled with chatter, laughter, and an undercurrent of something else—something unspoken.
As we entered the main hall, I was struck by the sheer scale of it. The ceiling was an intricate tapestry of shifting constellations, and holographic displays projected schedules and welcome messages. The walls pulsed faintly with energy, as if the school itself was alive.
Then, something changed.
The chatter around me faded, and I felt an eerie silence settle over the room. Mia tensed beside me, her eyes darting around. A group of older students stood near the entrance to the central courtyard, whispering in hushed tones. Their faces were grim, their eyes flickering toward a darkened corridor beyond the main hall.
"Something's wrong," Mia murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
I followed her gaze and saw it—a doorway, unlike the others. Shadows clung to its edges like living tendrils, and the air around it seemed… heavier. A soft hum vibrated in my bones, a sensation both foreign and familiar.
"That wasn't here before," I muttered.
"You're right," a voice said behind us.
We turned to see a boy about our age, his silver eyes glinting with curiosity. His uniform bore an insignia I didn't recognize, a swirling pattern that seemed to shift as I stared at it.
"Name's Aiden," he said, offering a slight nod. "And if you two are smart, you'll stay away from that door."
"Why?" Mia asked, tilting her head.
Aiden glanced around before leaning in. "Because last year, someone walked through it… and never came back."
A chill ran down my spine.
Mia and I exchanged glances, and in that moment, I knew we were both thinking the same thing. The first day of school had just begun, but something far bigger was waiting for us on the other side of that door.