Unspoken Truths

The sun was setting as Bryce Farren stared out the window of the Mercedes-Benz Maybach, watching the Richmond mountains pass by in a blur of deep green and shadowy blue. His father, Alexander Farren, was at the wheel, his jaw clenched in quiet frustration. In the rearview mirror, the Cadillac Escalade driven by their butler, Francis, followed closely behind, loaded with all their luggage. The convoy of luxury vehicles cut through the winding mountain roads, surrounded by towering pine trees that seemed to reach out toward the darkening sky.

The Maybach's interior was the epitome of opulence—soft leather seats, ambient lighting casting a warm glow, and the faint scent of cologne lingering in the air. Bryce sat in the back, his posture tense, arms crossed, and eyes fixed on the world outside. The argument he'd just had with his father hung heavy in the air, and Bryce's body language screamed disinterest and frustration.

As the forest blurred past him, Bryce couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. It wasn't just the argument with his father that bothered him—it was the lie he'd told his best friend, Adam, earlier. Bryce's mind drifted back to the meeting with the school principal, replaying the events in his head.

The principal's office was an imposing space, filled with an air of authority. The walls were lined with dark, polished wood, and heavy curtains framed the large windows, allowing only a sliver of sunlight to filter through. The room had a regal feel, from the plush red carpet underfoot to the towering bookshelves crammed with leather-bound volumes. The centerpiece was the principal's desk, a massive slab of mahogany wood, intricately carved with patterns that hinted at the school's long history.

Bryce stood before the desk, shifting uncomfortably as the principal, a stern woman in her late fifties with sharp features and graying hair pulled into a tight bun, ended a call with a distressed parent. Her fingers drummed lightly on the surface of her desk as she fixed Bryce with a piercing gaze.

"Bryce," she began, her voice steady and measured. "I need you to be completely honest with me about what happened last Saturday."

Bryce hesitated, his mind racing. He had no intention of telling her the truth, not when it involved Adam's secret and everything that had unfolded that night. He quickly fabricated a story, trying to keep his voice steady.

But the principal's expression didn't change. Instead, she leaned back in her chair, a small, knowing smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "The thing is, Bryce. I already know exactly what happened."

Bryce's heart skipped a beat. How could she possibly know? There were no security cameras in the areas they had been, no witnesses to what truly occurred. His mind scrambled for an explanation, but the principal continued before he could speak.

"You're probably wondering how I know all this," she said, her voice carrying a mysterious undertone. "Let me recount what happened—starting with Adam's first transformation."

Bryce's blood ran cold as the principal began detailing the events of that night with eerie accuracy. She spoke of Adam's transformation into a werewolf, how it had nearly resulted in Bryce's death, and the destruction of their dorm room. She described the raid on the cave system, where Bryce's father and his men had been secretly excavating for the ancient artifact. The explosion that followed had caused significant damage, shaking the very foundation of the school. And then there was the mention of Aiva and Luna—how they possessed powers that were far from ordinary.

Bryce sat frozen, his mind racing. How could she know all this? There were no witnesses, no way she could have seen what happened. The principal's knowledge felt almost supernatural.

As if reading his thoughts, the principal continued, her tone becoming more serious. "In time, as fates align, you'll understand the forces at play here, Bryce. But for now, there's something you must know—the artifact your father is after is far more dangerous than anyone realizes."

Bryce's breath caught in his throat. "Dangerous? How?"

The principal's gaze was unwavering. "If Adam comes into contact with that artifact, it could endanger not just his life, but the lives of everyone in Moonstone… perhaps even the entire world."

Bryce's mind spun, trying to grasp the gravity of her words. "But why? What does the artifact have to do with Adam?"

The principal shook her head slightly, her expression grave. "That's something I can't explain right now. Just know that you must do everything in your power to keep Adam away from it."

Bryce opened his mouth to ask more, but before he could, the principal leaned forward, her voice lowering to a near whisper. "I won't be here for much longer, Bryce. I won't be able to protect you or your friends. You need to be prepared for what's coming."

Before Bryce could ask what she meant, his father's voice echoed through the hallway, calling his name. The sound jolted Bryce out of his thoughts, snapping him back to the present.

"Bryce?" His father's voice broke through the silence in the car, filled with concern. "You okay?"

Bryce blinked, pulling himself back to the present. "Yeah, Dad, I'm fine," he lied, running a hand through his blond, silky hair. But the words of the principal echoed in his mind, unsettling him. She won't be there for much longer? Protect us from what?

Everything she had said was so vague, so cryptic. Yet, Bryce couldn't shake the feeling that something far more significant was at play, something that he and his friends were barely beginning to understand.

As the Maybach continued its journey through the Richmond mountains, Bryce glanced out the window again, the dense forest casting long shadows across the road. Despite the luxurious surroundings, a cold sense of foreboding settled in his chest, leaving him with more questions than answers.