Unseen Shadows, New Faces

The air had turned bitterly cold as winter's hold on Westdentia deepened, the landscape outside painted in shades of white and grey as if the world itself was preparing for the stillness of the season. Snowflakes drifted down from a sky that looked heavy, as though it might collapse under the weight of the storm.

At school, however, things inside the classroom were quieter, the soft ticking of the clock the only sound that accompanied the scribbling of pens and the occasional whisper between students. Leina sat at the back of her history class, her amethyst eyes gazing absentmindedly out the window. She hadn't been paying attention to the lesson, her thoughts drifting as they often did, this time stirred by an unusual presence.

New faces had become a rarity around Westdentia Academy, a school where the elite and the well-known rarely left room for outsiders. But that morning, a new teacher had stepped into their midst—a man who had quickly made his way into the school's halls with an enigmatic aura that felt too sharp for the ordinary school day.

Mr. Hawke.

He was tall and lean, with dark eyes that seemed to miss nothing, and his presence cast a quiet, almost haunting chill over the classroom. His voice was calm, steady, but there was something about the way he held himself—something that hinted at a life far beyond the classroom. Students had whispered about him in the hallways after he had made his first appearance in history class earlier that day; his sharp gaze made the students eerily aware of him.

Leina didn't know why, but the way he'd spoken, how he'd held their attention so effortlessly, had unsettled her. Something about him felt like a riddle waiting to be solved, and for once, her mind found itself captivated by something other than her usual introspection.

She shook her head, pushing the thought aside. Mr. Hawke's presence was like the fog that settled over the school—the kind you could never quite shake, no matter how hard you tried.

Just as she was about to return her attention to the window, a voice broke through the classroom's silence, sharp and persistent.

"Leina!"

She turned her head to see Maria and Daria standing in the doorway, both of them wearing those mischievous grins that always seemed to signal some new scheme. The twins had been trying to get closer to her for some time now, and today, it looked like they were making another attempt.

"Hmm?" Leina asked, raising an eyebrow as they approached her.

Maria was the first to speak, her voice smooth and almost too sweet, as if she had rehearsed the words for the perfect moment. "We've been thinking... You should come hang out with us on Saturday. You know, just the three of us."

Leina didn't react right away, staring at the girls in silence. Her mind had already made its judgment—she was comfortable in her own space, away from the social buzz of school. Still, the invitation felt like more than just an offer of friendship. It felt... persistent. Like they weren't going to let her off easily, given they have been trying for months since their arrival.

Daria, sensing her hesitation, pushed further. "Come on! We won't bite, promise," she said with a wink. "We could binge-watch some shows or bake something, maybe. I'm sure you've got your secret recipe."

The thought of spending time with them on a Saturday—away from the comforts of home and the quiet moments that made her feel at peace—didn't appeal to Leina. But then again, her brothers were always busy with their projects, leaving her with plenty of time to herself. Maybe a little distraction wouldn't be so bad.

Still, she wasn't ready to commit.

"I don't know," she said, her tone flat as she examined their eager faces. "I don't hang out outside of school."

The twins exchanged a glance, and then Daria spoke again, her voice even more determined this time. "It'll be fun, promise. And we can make it something you'll enjoy. We're good at turning chaos into something interesting."

Leina crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair. There was something almost... too eager about the way they were selling the idea. She wasn't the type to fall for pressure, especially from girls she didn't know that well. Still, there was a part of her that found their energy oddly infectious.

But before she could speak, a thought flickered in her mind—one that made her pause.

She could use them.

Leina had always found amusement in teasing her twin brothers, Louis and Liam. They were always so engrossed in their tech projects and video games, and the opportunity to get them riled up—especially with the help of Maria and Daria—seemed like too good of a chance to pass up. It would be harmless fun, just a bit of chaos at the expense of her brothers, and they'd never see it coming.

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she decided. There was no harm in using the twins for a little harmless entertainment, and if she was going to invite them, she'd need to set some ground rules.

"Alright," Leina said, her voice steady. "You can come over on Saturday. But I'll warn you—if you're going to my house, you're going to help me ."

Maria and Daria exchanged a look, eyes lighting up with excitement. "Are you serious?" Maria asked, barely able to contain her enthusiasm.

"Absolutely," Leina replied with a sly grin. "But we're not just hanging out."

Daria couldn't suppress her laugh. "That sounds perfect!"

Leina's smile deepened as she gathered her things and stood up. She wasn't sure what she expected from the twins, but one thing was certain—Saturday was going to be interesting.

As the bell rang and the school day came to a close, Leina packed her things slowly, letting the other students rush out of the room. She couldn't help but feel a small thrill at the thought of her brothers' reaction on Saturday. They'd never see it coming, and that alone made her day.

When she stepped into the hallway, she spotted James waiting outside the school next to their Genesis GV80, his ever-present calm demeanour making him stand out even in a crowd of students. 

"Good afternoon, Miss Leina," James greeted her with a polite nod. "I trust you had a productive day?"

Leina gave him a small smile. "It's been... interesting."

As they awaited the boy's arrival, James's quiet presence was always a comfort to her. She felt a brief pang of appreciation for the way he quietly supported them all, always watching their backs without ever saying a word about it.

As her brothers neared the car, James opened the door for her, but before she slid in, she paused, glancing over her shoulder.

There, standing just outside the building, was Mr. Hawke again. He wasn't looking at her directly, but the weight of his gaze felt palpable, as though he were studying her even from a distance.

She shook her head, pushing the thought away. For all she knew, he was simply observing the students. But something about him didn't sit right.

James, ever the professional, seemed to notice her distraction. "Is that your new teacher, Miss Leina?"

"Yeah, let's go," she replied, pulling her coat tighter around herself against the cold.

As she settled into the warmth of the car, she couldn't shake the feeling that her curiosity about Mr. Hawke was just beginning—and, for better or worse, she had a strange suspicion that it wouldn't be the last time their paths would cross.

The drive home was quiet, the landscape outside becoming increasingly white as the snow thickened. Leina's thoughts drifted back to Saturday, to the plans she'd made, and to the fact that, for the first time in a while, she was looking forward to something.

Maybe the twins weren't so bad after all. They might even make her brothers sweat a little.

And for now, that was enough to make her smile.