The Town

The night had been long, the kind that stretched endlessly, weighed down by grief and uncertainty. I walked through it, my feet numb against the damp earth, my body aching from exhaustion. But nothing hurt more than the hollow ache in my chest—the absence of my mother. She was gone. I had nothing. No one. And nowhere to go.

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, my surroundings changed. No longer the thick trees and whispering wind of the woods—now, towering structures loomed in the distance. Buildings, massive and strange, lined streets filled with motion. I slowed my steps, eyes wide with wonder and confusion. The air smelled different here, thick with scents I couldn't identify—something warm and inviting, something bitter, something metallic like the blood I had once craved.

Then, there were the people. So many of them, walking briskly, talking, laughing, completely unaware of me. I had never seen so many humans in my life. They moved with purpose, dressed in ways I had never seen, clutching strange, glowing rectangles in their hands. And the sounds—engines roaring, voices overlapping, horns blaring—it was overwhelming.

I stepped onto the road, drawn toward the buildings. The instant my feet touched the pavement, something happened.

A loud screech. A sharp honk. Then—

CRASH!

Metal slammed against metal as cars skidded, drivers shouting, windows shattering. People cursed and yelled, but I couldn't focus on the words. My body tensed, my pulse wild. What had I done? What had just happened? I didn't know the rules of this place. I didn't know anything.

Panic surged through me, and I ran. I didn't stop until I reached a large black gate. Beyond it, a massive building stood, surrounded by green fields and clusters of young people. They looked my age. They laughed together, some carrying books, others running. I had never seen anything like it before.

Curious, I stepped forward.

A man in uniform blocked my path. He was tall, stern-looking, and unimpressed by my appearance. "Where do you think you're going?"

I tilted my head. "What is this place?"

His brows furrowed. "It's a school. Are you lost?"

School. The word was foreign, but I liked the sound of it. "What do you do here?"

The man hesitated, clearly confused by my question. "Students come here to learn."

"Learn?" My mind raced. Mother had taught me things—how to survive, how to hide, how to control my fire—but this was something different. This was knowledge, something I had never been allowed. And I wanted it. Badly. "I want to learn," I said, stepping forward.

The guard held out a hand, stopping me. "Not without a student card, kid."

Student card? What was that?

Before I could ask, a familiar voice called out. "There you are!"

I turned, my eyes widening. Adam.

He was here.

He hurried toward me, his brows drawn in concern. His presence sent a strange wave of warmth through me, though I couldn't explain why. He looked at the guard, then at me, his expression unreadable.

"She's with me," Adam said quickly. "She's my friend. She—she lost her parents last night in a fire."

The lie came so smoothly, so convincingly, that even I almost believed it. I looked up at him, my lips parting slightly. He was helping me. He was covering for me.

The guard's stern gaze softened just a little. "That so?"

Adam nodded, placing a hand gently on my arm. "Yeah. She has nowhere to go."

For a moment, I thought the man would refuse. But then, something strange happened. He exhaled heavily, his resistance crumbling. He stepped aside and muttered, "Alright, go on in."

I didn't know why, but it felt like he had no choice in the matter. Like he couldn't refuse me.

I followed Adam through the gates, my heart pounding. The moment we were clear of the guard, he turned to me, his voice low and urgent. "What are you doing here?"

"I…" I didn't know how to answer. "I just walked. I don't know where else to go."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You can't just wander around like this. Do you know how much trouble you almost caused back there?"

I frowned. "I didn't mean to."

"I know," he said quickly. "But people here don't understand… you."

Neither did I.

He must have noticed the look on my face because he softened. "Come on. You need food, right?"

Food. The word stirred something in me. Hunger. But not for what Adam was thinking. I swallowed hard and nodded anyway.

He led me into the school, past groups of staring students. I lowered my gaze, feeling their eyes on my torn, soot-covered clothes. My feet ached from walking all night, my body sore. But more than anything, I felt out of place.

Inside, Adam guided me to a quieter hallway and leaned against a row of lockers. "Okay," he said, exhaling. "First, let's figure out how to get you some clean clothes."

I tilted my head. "Clothes?"

He gave me a look. "Yes, Anne. Clothes. Yours are… well…" He gestured at me. "A little noticeable."

I glanced down at myself. Burnt fabric, dirt, and ash. "Oh."

"Yeah, 'oh,'" he said, shaking his head. "Wait here."

He walked off, leaving me standing awkwardly. I watched as students passed, some giving me odd looks, others whispering. I felt out of place. Exposed.

Minutes later, Adam returned with a bag. "Here. It's from lost and found. Probably not the best fit, but it's clean."

I took the bag hesitantly. "Thank you."

He nodded toward a door. "Bathroom's there. Go change."

I did as he said, struggling with the unfamiliar fabric but managing. When I stepped out, he smiled slightly. "Better."

For some reason, his approval made something in my chest tighten. I didn't understand it.

He hesitated before speaking again. "Listen… I don't know what's going on with you. But whatever it is, I'll help you."

Help me? No one had ever said that to me before.

I looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of deception. I found none.

"…Why?"

His expression grew serious. "Because I think you need it."

And just like that, for the first time since I stepped into this strange new world, I felt… safe.