The School

The moment Adam led me through the school gates, I felt something strange—something light, yet overwhelming. Excitement? No, it was more than that. It was the feeling of stepping into a world I had only ever imagined. The massive buildings, the students chatting and laughing, the sound of footsteps echoing through the hallways—it was all so different from the life I had known.

Adam guided me through the halls, leading me to an office with a polished wooden door that had a nameplate reading Principal Andreas. He knocked once, then pushed the door open, revealing a middle-aged man with piercing eyes that seemed to look right through me. The air in the room felt thick, like he carried some sort of presence that demanded attention.

"Mr. Andreas," Adam started, clearing his throat, "this is Anne. She's my friend and… she lost her family in a fire last night. She has nowhere else to go."

The principal glanced at me, his sharp gaze unreadable. "A tragic loss," he said slowly, studying me as if searching for something.

I stared back at him, confused yet fascinated. There was something about his presence that made my skin prickle, but I ignored it. Instead, I thought about everything Adam had said and how much I wanted to belong somewhere. I wanted to stay. Without thinking, the words left my mouth.

"I want to learn here."

The effect was immediate. Mr. Andreas straightened up, his hesitation gone. "Of course. We'd be happy to have you," he said, his tone almost too eager. "I'll need your credentials, though."

Adam tensed beside me, as if shocked by how quickly the principal agreed. He shot me a wary glance, but I barely noticed. My heart swelled with joy—I had never been allowed to belong anywhere, and now, just like that, I was part of something. Adam quickly recovered and played along.

"I'll help her get those," he said smoothly.

Mr. Andreas nodded but didn't take his eyes off me. There was a flicker of something—curiosity, maybe even fear. It made me uneasy, but the excitement of my new reality pushed the feeling aside. Adam thanked him, then led me out of the office and toward a classroom.

As we walked, I felt lightheaded with happiness. "Did you hear that?" I said, grinning at Adam. "I'm going to school!"

Adam didn't respond right away. He still looked unsettled.

"Yeah," he muttered. "That was… strange."

We stepped into the classroom just as a women—the teacher, I assumed—was about to introduce me. But I was too eager to wait.

"Hi! I'm Anne, and I'm here to learn!" I announced with a bright smile.

The reaction was not what I expected. Some students snickered, others exchanged glances of amusement or disgust. A few outright laughed. My smile faltered. Was I not supposed to say that? Was I doing something wrong?

I didn't like this. A strange heat stirred in my chest, a mix of anger and embarrassment. I didn't understand these people, but I knew one thing—they had no reason to look at me like that.

Before I could even think about it, the words slipped out:

"Smile and welcome me," I said, my voice clear and firm. "After all, just like me, you all want to learn. Or else you wouldn't be here."

The change was instant.

The laughter stopped, and suddenly, everyone was grinning, eyes bright with excitement. They clapped and cheered, welcoming me with enthusiasm so intense it felt unnatural.

I froze.

What just happened?

Adam turned to me, his expression unreadable, but there was something beneath his gaze—something like fear.

"She's just joking," he said quickly, forcing a laugh. "She's new."

The class laughed along, the eerie excitement fading as they returned to normal. But I didn't miss the way Adam's hands clenched into fists or how his pulse quickened.

What did I just do?

I swallowed hard and took the only empty seat—next to a boy who hadn't reacted at all. While everyone else had obeyed my words instantly, he had remained still, unaffected. He turned to me, studying me with dark, unreadable eyes.

"Interesting," he murmured.

I shivered.

For the first time since stepping into this new world, I felt like I was walking into something far more complicated than I had ever imagined.