Chapter 4: That same man ....Again?

The air in the car felt thick with tension. Ivy had no idea what to expect from Moonridge Academy, but the long ride felt like an eternity. Her mother had said very little since the man had left, except for one thing that echoed in Ivy's mind: You're not safe here. What did that mean? Why had they been so desperate to leave?

As they drove, Ivy had trouble keeping her eyes from darting to the rearview mirror. Her mother had been unusually quiet, her face pale and drawn. The streetlights passed by in a blur, but Ivy's mind raced, racing faster than the car itself. The mystery behind her mother's fear, the strange encounter with the man, and the cryptic warnings... it was all too much.

They hadn't spoken about it directly since they left home, but Ivy could feel the weight of her mother's concern like a physical presence in the car.

"We're almost there," Mrs. Carter said softly, her gaze flicking nervously to the rearview mirror.

Ivy glanced out of the window. The forest was dense, the trees towering over the car like ancient sentinels. The further they drove, the more isolated the world around them seemed. No lights from nearby houses. No signs of life. Just the creeping darkness that swallowed the road ahead.

Moonridge Academy was supposed to be a place of refuge, her mother had told her. A place where Ivy could learn in peace—far away from everything that was happening. But that didn't explain the mystery surrounding it.

The car turned sharply onto a narrow, winding road, hidden by thick trees. Ivy peered out the window, straining her eyes to see anything in the darkness. She could barely make out the outline of large stone walls in the distance.

And then, as if the night had been holding its breath, Moonridge Academy came into view.

The gates loomed in front of them, tall and imposing, made of iron and stone. Ivy swallowed hard, the sense of foreboding growing stronger with every passing second.

Mrs. Carter pulled up to the gates, which seemed to be made of pure black metal. Ivy's breath caught in her throat as she saw two large stone pillars rising from the ground, their surfaces covered in moss and ivy. At the top of the pillars stood large iron lanterns, casting a soft, eerie glow over the entrance.

As Mrs. Carter rolled down the window, Ivy could see two figures standing on either side of the gate. Both men were dressed in dark uniforms, their eyes covered by shades even though the night had fallen completely. Their stance was rigid, their bodies like statues as they waited for their arrival.

Ivy's pulse quickened as she felt the weight of their gazes on her. She turned her head to look at her mother, who was looking forward with a determined expression, though Ivy could see her hands trembling slightly on the steering wheel.

The guard nearest the car nodded silently as Mrs. Carter spoke.

"Here to drop off Ivy Carter," her mother said, her voice firm, betraying none of the unease that clearly tugged at her.

One of the guards stepped forward, his hand reaching toward the gate. There was a low hum, a sound that made Ivy's hair stand on end, and then the gate creaked open with a sound like rusted metal.

"Thank you," Mrs. Carter said, her voice sounding more like a command now.

Ivy could feel the weight of her mother's eyes on her, urging her to stay quiet. And so she did, her hands folded tightly in her lap, her mind swirling with questions.

As the car passed through the gates, Ivy caught her first glimpse of Moonridge Academy in the pale moonlight.

The academy was massive, the buildings towering and ancient, surrounded by a labyrinth of gardens, courtyards, and mysterious pathways. The place had an aura of power and secrecy—everything seemed to be hidden in plain sight, just out of reach.

Ivy leaned closer to the window, her curiosity growing with every moment. There were strange symbols carved into the walls of the academy, symbols she had never seen before. And the air felt charged, like something was about to happen, but she couldn't quite place it.

The car drove deeper into the campus, and Ivy felt her stomach tighten. The place looked almost... too perfect. Too secluded. It was as though they had driven straight into another world, a place where nothing from the outside could ever touch them.

As they neared the front of the academy, Ivy saw a figure standing in the doorway of one of the buildings. It was a man, tall and broad-shouldered, with a commanding presence. His eyes were fixed on the car, and as they approached, Ivy couldn't help but feel that familiar pull of curiosity—and fear. He was… different. There was something about him that set him apart from the others she had seen so far.

Her breath hitched as their car came to a stop. Her mother turned to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Stay close," Mrs. Carter said, her voice softer now, but still laced with urgency.

Ivy nodded and slowly opened the car door. As she stepped out, the cool night air hit her, and the weight of the academy's atmosphere settled over her like a heavy blanket. The man at the door was still watching her, his expression unreadable.

"Welcome to Moonridge Academy," the man said, his voice low and controlled. "We've been expecting you."

Ivy froze at his words. How did he know who she was? Her mother hadn't mentioned a word about their arrival to anyone.

Before she could respond, the man stepped forward, his eyes never leaving hers. There was something about him—something compelling. She could feel her pulse quicken as he closed the gap between them, and then, with a smooth motion, he reached out and took her hand.

"Allow me to escort you to your dormitory," he said, his grip firm and surprisingly warm.

As they walked toward the building, Ivy's mind raced. What is going on? Why are they expecting me?

And as the doors to the academy opened with a low creak, Ivy felt something shift within her. This was only the beginning, and she had no idea what she was about to step into.

Suddenly, a voice rang out, deep and familiar, sending a chill through Ivy's spine.

"Ivy… we need to talk."

Ivy froze, her heart stopping in her chest as she turned toward the voice.

It was him. The man from earlier—the one with the gold eyes.