Chapter 7: Elizabeth

Chapter 7: Elizabeth

— As the night deepens, danger lurks in every shadow.

The nights at Winterpeak Academy always carried an inexplicable chill. The sky was as dark as ink, with a faint layer of moonlight casting long, distorted shadows across the dormitory hallway.

Standing by the window, Tom peered through the fogged-up glass at the ground below—where the shadows of two intersecting trees merged into a quiet, lurking darkness, as if something unseen was watching him in silence.

His heart tightened slightly. Almost unconsciously, his fingers grazed the wound on his shoulder. The cut beneath the bandages still ached dully, but what unsettled him more was how quickly it was healing. By all logic, a wound that deep should still be throbbing after just one night. Yet now, it had already scabbed over, no longer bleeding.

"This isn't normal…" Tom muttered under his breath, his brows furrowing deeper.

Just then, a soft knocking sounded at the door.

— Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sound was light, deliberately subdued, as if the visitor was wary of disturbing others. Tom's back tensed slightly as he shifted his gaze from the window to the door. At this hour, the dormitory was eerily silent, making the sudden knocking all the more jarring.

Holding his breath, he hesitated for a moment before finally stepping forward, placing his hand on the doorknob, and turning it slowly.

As the door opened, a faint scent drifted in—light and fresh, carrying the crispness of the night air.

Standing outside was Elizabeth Whitlock.

Her beauty seemed almost otherworldly. Her skin was as pristine as freshly fallen snow, carrying a soft glow. Her eyes, deep and luminous, shone like the brightest stars in the night sky. A high, elegant nose, lips full and soft—her features were as if sculpted by an artist's careful hand. And when she smiled, it felt as though the entire world brightened just a little.

Elizabeth Whitlock, the most beautiful student at Winterpeak Academy, and the eldest daughter of the esteemed Whitlock family. Despite her noble lineage, she carried no trace of arrogance—warm and approachable, she was affectionately known among her peers as "the sweet little cake."

She and Tom were classmates, but the school year had only just begun, and they weren't particularly close. Her sudden appearance at his door took him by surprise.

She was dressed in a dark coat, her long hair cascading loosely over her shoulders. There was a faint coldness to her expression—so different from her usual warmth and cheer. In her hand, she carried a small medical kit. Her gaze flickered over Tom's exposed shoulder, and she spoke calmly, "Your wound needs to be redressed."

Tom blinked, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "How did you know I was injured?"

"Jack told me," Elizabeth stepped into the room without hesitation, setting the medical kit down and opening it. "He said you encountered… 'the beast' last night."

"That guy's mouth is going to get me killed one day," Tom sighed with a wry smile, closing the door behind her, though his gaze never left her figure.

Elizabeth ignored his grumbling, efficiently taking out disinfectant and ointments. Her movements were precise, practiced—not those of an ordinary student. Tom sat at the desk, watching her deft hands work, his tone carrying a hint of curiosity. "Were you a nurse before?"

"Family tradition," she replied coolly, her voice detached, making it clear she wasn't interested in elaborating.

Tom raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. He slipped off his outer shirt, exposing his shoulder, and let her do her work.

As she peeled away the old bandages, Elizabeth's fingers hesitated ever so slightly.

Her brows knit together as her gaze landed on the wound, now almost fully healed. A flicker of something unreadable passed through her eyes. "Your wound… is healing fast."

Tom's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his voice steady. "Maybe I just have a good constitution."

Elizabeth didn't respond. Instead, she lowered her head and continued tending to the wound. Yet, Tom could sense that her demeanor had grown noticeably colder, as if she had already drawn her own conclusions.

The air between them grew tense in the brief silence that followed. Tom studied her profile for a moment before speaking in a low voice, "Did you really come here just to redress my wound?"

Elizabeth's hand paused for a fraction of a second before she resumed her work. She looked up, meeting his gaze with deep, unreadable eyes. "Have you ever felt that something about Winterpeak Academy… is off?"

Tom stiffened slightly, his expression turning serious. "What do you mean?"

Instead of answering immediately, Elizabeth stood and walked to the window, gazing out into the darkness of the distant forest. The night wind brushed through her hair, carrying whispers only those who listened closely could hear. Her voice was quiet but heavy. "Do you really think… the thing that attacked you last night was just an ordinary beast?"

Tom fell silent.

The events of last night had been… bizarre. Those glowing green eyes, eerie as ghostly flames in the abyss. Those claws—sharp and unnatural, like something ripped straight out of a nightmare. He had no rational explanation for what he had seen.

Elizabeth turned back to face him, her expression serious. "If you want to know the truth, meet me behind the academy at ten o'clock tomorrow night."

With that, she turned and left, disappearing down the hallway into the darkness.

Tom remained where he stood, watching her retreating figure, an uneasy feeling rising in his chest.

— If you want to know the truth, meet me behind the academy at ten o'clock tomorrow night.

Slowly, he clenched his fists, the foreboding in his heart intensifying.

Outside the window, the dark forest seemed to be watching him, hiding secrets beyond comprehension.

This academy… was far from ordinary.