13. Shadows That Move

Blackwood Academy Had Changed

The school had always been scary at night. Its old halls made noise under the weight of time and the wind often made sounds through the broken windows

But something was different now

Something wrong

The students of Blackwood did not talk about it but they all felt it

A change in the air

A shift in the dark

And no one felt it more than Damian

It started as a whisper in his mind. A fear that stayed with him. The feeling that someone was watching

Someone who should not be there

Damian's two closest friends Mason and Ryan walked down the dark halls toward their dorms

The school had made a new rule. Lights off early after the strange things happened. No one said why. But they all knew

Ethan was dead

And somehow he was not

Mason made a noise and pushed his hand through his hair. "All these stupid rules. Just because some loser killed himself we all have to pay"

Ryan did not talk right away. He had been quiet. Jumpy

Like he felt something coming

"Yeah" Ryan said. His voice was low. "Sucks"

Then—

The lights blinked

The boys stopped

A soft wind touched their necks. But the windows were closed

Mason turned and looked up. "Great. Now the lights are bad too"

Ryan said nothing

He looked at the wall

Mason looked too and felt sick

Their shadows were moving

Not like normal

Not like light playing tricks

Just moving by themselves

Mason said nothing. His chest rose fast. "Did you—"

Before he could finish the shadows went back to normal

Like nothing happened

Ryan licked his lips. "Let's go back to the dorm"

They walked faster

Behind them the shadows moved again

Watching. Waiting

Damian sat in the library that night. He acted like he was reading

He wanted to feel normal

But fear followed him like a ghost

His friends talked in whispers now. About missing stuff. About messages on walls. About hearing voices

Now it was shadows

No

Damian shook his head. He did not believe in ghosts

He flipped the pages of a book. His teeth pressed tight

Then—

The lights dimmed

The air turned still

Damian's heart slowed

He turned his head to look at the bookshelves behind him

At first nothing

Then—

Something moved

A shape between the shelves

It moved slow. It watched him

Damian made his hands into fists

Ethan

No. That was not possible

He looked away and tried to breathe normal

Then the shelf shook

A book fell to the floor

Thud

Damian jumped from his chair. His chest felt tight. His eyes moved around fast

No one was there

But the air felt heavy. Like someone was breathing beside him

Damian grabbed his bag. His hands shook

He had to leave

He ran to the door. He reached out

Then he saw it

The shadow by the door moved

A shape stood there

Still. Dark. Watching

Damian's breath stopped

The shape had no face

Only black

He blinked

It was gone

The room was still

Damian's chest moved fast. His skin felt cold

He pulled the door open and ran

That night Damian lay in bed. He looked at the ceiling

The library

The book

The shape

Maybe it was just his mind

Maybe

But why did he still feel watched

The room was quiet

Mason and Ryan were in their beds. Their breath soft

Damian turned. He faced the wall

Maybe if he slept it would stop

Maybe—

Creak

He froze

The sound came from the end of his bed

Slowly he turned his head

There

A shape stood

Tall. Still. Watching

Damian did not move. His fingers held his blanket

The shape was full of dark. Its face hidden

The air turned cold

Damian could not breathe

His hand shook. He reached for his lamp

Click

Nothing

Click. Click

Still nothing

His heart beat fast in his ears

The shape moved

Damian gasped

He could not move

Then—

A voice

Soft. Cold. Close

"I see you"

Damian jumped forward. He hit the lamp again

Click

Light filled the room

Nothing

The shape was gone

But the fear stayed

Because Damian knew

It was real

Something had been there

And it was coming for him

Outside the dorm. In the dark of night

Ethan stood

His new power filled him

His fingers moved

The shadows listened to him

He had watched Damian tonight

He saw the fear in his eyes

And he liked it

Ethan had once cried for help

No one came

Now he would teach them fear

Real fear

He would break them all

Slowly

They would beg

And Ethan would never show mercy