SHADOW FALL ACADEMY

The road to Shadowfall Academy was longer than Lena expected. The bus rattled along a narrow road surrounded by towering black trees. Their branches stretched across the sky like crooked fingers, blocking most of the afternoon sunlight. Lena Vale sat quietly by the window. Her suitcase rested at her feet, and her fingers tapped nervously against the glass. She didn’t want to be here. But after everything that happened at her last school, her parents said this place was her only option. The bus slowed down. Ahead of them stood enormous iron gates. Carved into the stone arch above them were the words: Shadowfall Academy The gates creaked open slowly. Lena felt a strange chill run down her spine. The campus looked like something out of an old gothic movie — tall towers, dark stone walls, and ivy crawling across everything. The bus stopped. The driver opened the door. “Last stop.” Lena grabbed her suitcase and stepped outside. Cold wind brushed against her face. Students filled the courtyard. Some laughed. Some whispered. A few turned and stared at her. Lena tried to ignore them. Then something strange happened. A shadow on the ground moved. Not because of the sun. It moved by itself. Lena froze. She looked again. The shadow slid across the wall like dark smoke. Then it disappeared. “Okay… that’s weird,” she whispered. “Talking to yourself already?” Lena turned quickly. A girl with curly hair and bright eyes stood behind her, smiling. “I’m Mira,” she said cheerfully. “You must be the new student.” Lena nodded. “Lena.” Mira glanced around the courtyard. “Well Lena,” she said quietly, “welcome to the strangest school you’ll ever see.”