Rica Academy
820 Words
The journey seemed to last forever. Flora spent the first hour staring out the window. The second hour trying to guess where they were going.
And the third hour attempting to get information from the serious-looking man driving the vehicle.
Unfortunately, he was about as talkative as a brick wall.
"So..." Flora began.
No response.
"Do you work for Rica Academy?"
"Yes."
Flora brightened.
Progress.
"How long have you worked there?"
"A while."
"Oh."
She waited.
Nothing else came.
Flora sighed.
This was going to be difficult.
By late afternoon, the road had changed.
The towns had disappeared.
The traffic had vanished.
Now they were traveling through a vast forest.
Tall trees stretched toward the sky.
The sunlight barely reached the ground.
Everything felt strangely quiet.
Almost too quiet.
Flora pressed her face against the window.
"This place looks like the perfect location for a mystery."
The driver said nothing.
"Or a murder."
Still nothing.
"Or a haunted school."
The driver glanced at her in the mirror.
"No murders."
Flora smiled.
"That's exactly what someone hiding a murder would say."
The man sighed heavily.
A few minutes later the car rounded a corner.
Flora froze.
A massive iron gate stood ahead.
The gate was taller than any building she had ever seen.
Twisting vines climbed its black bars.
At the center was the same symbol from her letter.
The circle surrounded by strange markings.
The gates slowly opened.
Flora's eyes widened.
Beyond them stood Rica Academy.
For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.
The academy sat atop a hill overlooking a sparkling lake.
Ancient stone buildings stretched across the grounds.
Tall towers rose into the sky.
Bridges connected different sections of the campus.
Gardens covered the landscape.
Fountains sparkled in the sunlight.
It looked less like a school...
And more like a castle.
"Wow," Flora whispered.
Even the driver smiled slightly.
The vehicle stopped in front of the main building.
Students walked everywhere.
Some carried suitcases.
Others talked excitedly with friends.
A few looked as nervous as Flora felt.
For the first time since leaving home, she relaxed.
Maybe this place wasn't so strange after all.
She stepped out of the vehicle.
Immediately someone crashed into her.
"OW!"
Flora stumbled backward.
A suitcase toppled over.
Books scattered across the ground.
"Oh no!"
The boy responsible dropped to his knees.
"I'm so sorry!"
Flora blinked.
The boy had messy dark hair, bright eyes, and an expression that suggested trouble followed him wherever he went.
He quickly gathered her books.
Then accidentally dropped them again.
Then picked them up.
Then dropped one.
Then picked it up too.
Flora couldn't help laughing.
The boy looked relieved.
"Good."
"What?"
"You're laughing."
"Should I be angry?"
"Usually people are."
"I might still be."
"Oh."
"I'm kidding."
The boy grinned.
"Thank goodness."
He handed her the last book.
Then paused.
"A mystery novel?"
Flora raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"Please tell me you like mysteries."
"I love mysteries."
The boy gasped dramatically.
"Finally."
"Finally?"
"I've spent all morning listening to people talk about studying."
Flora laughed.
The boy extended his hand.
"Rocky."
She shook it.
"Flora."
"Nice to meet you, Flora."
Then Rocky glanced at the title of her book.
His eyes widened.
"WAIT."
"What?"
"You've read The Midnight Cipher?"
Flora stared.
"You've read it?"
"No way."
"No way."
For several seconds they simply stared at each other.
Then both spoke at the same time.
"The ending was amazing."
"It was predictable."
They stopped.
Rocky pointed.
"Predictable?"
Flora pointed back.
"Amazing?"
"Oh, this friendship isn't going to work."
Flora laughed.
"Agreed."
"Actually..."
A new voice interrupted them.
"You two have known each other for approximately forty seconds."
Flora and Rocky turned.
A girl stood nearby.
She held a stack of books against her chest.
Her dark hair was neatly tied back.
Her expression suggested she was already questioning their intelligence.
Rocky smiled.
"Hello."
The girl sighed.
"I've been standing here for two minutes."
"Why?"
"Because I was trying to decide whether either of you were capable of a normal conversation."
Flora laughed.
Rocky looked offended.
"I am deeply normal."
"No."
"Fair."
The girl shook her head.
"My name is Kira."
Flora smiled.
"Nice to meet you."
"You too."
Rocky raised a hand.
"I'd say it's nice to meet me as well."
Kira stared at him.
Rocky slowly lowered his hand.
For the first time that day, Flora looked around at her new classmates.
The academy.
The towering buildings.
The endless grounds.
The students arriving from all over.
A strange feeling settled over her.
Excitement.
This wasn't just a new school.
This was the beginning of something.
She didn't know it yet.
But years later, when she looked back on this moment...
She would remember it as the day everything changed. Because hidden somewhere within Rica Academy's ancient walls...
A mystery was already waiting for her.
And it had been waiting for a very long time.
- Writer
