–The Boy in Black

The rain had always been my favorite kind of weather. It covered the city in silver, washed away footprints, and made people hurry past each other without asking questions. But today, the rain felt different. It wasn’t peaceful. It felt like a warning. I stood outside the enormous gates of Blackwood Academy, gripping the strap of my backpack as water soaked through my shoes. The school towered over me like an ancient castle, its dark stone walls wrapped in ivy and mystery. Students laughed with their friends, but something about this place felt… wrong. Too quiet. Too perfect. “First day?” an older teacher asked kindly. I nodded. “Don’t worry. You’ll settle in.” I smiled politely, even though I wasn’t convinced. Fresh starts had never worked for me before. After my parents’ divorce, moving across the country wasn’t exactly my idea of a new beginning. I had left behind my friends, my home, and every memory that once made me feel safe. Now I was expected to fit into a school where everyone already seemed to know each other. The hallway buzzed with conversations until suddenly… Silence. Every student stepped aside at the exact same moment. I looked up. A tall boy dressed in the academy’s black uniform walked through the crowd without saying a word. His dark hair fell across his forehead, and his grey eyes looked completely emotionless, as though nothing in the world could ever surprise him. No one smiled at him. No one spoke to him. They simply moved out of his way. Curious, I leaned toward the girl standing beside me. “Who’s that?” Her eyes widened. “You seriously don’t know?” I shook my head. “That’s Luca Moretti.” The name meant nothing to me. “He owns this school or something?” She laughed nervously. “No… but his family practically owns the city.” Before I could ask another question, someone bumped into my shoulder. My books scattered across the polished floor. “Oh, great,” I sighed. A hand reached down before I could. Long fingers picked up my notebook. I looked up. It was him. Luca. For a moment, neither of us spoke. His eyes studied me like he was trying to solve a puzzle. “You dropped this,” he said, handing me my notebook. His voice was low and calm. I expected him to walk away. Instead, he stayed. “You must be new.” “I am.” “You don’t know who I am.” “Apparently not.” For the first time, something almost looked like a smile crossed his face. “That’s dangerous.” I folded my arms. “Why? Should I be scared?” The hallway became so quiet that I could hear the rain hitting the windows. “No,” he answered softly. “You should be careful.” Without another word, he walked away. The whispers immediately returned. “I can’t believe he spoke to her.” “She’s going to regret it.” “Someone should warn her.” I frowned. Warn me about what? I had only known Luca Moretti for thirty seconds. Yet somehow… It already felt like my life had changed forever.