The Disappearance
1420 Words
The academy was buzzing with rumors.
By midday, Lucan’s disappearance had spread like wildfire, and everyone was talking about it. Some said he’d run away, tired of the academy and its strict rules. Others whispered about something darker—that he had been taken by the academy itself, that he had become part of one of their "experiments."
Eira wasn’t sure what to believe, but the air in the academy felt charged, electric. It was as if everyone was holding their breath, waiting for something to break. And deep down, Eira knew that this was only the beginning.
Seren had been quiet all morning, which was unusual for her. Normally, she would be joking and laughing, making light of the academy’s strange rules and strict teachers. But today, she was tense, her eyes darting around the room as if she expected Lucan to walk through the door at any moment.
"Do you think they’re telling us everything?" Seren asked quietly as they made their way to their afternoon classes.
"No," Eira replied, her voice barely a whisper. "I don’t."
Seren nodded, her expression grim. "Me neither. Something’s wrong, Eira. I can feel it."
Eira glanced at her friend, her heart sinking. She didn’t want to admit it, but she felt the same way. Ever since Finn had started talking to her, ever since he’d told her that she didn’t belong among the powerless, Eira had sensed that something bigger was happening beneath the surface of the academy. Something dark. Something dangerous.
"I’ve been having dreams," Eira confessed, keeping her voice low so no one else could hear. "Strange dreams about the academy. And Lucan was in them."
Seren stopped walking, her eyes widening. "Lucan was in your dreams?"
Eira nodded. "He was with Finn. They were... waiting for me. And Finn keeps telling me I’m not ready for the truth."
Seren’s expression turned serious. "Eira, you have to be careful. The academy... it’s not what it seems. I’ve heard things. About kids disappearing. About the experiments they run on the ones with powers."
"Experiments?" Eira’s stomach twisted. "What kind of experiments?"
"I don’t know for sure," Seren admitted. "But some kids have been taken from their dorms at night. They come back, but they’re... different. It’s like they don’t remember what happened. And the ones who ask too many questions? They disappear."
Eira felt a chill run down her spine. This was worse than she had thought. She had always suspected that the academy wasn’t just about educating kids with powers, but she had never imagined it could be this dark.
"Do you think Lucan..." Eira’s voice trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
Seren didn’t answer, but the look in her eyes was enough. Lucan hadn’t run away. Something had happened to him, something the academy didn’t want them to know about.
---
Later That Day:
Eira’s mind raced as she walked through the academy grounds. Her thoughts were a jumble of confusion and fear. What was happening at this place? How deep did the academy’s secrets go? And what did it have to do with her?
As she passed by one of the large windows overlooking the courtyard, she saw Finn again. He was standing alone, watching the students as they went about their day, his green eyes scanning the grounds with a quiet intensity.
Without thinking, Eira made her way toward him, her heart pounding in her chest. She needed answers. She couldn’t keep living in the dark, not when it felt like the academy was closing in around her.
"Finn," she called out as she approached him.
He turned, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—something that told her he had been expecting her.
"You’re looking for answers," he said before she could speak.
Eira swallowed hard, her mouth dry. "Yes. Lucan... he’s gone. I know something happened to him. And you—" She hesitated, searching his face. "You know what’s going on, don’t you?"
Finn didn’t answer right away. He glanced around, making sure they were alone, before stepping closer to her.
"Lucan didn’t run away," Finn said quietly. "He was taken. The academy... they’re experimenting on the students, testing the limits of their abilities. Lucan was chosen because he’s powerful. They want to push him further."
Eira’s heart pounded in her chest. "Why? What do they want with him?"
Finn’s eyes darkened. "They’re looking for something. Something bigger than just powers. They’re trying to unlock something ancient, something that’s been dormant for a long time."
Eira felt a chill run down her spine. "What does this have to do with me?"
Finn hesitated again, as if he were weighing his words carefully. "You don’t have powers, Eira. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless."
Her stomach twisted. "What are you saying?"
"There’s something inside you," Finn said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Something that hasn’t awakened yet. The academy knows it. That’s why they let you stay. They’re waiting for it to emerge."
Eira’s breath caught in her throat. "But I don’t feel anything. I’ve never had powers."
"Not all powers are the same," Finn said softly. "Some are hidden, buried deep. Yours is different from the others. That’s why they haven’t experimented on you yet. They’re afraid of what you’ll become."
Eira’s mind raced, her heart pounding in her chest. Was that why she had been allowed to stay at the academy? Why they hadn’t pushed her out like so many other powerless kids?
"What... what am I supposed to do?" Eira asked, her voice shaking.
"Stay hidden," Finn said, his voice urgent. "Don’t let them see you coming. When the time is right, your power will reveal itself. But until then, you have to be careful. They’re watching you, Eira. Always watching."
Eira swallowed hard, her pulse racing. The academy, the experiments, Lucan’s disappearance—it was all connected. And somehow, she was part of it.
But the worst part was knowing that she couldn’t trust anyone. Not the teachers, not the other students, and maybe not even herself.
---
That Night:
Eira couldn’t sleep.
The weight of Finn’s words pressed down on her like a heavy blanket, suffocating her. The academy was more dangerous than she had ever imagined, and now she knew that she was caught in the middle of it. Her dreams, her strange connection to Finn, even Lucan’s disappearance—it was all leading to something. Something she wasn’t ready for.
But as she lay there in the dark, staring up at the ceiling, she felt something deep inside her stir. It was faint, like the smallest flicker of a flame, but it was there. A pulse of energy that sent a shiver down her spine.
For the first time in her life, she felt something. Something powerful. Something real.
And it terrified her.
---
The Next Morning:
When Eira woke up, the feeling was gone, but the memory of it lingered like a shadow. She dressed quickly, her thoughts racing as she made her way to the academy’s main building.
As she passed through the halls, she overheard snippets of conversation. The students were still talking about Lucan’s disappearance, but no one seemed to know the truth. The academy hadn’t made an official statement, and the teachers were unusually tight-lipped.
Seren caught up to her as they walked to class, her expression tense.
"Anything new?" Seren asked, glancing around to make sure no one was listening.
Eira shook her head. "No, but Finn told me some things. About the academy. About the experiments."
Seren’s eyes widened. "What did he say?"
Eira hesitated. "He said they’re looking for something. Something ancient. And that Lucan was taken because they want to push his powers further."
Seren’s face paled. "That’s... terrifying."
"I know," Eira muttered. "And there’s more. Finn said... that I’m not powerless. That the academy is waiting for something to awaken inside me."
Seren stared at her, her amber eyes wide with shock. "What do you think it means?"
"I don’t know," Eira admitted, her voice trembling. "But I’m scared."
Seren nodded, her expression serious. "We need to be careful, Eira. If the academy’s experimenting on kids, we don’t know who we can trust."
"I know," Eira said softly. "But I think it’s too late for that."
As they made their way to class, Eira couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming—something bigger than any of them could imagine.
And she wasn’t sure if she was ready for it.
- Writer
