School of monsters

It was a Tuesday afternoon when I finally received the letter from the school I’d applied to. I was so excited; I had been waiting for months. "Mom! Mom! Mom! I got accepted!" Mom froze what she was cooking and turned her full attention to me. "Please make it quick, darling, I have to finish making food." "Mom, I got into... the School of Monsters?" I froze, then laughed. School of Monsters? The envelope was thick and black, with my name written in deep red ink: Lisa Perry. You are accepted. I laughed again. A school for monsters? It has to be a joke. Mom looked at me, her tone deadpan. "Darling, pack your bags. You know the school bus will be here any minute." Sure enough, a heavy horn blared outside our house. It was the school bus. Panicking, I shoved my things into a bag as fast as I could and ran outside to catch it. The bus dropped me off in the middle of nowhere. Nothing but dense trees, thick fog, and one massive black iron gate that read: NIGHTFALL ACADEMY. I pulled out my phone—no signal. Around me stood kids with unnaturally pale skin and sharp, intense eyes. A girl stepped close, leaning in to breathe through her nose right near my neck. "You smell... normal." My stomach dropped. Inside, the Great Hall was packed. Looking around, horror set in: some students had visible fangs, some had sharp claws, and others had glowing eyes. The Headmaster stood up at the front podium. "Learn to act human," he announced to the crowd. "So the real humans never find us." The entire hall erupted in cheers. I didn't cheer. I am human, I realized, trembling. If they find out what I am, I'm dead. Suddenly, I felt a heavy gaze burning into the back of my neck. A boy sat alone at a long table. Black hair, black uniform, dark aura. The other students purposely kept their distance from him. "That’s Drake Ben," someone whispered nearby. "The vampire prince." Ben turned his eyes directly to me and sniffed the air. He stood up, walked slowly over to my desk, and leaned down close to my ear. "Your heart is beating too fast," he murmured softly. "You're warm. You are... human." My blood ran cold. Ben smiled, letting a single sharp fang slip past his lip. "This will be fun." My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. Everyone in the Great Hall was still cheering, their voices echoing off the vaulted stone ceiling, completely oblivious to the fact that the deadly predator in front of me had just unravelled my secret in five seconds flat. ‎mII don’t know what you’re talking about,I managed to stammer, pressing my back so hard against the wooden bench I thought I might merge with it. ‎, ‎ Ben didn’t back away. Instead, he tilted his head, his dark eyes glittering with a dangerous, amused light. “Don’t lie, little girl. I can hear the blood rushing through your veins. It’s loud. It’s sweet. And honestly? It’s distracting. ‎“Leave her alone, Drake, a calm voice cut in from the side. ‎Another boy stepped into the dim light of the hall, leaning casually against the adjacent table. He had messy brown hair and a lazy, unbothered grin. Beside him stood a taller, broader boy with arms crossed and a stony expression. ‎“Just playing with the new girbl, David,” Drake said smoothly, straightening up, though his eyes never left mine. “Or whatever she is.” ‎, ‎“She looks like she’s about to faint,” the broader boy said, frowning at me. “Edwards is right, Drake. Don't cause a scene before the Headmaster even finishes his opening address.” ‎“I’m fine!” I blurted out, my voice cracking slightly. I scrambled to gather my thoughts, trying desperately to recall every acting tip or lie I could conjure. “I’m just... nervous. First day jitters.” ‎Drake let out a low, velvety laugh. “If you say so, Lisa Perry.” ‎, ‎Before I could ask how he knew my name, a sharp voice pierced through the ambient noise of the hall. ‎“Drake! Why are you wasting your time talking to that?” ‎A girl with sleek black hair and eyes that shimmered like polished obsidian glided over. Her tall leather boots clicked loudly against the flagstones. Her eyes dragged up and down my worn thrift-store jacket with complete disdain. Princess. The name suited her aura, even if her demeanor was poison. ‎, ‎“She’s nobody, Drake,” Princess sneered, looping her arm possessively through Drake’s. “Look at her clothes. She doesn't belong in the high-tier dorms with us. She probably shouldn't even be in the same room.” ‎“Careful, Princess,” David chuckled, folding his arms. “Your jealousy is showing. It’s barely nightfall.” ‎“Shut up, David!” Princess snapped, her nails digging slightly into Drake’s sleeve. “I’m not jealous. I just have high standards for who gets to breathe our air.” , ‎“She smells fine to me,” a softer voice piped up. ‎I turned around to see two girls standing behind my table. One had bright, colorful pins stuck into her uniform blazer, and the other was holding a heavy, leather-bound textbook. ‎“I’m Emily,” the girl with the pins said, giving me a warm, reassuring smile. She stepped right between me and Princess, effectively blocking her view. “And this is Emmie.” ‎“Hi,” Emmie said, offering a small wave. “Ignore Princess. She acts like she owns the Academy just because her family owns half the blood banks in the city.” ‎“It’s fine,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I’m Lisa.” ‎“We know,” Emily said cheerfully. “We saw your name on the house registry! We’re dorm mates!” , ‎Before Princess could launch another insult, a heavy, resonant sound echoed through the Great Hall. Headmaster Williams struck his wooden staff against the podium thrice. The entire hall fell dead silent. Even the air seemed to freeze. ‎“Students,” Headmaster Williams’ deep, booming voice carried to every corner of the vast room. “Classes begin at midnight sharp. Remember the fundamental rule of Nightfall Academy: secrecy is survival. Dismissed to your quarters.” ‎The crowd began to shift, a sea of black uniforms moving toward the massive arched exits. Drake gave me one last, lingering look over his shoulder before Princess pulled him away, glaring at me over her shoulder with pure venom. ‎“Come on, Lisa,” Emily said, grabbing my hand. Her skin was cool, but her grip was firm and friendly. “Let’s get our trunk assignments before the hallways get completely jammed.” ‎As we shuffled out into the cold, torch-lit corridor, a boy suddenly shoved his way through the crowd toward us. He had familiar sharp features and dark hair, his face pale with panic. , ‎“Lisa!” he hissed, grabbing my shoulder. ‎“Issac?” I gasped, my eyes widening. “What are you doing here? How did you—” ‎“I followed you!” Issac whispered furiously, dragging me toward a shadowed alcove away from the streaming crowd. Emily and Emmie paused nearby, looking back at us with mild curiosity. “I saw the bus you got on. Lisa, this place isn't a business school. I sneaked past the gates through the woods. The people here... their shadows don't move right. What is this place?” , ‎“Issac, you need to leave right now,” I whispered back, horror gripping my chest. “You can’t be here. If they find you— ‎“If they find who?” ‎A soft voice asked from behind Issac. We both jumped. Standing in the shadows was a a girl with silvery-white hair and striking violet eyes. She was leaning against the stone wall, a quiet smile on her face. “Isabella!” Emmie called out from the hallway. “Did you get the dorm keys?” , “Working on it,” Isabella replied softly. She stepped closer to Issac and me, her eyes drifting to Issac’s trembling hands. She didn't look threatening; in fact, her expression was surprisingly gentle. She looked at me, then at Issac, and her smile softened. “He’s your brother, isn't he?” “Please,” I begged, pulling Issac behind me. “He just came to check on me. He’s leaving right now.” , Isabella reached out and lightly touched my arm. “Relax, Lisa. I’m not going to hurt him. Or you.” She leaned in closer, dropping her voice so only we could hear. “I know what you are. I saw your heart rate spike when the Headmaster spoke.” My jaw dropped. “You know?” “I’m a Seer,” Isabella whispered with a small nod. “I knew a human was coming days ago. But don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. But your brother really does need to go before the campus wards lock at midnight.” Issac looked between me and Isabella, realization and terror dawning on his face. “Lisa... you’re trapped here with monsters.” , “I’ll figure a way out,” I promised, shoving him gently toward the side exit Isabella pointed to. “Go home, Issac! Tell Mom I’m fine, but do not come back here!” Issac hesitated, but seeing the determination in my eyes, he turned and ran out into the dark fog surrounding the courtyard. I took a deep, shaky breath, turning back to Isabella. “Why are you helping me?” , “Because,” Isabella smiled softly, gesturing for Emily and Emmie to join us, “everyone needs a friend in a place like this. And honestly? Things were getting boring around here anyway.” As we walked down the dark hall toward the dormitories, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a wall mirror. I looked small, pale, and completely out of place. But as I thought of Drake’s sharp smile, Princess’s glare, and the monstrous world closing in around me, one thing became abundantly clear: I wasn't just surviving Nightfall Academy. I had to conquer it.