FIRST DAY
485 Words
Aria Vale was late.
Again.
She ran through the school gate with her bag half-open, her hair doing whatever it wanted, and her brain repeating one thought: If I’m late one more time, Mrs. Daniels will end my life.
“ARIA!” a voice yelled.
She stopped and turned.
Zara.
Zara Kinsley—her best friend, fashion expert, gossip queen, and the only person who could talk for five minutes without breathing.
“You walk like someone that has already accepted punishment,” Zara said, linking arms with her. “Did you forget your homework?”
“No.”
“Lunch money?”
“No.”
“Existence?”
“Very funny.”
They hurried into the school building just as the bell rang. The hallway was crowded, loud, and smelled like perfume, sweat, and regret.
Normal.
At least, it was supposed to be.
As Aria walked past the lockers, the lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then the hallway… blinked.
Aria froze.
For half a second, the walls shimmered like heat on a hot road. The lockers twisted, stretching taller, darker. Shadows crawled along the ceiling like they were alive.
Aria rubbed her eyes.
When she looked again, everything was normal.
“Did you see that?” she whispered.
Zara frowned. “See what?”
“The walls. They—never mind.”
Zara shrugged. “You need sleep. Or deliverance.”
They reached their classroom and slipped into their seats. Aria tried to focus as Mrs. Daniels droned on about history, but something felt wrong.
The clock ticked too loudly.
The air felt heavy.
Then Aria noticed it.
A cat.
Sitting on the windowsill.
Inside the classroom.
It was pitch-black, with silver eyes that were definitely staring at her.
Cats are not allowed in school, Aria thought.
The cat tilted its head.
She sees, a voice said.
Aria jumped so hard her pen fell.
She looked around. No one else reacted.
The cat yawned, showing teeth that were a little too sharp, then vanished—melting into the sunlight like smoke.
“Okay,” Aria muttered. “I’m officially losing it.”
At break time, she grabbed Zara and pulled her outside.
“Promise you won’t laugh,” Aria said.
“I promise nothing,” Zara replied.
“There was a cat in class. It talked. In my head.”
Zara stared at her.
Then she smiled. “Aria… babes. Are you sure you didn’t drink energy drink for breakfast?”
“I’m serious!”
Before Zara could reply, something moved behind the trees at the edge of the school field.
Too tall.
Too thin.
Its eyes glowed faintly gold.
Aria’s heart slammed.
The creature bowed slightly… then disappeared.
Zara frowned. “Okay. That one—I saw.”
They stared at each other.
The school bell rang again.
Somewhere, unseen, something laughed.
And Aria knew—
this was no longer a normal school day.
- Writer
