Echo Hall

THE WELCOME PARADE

The golden sunlight filtered through the tall, swaying trees that lined the stone pathway leading deeper into Echo Hall's sprawling campus. Though the morning air was crisp and clear, Aria couldn't shake the sense that the light was only pretending to be warm- that beneath the building something colder lurked.

He fingers tugged nervously at the hem of her blazer. The uniform fit perfectly. Too perfectly. The dark obsidian fabric hugged her frame, burgundy piping too neat to be accidental. The school crest shimmered slightly in the sun: a silver crow perched atop an old clock tower, wings partially unfurled like it was about to take a fight or strike. Below it the latin inscription read: Meminisse eos qui amisimus. Remember those we've lost.

Her footsteps echoed against the cobblestone as she stepped into the quad. Around her, the campus stretched wide- sharp- angled gothic architecture sprawled across the horizon like a castle painted into a landscape. Arched

windows glinted like watching eyes. Ivy wrapped around every column and spire like veins on cold skin

"New girl!"

The voice broke her train of thought.

A talk girl joggled over, red braids bouncing, a brilliant smile lightened up her deep brown face. "I'm Imelda. Your roommate. Thought I'd save you from getting lost on your first day."

Aria managed a smile. "Thanks I'm Aria"

"C'mon let's not miss the welcome parade."

Imelda said looping her arm casually through Aria's and tugging her towards the gathering students.

As they walked, Aria noticed how the students arranged themselves with uncanny precision, as though responding to silent cues. Others whispered in tight circles, pausing whenever she passed by. And above them all, near a wine covered balcony, a platinum - blonde girl in a pristine uniform leaned on the rail. Her eyes never left Aria.

"Who's that" Aria asked quietly.

"Astrid," Imelda replied, voice suddenly lower.

"Trust me, you'll hear things."

Before Aria could ask more, the heavy oak doors at the base of the main building creaked open.

Out walked Ms. Llewyn, tall and severe in a high- collared black coat, her greying hair coiled into perfect bun. But what caught Aria's attention was the staff she carried - a long, dark rod topped with a crystal sphere that paused faintly like a heartbeat.

"No mic?" Aria asked under her breath.

"She doesn't need one." Imelda replied. "Listen."

"Echo Hall is not a merely school." Ms llewyn began. Her voice was velvet and iron all at once. "It is a legacy. A tradition born of brilliance.....and buried secrets."

The crowd went still.

"We welcome you, new minds into the fold. But understand this: Echo Hall remembers everything."

A breeze swept through the courtyard. For a moment, Aria's vision blurred. She was no longer standing in sunlight.

It was raining.

Students screamed.

A ribbon-red, soaked, fluttered in slow motion.

Then-

She was back. Just like that. The applause had begun.

Everyone clapped, except her. Imelda glanced at her frowning. "You okay?"

" I think I just..... saw something." Aria replied in a shaky voice.

"That happens," Imelda said, "You'll get used to it."

Before Aria could reply,na student brushed passed them.

A boy maybe seventeen, dark eyes reemed with sleepless circles. A guitar case slung over his shoulder. He turned just enough to smirk.

"Echo Hall's playing trick on the new girl already." He said voice low. " Welcome to the loop."

Then came the sound.

A synchronized hum. Not voices - phones!

Every student's phone lit up at once. Aria's buzzed in her pocket, she pulled it out brows furrowed.

An unfamiliar app glowed on the screen- a dark icon with the same silver etched on it's surface. She hadn't installed anything. Her phone was locked just an hour ago. The app opened on it's own. A message popped up.

WELCOME TO ECHO HALL ARIA LET'S PLAY

Her heart slammed against her ribs. " What's this?" She asked aloud. Imelda frowned and glanced at her own screen. Blank.

"You got a message?" She asked. Aria slowly nodded.

" I didn't," Imelda said a note of confusion - or was it fear- in her voice.

Aria looked back towards the building. The girl on the balcony - Astrid she was gone.

She looked at the spire over her head. The wind shifted - somewhere, a crow cowed.

And deep in her chest Aria felt it!

This wasn't her first time here.

It was her second

She just didn't remember the first.