HOWLBOUND

What do you mean, dead

It all begins with her admission into Covan University.

Rowena stared at the towering gate she was being dropped at, as the car rolled to a stop. Her brown eyes fixed on the large gold patterns like a symbol of something ancient and unfathomable. The gate looked centuries old, like it will probably fall without the two stone pillars flanking it. She gets lost staring at it.

“Quickly honey, get your backpack and come down,” said her grandmother, Mrs Agatha Evans, as she stepped down from the car.

Rowena removes her seatbelt, reached towards the back seat, and picked up her backpack before heading to the trunk. She notices an elderly man approaching them with a luggage cart. He looks well dressed in a crisp white shirt tucked in black trousers and a tie.

“Good evening, Ms. My name is Jonas I'm here to help with your luggage”.

His cheeky grin sent chills down Rowena's spine; he had a strange, clown-like aura. His dark eyes pierced deep into hers, as if he were searching for something deep within.

“Oh, thank you, that will be most helpful; come come Rowena, let's help him get them on the cart,” said Mrs Agatha in a rush.

Once the luggage was stacked, it dawned on Rowena that she wouldn't see her grandmother for the next six months. Her grandmother didn't seem affected by this emotionally, as she's very distant from her, always work minded.

She gives Rowena a peck on the cheek and advances to hug her

“Alright, hun, I'm late for work, I won't be able to join you for your clearance; take care, my love, bye,” said Agatha as she rushed to her car.

Rowena stood still, her gaze fixed on the car until it vanished in the distance

“Follow me, miss,” She hears Jones speak and turns to follow. She pauses and looks back to where the car drove to, turns back and runs a little catching up with Mr Jones, who escorts her to the administration office.

As Rowena enters the massive Admin block, her eyes wander around. Everything was so detailed like it was crafted by people of old times, from the paintings on the wall to the massive dead tree-like sculpture standing tall in the middle of the Admin block hallway, the place smelled like dust.

She left little knocks on the office door the receptionist sent her to, and a soft feminine voice welcomed her in. A woman with indescribable skin sat.

“Come, come, dear, My name is Ms Isla, I’m the Chancellor of Covan” she heard the very petite woman say.

The lady looked up to Rowena. She stiffened like she just saw a ghost.

“What’s your name” she asked

“Rowena Evans” Rowena replied

“Evans” she asked again, as if doubting her last name.

“Yes ma’am” Rowena replied

Her short blond hair rested on her shoulder and her blue eyes fixed on Rowena.

“ Where's your ID?” She continued

Her piercing gaze left Rowena, as she rummaged through the files on her desk.

Rowena stared hardly, she had never seen someone this beautiful, she looked very inhuman.

Rowena gives her an already issued school ID, mailed to her weeks back. She scans through some folders, brings out one with Rowena’s name on it, and hands the file and a key.

“Make sure you take your time to review everything in this file; there you'll see the school's map, the number of courses you'll be taking, and some of our school's do’s and don'ts; make sure you cover it. You're dismissed” Isla said waving at Rowena to leave.

Rowena handed her room number to Mr Jones and he proceeded to escort her there.

The Dorm block looked like a renovated castle, vines ran across the building, and brick patterns on the walls showed it had never been painted.

“This is my limit, miss; you can go in; I'll leave ur luggage here so u can take it in at your own pace. She heard Mr Jones speak.

Thanks a lot, sir. You've been of great help. I would not have made it here without you and your handy cart. Said Rowena with a little laugh.

“It's alright, dear; that's what I'm here for,” He responds while offloading his cart.

Rowena got out her dorm key, which had 305 written on a white card attached to it. She proceeds to open her dorm. The Dorm was large and reeked of dust, not bigger than her room back home but it was well enough for a university student. She steps into the room, Her eyes wander.

The paint was beige, and the room smelled of old wood. There was a bed, a wardrobe, and a reading table. She expected better from the biggest and most expensive university in Slovenia.

Wondering what she would do with this room; she approached the table, placed the file given to her by the chancellor on it, pulled out the chair, and flipped through it.

“Hi,”

A voice startled her, and she turned to see a beautiful girl, who looked plump but had a pear-shaped body, short black hair and brown eyes. Her short pleated skirt gave a full view of her thick calf.

“I'm Sophia; what's your name?” Sophia said, trying to get in, but the stacked luggage stood in her way.

“I'm coming, I'll get” Rowena replied, making her way to the door. She cleared a partway and approached Sophia.

“Hi, Im Rowena” she said

She turned to see every door in the hall was open and the girls stared at her like she was not human, they stared and whispered. Some took pictures.

“Hi, I'm Rowena. Nice to meet y'all,” Rowena said awkwardly, breaking the seemingly weird silence; no response came to her, and the girls continued to whisper as they went back into their dorms.

“Do you need a hand getting these in?” said Sophia as she picked up a box, not expecting a response, walked in, and dropped it.

“Don't mind them they're just scared for you” she chuckled,

“Everyone's just scared you'll end up like the others that stayed in this room” She chuckled, then paused,

“Dead” she continued.

Rowena’s face dropped. “What do you mean dead?” she asked in a panic.