TRAPPED IN HIS TERRITORY

THE WELCOME

I sat up as Emma scooted close to me, her shoulder brushing mine. My eyes darted around the buildings as the bus rolled down the smooth, almost too-perfect road. I couldn’t help but feel astonished. All this time, I had expected Halestone to look like something out of a horror movie,a town shrouded in mist with crooked houses, peeling paint, and lifeless streets. Instead, it seemed…ordinary. Normal. Too normal. Just like the city we came from.

“See? I told you, girl.” Emma nudged me, grinning ear to ear. “There’s nothing weird about this town. You’ve probably just watched too many scary movies. Live a little!”

Her squeal rang through my ears, making me wince. I pressed my palms over them, rolling my eyes, but my attention shifted when I caught sight of Samantha. She wasn’t laughing or smiling like Emma. A look I couldn’t quite fathom etched itself across her face.

Was it fear?

Uncertainty?

Or maybe the kind of fear that only comes when you sense something…wrong.

Her eyes suddenly flicked up and met mine. She gave me a tight smile, but it didn’t ease the unease that twisted in my stomach.

Before I could dwell on it further, the bus slowed and came to a stop. I looked up to see it park in front of a huge building,a hotel. Its glowing sign blared against the night sky, welcoming yet strangely oppressive.

Professor Alden stood up, his suit perfectly pressed, not a wrinkle out of place. He clapped his hands once to get our attention.

“Alright, guys. We’re here.” His voice held authority, sharp and clear. “Now, remember,be on your best behavior in there. This isn’t your hometown, nor is it a place you’re familiar with. Respect the locals. The receptionist will direct you to your rooms. First thing tomorrow morning, we begin our classes.” He adjusted his tie, glancing briefly out the window. “I’ll catch up with you all later. I…have somewhere to be first.”

With that, Professor Alden stepped off the bus and disappeared into the darkened street of Halestone without looking back.

A tap on my arm broke my thoughts. Jason leaned in close, his eyes soft, his smile tired.

“Let’s pack our stuff and head inside. I’m feeling a little lightheaded, probably from the trip.”

My heart did a quick flip. Jason. The boy who unknowingly had my heart wrapped around his finger. I’d had a crush on him for the longest time, but we’d started off as friends. And I wanted it to stay that way. I’d seen too many friendships crumble when feelings got involved, and I couldn’t imagine losing him. No matter how much my chest tightened whenever he smiled at me.

I nodded, grabbing my bag. As I stood, I stretched my arms, bones popping softly from being cramped in the bus for hours. My gaze flicked toward the rearview mirror at the front. The driver’s eyes were locked on me. Not blinking. Not shifting. Just staring.

A cold shiver ran down my spine. Something wasn’t right.

I tore my gaze away, hurrying down the bus steps. Emma and Samantha were already ahead, dragging their luggage toward the trunk. I joined them, pulling out my suitcase, trying to ignore the prickling sensation crawling across my skin.

The hotel loomed in front of us, tall and glowing with golden lights spilling from every window. It looked breathtaking,like the kind of place you only saw in glossy magazines or celebrity scandals splashed across the news. Its marble steps gleamed under the warm lamps that lined the entrance.

Most of my classmates trailed behind us, laughter and chatter buzzing in the air, excitement crackling like static. Their voices contrasted heavily with the silence of the town outside, where no one seemed to linger on the streets.

We stepped into the lobby, and my breath caught. The interior was even more beautiful. Chandelier lights sparkled above, casting a soft glow over polished floors that reflected every step. Plush couches sat elegantly against the walls, and paintings hung,paintings of Halestone itself, though each seemed…off, as though the eyes in them followed us.

We made our way to the receptionist’s desk. Mathew, our class representative, cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses before speaking.

“Excuse me,” he said politely.

The receptionist looked up from her files. She was a woman with striking auburn hair tied neatly into a bun and a smile that spread warmly across her face,like sunlight breaking through a cloudy day.

“Well, hello there,” she greeted, her voice honey-sweet. “You must be the History students from Hollow University, if I’m correct?”

Mathew nodded, his usual calm demeanor softening as he mirrored her smile.

“Yes, we are.”

Her eyes brightened. “Well then, welcome. We’ve been expecting you.”

Something about the way she said expecting made my chest tighten.

“Your rooms are upstairs,” she continued. “You’ll pair with yourselves, as we’d like this trip to bond you all a little more. So, feel free to choose who you want to room with.” She slid a neat pile of room keys toward us.

I assumed it meant two people per room. One by one, pairs were made, students laughing, nudging, and claiming who they’d bunk with. Emma and I, of course, ended up as the last pair.

The receptionist reached for the final key, holding it delicately between her fingers before extending it toward me. Her eyes locked with mine, and her smile grew even wider.

Was it happiness?

Excitement?

Amusement?

I couldn’t tell.

The longer she stared, the tighter my stomach coiled.

She finally placed the keys into my palm, her fingers brushing lightly against mine,cold, colder than I expected.

“Once again, welcome to Halestone,” she said, addressing the group. “Your rooms are on the fourth floor. I truly hope you enjoy your stay.”

Her words hung in the air, but I couldn’t shake the strange twist in her tone.

---

Emma looped her arm through mine, giggling as we headed for the elevator. “See? Nothing scary. A luxury hotel, handsome boys, and no homework. What more could we ask for?”

I forced a smile, but my thoughts were still trapped on the way the receptionist’s smile had stretched when her eyes met mine… and the way the bus driver hadn’t stopped staring.

When the elevator doors slid shut, I swore I saw the receptionist tilt her head ever so slightly, as though she knew something none of us did.

And for the first time since stepping foot into Halestone, I wished I’d never come.