Chapter 2

PRESENT DAY

It all felt like a dream—or a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. Just a few weeks ago, I was living comfortably with my mom, Emily McHawlin, my world as normal as it could get. Now, I was living with a man I barely knew. A man I had believed was dead my entire life. My father, Daniel, who had suddenly emerged from the shadows, insisting he was back for my own good. Life has a funny way of slapping you in the face when you least expect it, twisting fate in ways that leave you breathless.

I shook my head, still unable to fully process the turn my life had taken. A new father, a new home, and now, a new school.

I pulled my cross-body bag off the shelf and stuffed a few notebooks inside, trying to focus on the mundane task. My thoughts raced as I questioned how I even agreed to this. Me, Prisca McHawlin, starting a new life on someone else’s terms. Daniel had convinced me it was “healthy” to get back into a routine, but there was nothing healthy about this situation. I snickered bitterly at the thought.

Saint Michaelson Academy. That was the name of my new school, and the uniform felt as foreign to me as everything else in my life now. A blue pencil skirt, white shirt with the school crest, and standard black shoes. It wasn’t hideous, but I wasn’t used to wearing uniforms. I tied my shoulder-length black hair into a neat ponytail and glanced at myself in the mirror. I looked like a stranger, even to myself.

With a sigh, I headed downstairs, each step heavy with the weight of my new reality. When I entered the kitchen, I found Daniel sitting at the small dining table, sipping his coffee. He didn’t even look up when I walked in. The silence between us was thick, awkward. He still felt like a stranger.

I stood in the doorway, just watching him for a moment. So many questions swirled in my mind. Who was he, really? Why had my mom hidden him from me? And why did I have to live with him now? But none of those questions came out.

“Are you ready?” he finally asked, his voice cutting through the silence.

I jumped a little at the sound of his voice. “Yes… I guess,” I mumbled, shifting uncomfortably. “Just a bit nervous.”

He frowned slightly but didn’t press further. “You’ll be fine,” he said, grabbing an apple from the counter. “Come on. You don’t want to be late on your first day.” He headed for the door, and I followed silently, wishing I could disappear.

The drive to Saint Michaelson Academy was just as quiet, the tension between us growing with each passing mile. I stared out the window, watching as the sky grew darker, thick clouds rolling in like something ominous. The weather felt as unsettling as my mood, casting the world in shades of grey.

When we arrived, my heart sank. The school wasn’t what I had expected. It was small, almost like an old mansion rather than an academy. The one-story building was made of dark bricks, the windows lined with wrought iron, giving it an eerie, gothic vibe. The lawns were well-maintained, but even the green grass couldn’t brighten the atmosphere. It felt cold, like the air around it was sucked of all warmth and life. I shivered involuntarily.

The sky above seemed to press down on the building, heavy with the promise of rain. The clouds were dark and swirling, like something out of a horror movie. The wind picked up, making the trees sway ominously. Everything about the place made my skin crawl, as if I was walking into a trap and I didn’t even know it.

“This place feels... off,” I whispered under my breath.

Daniel pulled the car to a stop and turned toward me. “I’ll be in the principal’s office if you need anything,” he said in that same calm voice he always used. It annoyed me how unbothered he seemed by everything. “You’ll be fine, Prisca.”

Fine? I wasn’t sure I believed that. But I nodded anyway and watched as he walked into the school building, leaving me standing alone in front of the academy.

I took a deep breath and adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder. You can do this, Prisca. It’s just a school. It’s just a new place. But as I took my first step toward the entrance, a chill ran down my spine. The air felt thick, oppressive, as if something dark lingered in the shadows. The kind of feeling you get when you’re being watched. What kind of a school was this?

Inside, the hallway was dimly lit, with old-fashioned chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The walls were lined with dark wood paneling, and everything seemed to have a faint layer of dust, as if the school hadn’t seen much light or life in years. The students moved quickly, all of them seeming to know exactly where to go, their faces expressionless. No one noticed me. Or if they did, they didn’t care.

I felt out of place, like an intruder in a world I didn’t belong in. My chest tightened with anxiety as I fumbled with the schedule in my hand. I had no idea where to go, and the fast-moving crowd made it impossible to stop and ask for help.

Just as I was about to turn down a hallway, I bumped into someone. Hard.

“Hey! Watch it!” a voice said, annoyed but playful.

I looked up to see a boy around my age, with sandy blond hair and thick glasses. He had the kind of nerdy charm that was almost endearing.

“I-I’m sorry,” I stammered, stepping back and trying not to make a fool of myself. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Don’t worry about it,” he interrupted, his irritation quickly fading. “Just try not to bump into the principal. You’re new, right? I’ve never seen you around here before.”

I nodded, relief flooding through me. Finally, someone noticed me. “Yeah, I’m new. Sorry, I’m a little lost and... really nervous.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Nervous? You? Well, don’t sweat it. This place is weird, but you’ll get used to it. I’m Bryan, by the way.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and smiled for the first time that day. “Prisca. Nice to meet you.”

“Come on, Prisca. I’ll help you find your way. Where’s your first class?” He took my schedule from me and glanced at it. “Biology, huh? Lucky for you, I’m headed there too.”

As Bryan led me through the labyrinth of hallways, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling creeping up my spine. The deeper we went into the school, the darker it seemed to get. I felt like I was walking through a haunted house, not an academy. But I pushed the thoughts away, trying to focus on the relief of not being completely alone in this strange place.

When we finally reached the classroom, Bryan held the door open for me. “Ladies first,” he joked.

I laughed, but the unease still lingered.