The final bell of the day echoed through the hallways of Ravenwood Academy, signaling the end of classes for the first-year students.
Elias stayed seated in his usual spot in Class 1A, tapping his pen absentmindedly against the desk.
He glanced toward the seat where Velma always sat, her notebooks meticulously arranged and her focus intense.
But today, her seat was empty.
It wasn't like Velma to skip class.
She had an almost obsessive dedication to her studies.
Elias found his gaze returning to her desk repeatedly throughout the lesson, each glance leaving a heavier weight in his chest.
As the last student left the room, Elias rose from his seat.
He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Elias spent the entire day searching for Velma.
He combed through the library, her usual haven of solitude.
The dim aisles were quiet, except for the sound of pages turning.
She wasn't there.
