The dense forest outside Elitia Academy swallowed the fading sunlight as three separate groups of students wandered deeper into its winding paths. Confusion, uncertainty, and unease filled the air.
---
Kaesy's Group
"How can this be happening…" Kaesy muttered, her voice tight with frustration.
"We're lost…" Charline Oneida added, glancing nervously at the trees closing in around them.
"Don't worry. Maybe we just took the wrong path," Celsy said, trying to sound calm as she held up a slightly crumpled map. "According to this, we were supposed to go north."
With no better option, the others silently followed her lead, hoping she was right.
---
Theodore's Group
"Theodore, are we lost?" Chrisha asked, her tone light but clearly concerned.
"Do you think we aren't lost?" Carl replied, his voice laced with sarcasm.
Chrisha rolled her eyes while the others chuckled at Carl's usual wit.
"Relax," Theodore said with confidence. "We'll find a way out."
---
Jeremiah's Group
"It's getting dark, and we're still not back at the academy…" Keisha said, glancing up at the dimming sky.
"It's scary here," Felia Owen whispered, clutching her arms.
A few others murmured in agreement. Meanwhile, Ella, usually talkative and cheerful, stayed unusually quiet her eyes scanning the shadows in silence.
Back at the Academy
Khierra and Winter rushed through the silent halls of Elitia Academy, heading straight for Professor Laurion's office. Our footsteps echoed, our breaths shallow with panic.
"We need to report something," winter said as soon as we entered. "Some of the Alpha students... haven't come back yet."
Professor Laurion stiffened. Her usual calm expression turned sharp with concern. "What?"
Without wasting time, she stood up. "Go to your classmates and tell them to stay put. We'll handle things from here."
We both nodded quickly and turned to leave but before we could step out, Professor Vaughn appeared.
"Is Kaesy one of the missing students?" he asked, his tone tight, urgent.
We looked at him, confused by the intensity in his voice. Then khierra nodded slowly.
"Yes… Professor Vaughn, Kaesy is one of the missing Alphas."
Without another word, he turned and bolted down the corridor.
Khierra and I exchanged looks.
"What's their relationship?" khierra asked first, brows furrowed.
"I'm not sure," winter replied, though something about the way he ran… felt personal.
But now wasn't the time for that.
We hurried back to the Alpha House and gathered the others, relaying what Professor Laurion had told us. Though the professors acted fast, summoning elite guards, veteran wizards, and even combat instructors, we couldn't sit around and wait for updates. We were too worried, too restless.
We made up our minds, we were going to help find them.
Just as Khierra and winter were about to slip out unnoticed, Ynah spotted us.
"Where are you two going?" she asked, arms crossed.
Khierra opened her mouth to answer, but Ynah cut in. "I'm coming with you."
"There's something wrong," she added, voice quieter. "I have a bad feeling… And about Carl he knows something. He's in the woods too. What if he does something…"
I wanted to defend Carl. I wanted to say he wouldn't hurt anyone. But I couldn't say anything not now. Not when even I had doubts buried deep inside.
"Let's go," winter said instead.
And with that, the three of us slipped into the night.
Back in the Forest
Jeremiah's Group
"I'm really scared now…" Felia whispered, her voice trembling as tears welled in her eyes.
Jeremiah stepped forward, trying to steady his breath. "Everyone stay calm," he said firmly, his voice echoing slightly in the eerie silence. But the unease was spreading he could see it in their eyes, feel it in the air.
Suddenly, the bushes to their right rustled.
Everyone froze.
Jeremiah's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Who's there? Show yourself!"
The rustling stopped. For a moment, there was only silence.
Then a shadow moved. It circled them slowly, just out of clear sight. The group instinctively huddled together, forming a defensive circle, eyes darting in every direction.
Before anyone could react, a loud explosion erupted from a distance, bright and thunderous, lighting up the sky for a brief second.
Everyone turned toward it.
And that's when it happened.
A scream.
A blur.
Panic.
"Ella!" someone cried.
By the time they turned back around, two of their group were gone.
Jeremiah's eyes scanned frantically, counting heads. "Where are Ella and Keisha?" he asked, panic now replacing his earlier calm.
"I-I heard Ella scream," Rosette said, pale and shaking. "She was taken by someone it was fast. I couldn't see who it was. Then Keisha… she ran after them into the dark."
Jeremiah cursed under his breath, pressing a hand to his forehead.
"Fuck."