Alina quickly lowered her gaze under his piercing stare, biting her lip as she fidgeted with the strap of her bag.
Something about the way he looked at her…
Like he could hear her heartbeat.
Like he already knew everything she was hiding.
His voice cut through the silence again...calm, deep, and final.
"I can offer you a trial. One week."
She looked up slightly, hope flickering in her chest.
"If you manage to handle the children—" His eyes darkened slightly, "—all of them… without incident, without losing control, without running away—" He paused, "—then the job is yours."
Her breath caught.
That didn't sound like a normal challenge.
What kind of children need a trial like that?
Still, she nodded firmly. "Okay… yes. I can do that."
But he wasn't finished.
He leaned forward, resting one elbow on the desk, and for the first time, his eyes softened. Just a little. The crimson glow in them dulled, replaced by something deeper. Something unreadable.
"If not," he said slowly,
"You will leave this place. Immediately. And you will not be allowed to return."
Then his gaze met hers—intense, searching.
"Because once you step into that classroom, there's no turning back."
Alina's heart pounded in her chest.
Was that… warning? Or something else?
She didn't know. But in that moment, his voice whispered to himself.
'Humans don't usually survive more than a day.'
"My staff will show you where you'll be living and give you a brief tour."
His voice had returned to its cold, detached tone..like he'd already lost interest in speaking to her.
With a casual flick of his fingers, he gestured toward the door.
Alina stood up, trying not to stumble in her rush to obey.
"Thank you, sir," she said politely, then quickly slipped out, her heart still pounding from everything.
To her surprise, someone was already waiting just outside the office.
A woman with dark, tightly braided hair stood motionless beside the door.
Clad in a plain black uniform with silver trim, she didn't speak, just gave a short nod the moment Alina stepped out.
"Maybe he informed her already," Alina thought, quietly following.
The woman didn't smile. Didn't glance back.
She simply began walking, pointing occasionally.
"This way bathroom."
"This way staffroom."
"This wayclassrooms A, B, C."
"You're assigned to D."
Her voice was flat, mechanical, like she was reading a script from memory. No warmth. No small talk.
Alina nodded quietly each time, her eyes absorbing the beautiful surrounding.
Eventually, the woman stopped in front of a door marked with a tiny red crescent moon.
"Infirmary," she said.
Before Alina could ask anything, the door opened and a sweet, slightly raspy voice chimed:
"Oh, you must be the new teacher!"
An older woman stepped out holding a bottle of cough syrup in one hand and a glowing clipboard in the other. Her gray-streaked hair was tied into a loose bun, and her eyes kind, but sharp sparkled with something deeper.
Alina immediately smiled.
"Hi, I'm Alina. It's so nice to meet you."
The woman chuckled, eyes scanning Alina from head to toe with a quiet knowing.
"Hahaha… Great name. And it's great to see you, child. I'm Madame Thistle..the resident nurse, babysitter, bandage wrapper, and occasionally, the bribe-keeper for the drama these little monsters cause."
Alina laughed softly, relieved to finally meet someone human or at least human enough.
Madame Thistle smiled wider, but there was something in her gaze. Something that flickered, like she could see past Alina's words and into her thoughts.
"You're glowing already," she said cryptically. "This place changes people."
Then, just as quickly, she turned back toward the infirmary.
"Anyway, I have a tiny patient who thinks he broke his fang. Poor thing was just teething. I'll see you soon, Miss Hart."
Alina loved her sense of humor.
And she disappeared behind the door.
-`♡´-
The silent staff woman continued walking without a word. Alina followed, glancing around at the gardens outside the hallway windows, lush and blooming with flowers she'd never seen before.
Eventually, they arrived at a small pathway that curved around the side of the building, leading to a more secluded area shaded by tall, glowing trees.
"This is your residence," the woman said flatly.
Alina stepped inside and gasped softly.
It was small, yes but modern and cozy.
Ceramic tiles floors, bright lighting, a clean bed with fluffy white sheets, a little reading nook by the window.
Her eyes lit up.
"It's… beautiful."
She turned, ready to thank the woman only to find her speaking again.
"You are to live here."
"Oh—um," Alina paused, startled. "Actually, I didn't bring all my things. I just thought I'd return tomorrow morning with everything. My money, my passport, my stuff—"
"You can't leave," the woman said, her voice suddenly firmer.
Alina's eyes narrowed slightly. "…Excuse me?"
"Once you enter, you stay. That's the rule."
"But no one told me that," she said, frowning. "I have things I need. Important things."
Before the tension could rise further, a smooth voice spoke from behind her.
"She can go."
Alina turned sharply only to find the principal standing there once again, like he'd appeared from the shadows themselves.
"I—I'm going, then," she said quickly, unsure if she needed permission or not anymore.
Dante Nightshade's crimson eyes didn't leave her.
But after a moment, he gave the silent staff woman a meaningful glance.
The woman nodded and turned away.
-`♡´-
Alina rushed to her car. The sun was high now, the forest somehow less eerie than before.
The trees didn't seem as suffocating. The road seemed more visible. Maybe… the fear had lifted a little.
She made it back to her tiny apartment and packed her things--her clothes, certificates, her mother's old comb, the one blanket she loved, and the small framed photo of her and her mom from when life was still peaceful.
She didn't have money to buy anything new but she packed what mattered.
That night, for the first time in a long time, Alina fell asleep with a real smile on her face.