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Chapter 13: The Creatures in the Fog
It was winter.
The sun never rose that morning.
A thick veil of fog blanketed the grounds of Eclipse Academy, muting every color into shades of grey. Though it was day, the sky was ink-dark, smeared with smoke and heavy silence. The cold bit into skin, and the world felt eerily paused—like the calm before a terrible storm.
Footsteps echoed across the stone corridor.
Tara and Zoya rushed toward the auditorium, their breath forming desperate clouds in the frozen air.
"You have any idea what happened?" Tara asked, her voice sharp with worry.
Zoya shook her head, pulling her scarf tighter. "No. I was shocked just after waking up."
Tara fumbled for her communicator. "Rose isn't answering… Where did she go?"
Zoya glanced sideways. "Don't worry. She can take care of herself."
"I know," Tara muttered, but her voice cracked. "But… something doesn't feel right."
As they stepped into the auditorium, a wave of tension washed over them. Students packed every corner, whispering in hushed panic. The air was thick with fear—almost solid. Something had changed. Something was wrong.
At the center stood Miss Nyla, trying to maintain control of the buzzing crowd.
"Students, please, keep silence," she called out, her voice firm but laced with urgency. "Principal Z is coming."
A heavy silence fell. All eyes turned to the main doors. The sound of murmurs faded. Fear crept like frost along the walls.
Behind Tara, students whispered with pale faces and shaking hands.
"Did you see the dead bodies?" someone muttered. "I don't understand why they left their rooms..."
"No," another voice responded, lower. "I heard the creature broke in. It threw the bodies outside."
"You mean…" a third voice gasped, "it climbed over the wall?"
Tara turned. Her voice was calm but sharp. "Where are the bodies now?"
Before anyone could answer, the main door slammed open with a thunderous THUD.
Principal Z strode in.
His presence alone silenced the room completely.
Tara stiffened, her mind racing. Where's Neel? Where's Arib? Why haven't they come yet?
Principal Z's voice cut through the silence like a blade.
"Do not panic," he began. "The creatures are not new. We've known of their existence… but only in the deep forests. Until now."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"They are dangerous. But so are you. We've trained you. Prepared you. And now… the war has come to your doorstep."
A cold shiver crept down Tara's spine. Around her, students clenched their fists, swallowed hard, and tried to hide their fear.
She looked down at her own hands, trembling.
If only… I could use my fire to defeat it.
Dr. Han stepped forward, expression grim.
"Some of you have already seen the creature. Let me show you what you're dealing with."
The projector clicked.
A grainy image burst onto the screen—monstrous and surreal.
Gasps filled the room. A few students stumbled back, their chairs scraping.
Miss Nyla's voice cracked like a whip. "Silence, please!"
Dr. Han pointed to the image.
"I want you all to be extremely alert. This creature has very distinct features—deeply unsettling ones. Its nose is long and flattened, and its eyes…"
He hesitated.
"Imagine the eyes of a premature baby—wide, undeveloped, eerie. Almost like the scans we see in an ultrasound."
A few students choked back horror.
"Beneath its nose, the mouth is nearly hidden behind massive teeth—oversized and jagged. These are made for one purpose only: to tear into the heart."
More gasps. More silence.
"When it hunts, it stands upright—like a human. But when it runs, it drops to all fours. It's fast. Very fast. The heart is its primary target when it's hungry. But if it senses fear or a threat, it will attack."
Tara's chest tightened. Her own heartbeat thudded in her ears.
Arib… Neel…
Mr. Cyrus Throne walked in, his tone clipped and commanding.
"Listen up. Those of you who've seen this creature know what it's capable of. Fighting it will be near impossible—especially for first semester students."
He let the warning hang in the air.
"Anyone can think they're strong," he added. "But they're usually wrong."
He turned toward the younger students.
"All juniors—stay in your rooms. Lock your doors and windows. Do not leave unless absolutely necessary."
"And I hope you all remember your self-defense drills. If something happens—defend yourselves. And call for help."
A ripple of murmurs moved through the room.
"Third and fourth semester students, report to the training zone immediately."
Tara's heart sank. So Arib and Neel will go… I need to see him. I have to see him before he leaves.
All around, fear erupted into whispers.
"I… I don't want to go!" someone whispered shakily.
Zoya turned to the voice and shrugged, a faint smile touching her lips.
"You don't have to. They're not forcing anyone."
But then her tone shifted—quiet, almost gleeful.
"War? It'll be fun. To punish someone."
Tara frowned, unnerved.
She turned to leave, the tension swelling in her chest.
Then—a hand grabbed her wrist.
She froze.
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[TO BE CONTINUED…]