"Serena, please hurry up! We have to be on the road before seven if we don't want to miss our flight, okay?"
Missy's voice floated up the stairs, the sound of zippers punctuating her words as she dragged yet another bag toward the front door.
Serena didn't answer immediately.
She stood before her mirror, staring at her reflection as if it belonged to a stranger. Different emotions warred within her, each emotion clawing for dominance. What would life in an isolated town be like, especially for a person of color like her?
The thought sat heavy in her chest. She had chased answers for so long that she had never stopped to consider what those answers might cost her.
She squeezed her eyes shut and exhaled slowly, forcing her racing heart to steady.
"This isn't the time to fall apart," she murmured weakly to her reflection, as though the girl staring back at her needed reassurance as much as she did.
Reaching for her mother's old red scarf, she wrapped it carefully around her neck, tucking it just high enough to conceal her collarbone. Beneath it rested her most prized possession: her mother's ruby necklace. Serena never wore it for beauty. She wore it because without it, she felt exposed, unprotected, as though something vital had been stripped away from her skin.
She took one last look at the mirror,
Plain blue jeans that hugged her curves comfortably. A long-sleeved burgundy fitted top . Her favorite black sandels, a bit worn but still comfortable. Her thick black curls, finally tamed after hours of conditioning and coaxing, framed her face beautifully, falling down the length of her back.
There was no point caking her face for a whole day trip knowing how exhausting it can get,njust cherry lip balm, enough to keep her lips from cracking. Plus she wasn't really good at doing her makeup anyway.
Before leaving the room, she picked up her journal and her father's letter, handling them with reverence before sliding them carefully into her bag. They were the only things that kept her resolve, made her feel whole.
She sighed taking a last look at her room, her mind drifting back to all the memories she had made there and the gnawing feeling if she would ever make it back.
The journey to Eldermere was long, thirteen grueling hours . Their flight to London was delayed by two hours, stretching Serena's nerves thin as she paced the terminal. By the time they finally landed, exhaustion clung to her bones. From there came the drive, miles upon miles of unfamiliar countryside that grew increasingly desolate the farther they went.
By the time they passed the weathered old wooden sign that read THIS WAY TO ELDERMERE TOWN, the world seemed to empty itself.
No cars followed them.
No houses lined the road.
The tree hand the dullest shade of green, with barely any birds in there leaves, even the sky looked grey, void of any life.
" You know Miss, this is very illegal to even get this close to this town, are you sure you have a permit to enter Eldermere?" the cab driver asked nervously, his eyes flicking to Missy through the rearview mirror. "I don't want any trouble."
"Yes, we do," Missy replied smoothly, offering him a charming smile that had smoothed over countless problems in the past. "Just take us to the town gate. We'll find our way from there."
Something in her tone, put him at ease. He grinned unconsciously and turned onto the deserted road, though his fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel.
As they drew closer, Serena pressed her forehead to the cold window.
The air thickened with fog, curling low against the ground. Clouds sagged heavy and gray, swallowing the sky whole. Towering dull oak trees lined the road, there branches so intertwined you could barely see the sky anymore. There were no birds, nothing to suggest life had ever flourished here.
"This place is… creepy," the driver muttered, forcing a laugh that quickly died. "What are pretty dolls like you girls doing in such a gloomy town?"
Missy smiled politely. "My niece was accepted into Eldermere University. She's reporting today."
The driver glanced at Serena, his gaze lingering far too long, sliding down her body before shifting back to Missy. Missy's smile vanished instantly, her posture stiffening.
"She must be very intelligent," he said awkwardly, clearly sensing the shift in mood.
"Yes," Missy replied sharply, rubbing Serena's back protectively. "She is."
The rest of the trip was uncomfortably silent.
By the time they reached the gates, darkness had fully claimed the sky.
Serena stepped out of the cab, her eyes fixed at the scenery she would be spending the four years of her life in.
The gates were massive, black wrought iron adorned with jagged, gothic designs that rose impossibly high. They felt less like a welcoming and more of a threat to keep outsiders out. Ancient symbols were etched into the ironwork, worn smooth by time.
The driver helped unload their luggage before hesitating, shuffling his feet.
"So… can I get your number?" he asked Missy, rubbing the back of his neck. "Maybe I could pick you up when you're done here?"
Missy fluttered her lashes sweetly. "Oh, definitely not. But thank you for the offer."
She turned away before he could respond, effectively dismissing him.
Serena stood in front of the gate carefully memorizing every symbol, she would jort it down later in other not to forget.
"Is everything okay, love?" Missy asked gently.
"I think so," Serena said slowly. "I just… feel like I've been here before."
Missy's face went pale for a fraction of a second before she forced a smile.
"Never mind," Serena added quickly, it's just a silly feeling. "Let's go."
Missy shook the gate. It didn't budge.
"Hello?" she called. "Is anyone there?"
Serena stepped forward, her fingers brushing the cold iron.
The cold metal bars felt numbing against her skin but in an unusually pleasant way.
"State your business or leave immediately."
A man stood behind the gate, close enough that Serena screamed and stumbled back. He wore a dark blue security uniform, a cap shadowing his face completely.
Missy pulled Serena behind her without hesitation.
"This is Eldermere," the man said again, his voice devoid of warmth. "No entry without permit."
More men emerged from the shadows wearing identical uniforms, their faces hidden by their caps.
"Good evening," Missy said carefully, reaching into her bag for the printed admission letter and permit she had. "My niece was accepted into Eldermere University. We have the letter." She said stretching her hand through the gaps between the metal bars.
The man took the letters examining them briefly, then nodded once.
The guard took a look at the screen for some time,his head tilting in Serena's direction before nodding.
"Open the gates!"
The gates parted nosely, sounding like a warning bell through out the deserted plane.
"Welcome, Ms. Serena," he said softly, his lips curving. "We have been expecting you."
Serena's tried to smile but her face felt frozen with fear, but she wasn't sure why she was afraid.
"It's too late to proceed to campus," he continued. "You'll stay at an inn tonight. Tomorrow, you'll meet the elders before entering university grounds."
Serena looked at Missy before both of them nodded according before stepping through the gates.
Wandering how they would get anywhere with all their luggage,a mini cab thing attached to a horse with a rider came throting down towards them. " I guess that's our ride?" Missy said a bit confused. " Yes he would take you to the inn, my men would follow you guys behind in order to keep you safe" the man said with an erry smile. " The locals here don't get to meet new people much, I don't want you to receive a crude welcoming " he said turning away and heading back to the gate.
Serena's face ran pale after hearing this, she began to question if it was actually woth it after all.
As the guards placed their luggage in the cab they Serena glanced back one last time.
The man lifted his head, Ruby-red eyes met hers, with a smile on his lips..
She quickly faced forward, trying hard to think about how possible it was that what she saw was real, maybe it wasn't, she was seeing things again.