Most people think school ends when the bell rings.
They're wrong.
For me, school ended at exactly **11:37 p.m.**, on a night I will never forget.
It all started with detention. Again. I had fallen asleep in history class — again — and as punishment, Mr. Harrow made me clean the science lab alone. Great. The lab smelled like old chemicals, and someone had left half a frog in one of the jars.
By the time I was done, the entire school was dark. Everyone had gone home. The hallways were long and quiet. The lights above flickered now and then, casting strange shadows that danced along the floor.
I walked slowly, hands in my pockets, head down. My name's **Agla Ashborne**, by the way. Sixteen. Just your average loser who nobody notices. No friends, no clubs, no goals. Some students think I'm creepy. Teachers think I'm lazy. They're all kind of right.
That night, I had my backpack slung over one shoulder and earphones in. I wasn't listening to music. Just pretending. It's easier that way. If people think you're busy, they leave you alone.
I passed by the gym and stopped.
I heard a growl.
It was low and deep, like something big was breathing behind me. I turned around slowly. The hallway was empty.
Or at least, it looked empty.
Then I saw it.
Something moved across the ceiling.
It crawled like an animal, but not any animal I'd ever seen. Its body was long, black, and cracked like burnt wood. Its claws scratched against the ceiling tiles as it crept toward me.
Its eyes glowed red in the dark.
**"What... the... hell?"** I whispered.
It dropped from the ceiling and landed on all fours. Its face twisted into something close to a grin. A wide, toothy grin full of long, sharp fangs.
I stepped back. My hands were shaking.
**"This isn't real,"** I whispered. **"This has to be a dream. I must've fallen asleep in the lab. I'm dreaming."**
But I wasn't.
The thing hissed. Then it charged.
I ran.
I ran like my life depended on it.
Because it did.
My feet pounded against the hallway floor. I turned the corner hard, nearly slipping. The school gate was just ahead. I could see the streetlight outside. If I could make it to the sidewalk—
**WHAM!**
The creature slammed into me from behind, and I flew through the air. I hit the ground and rolled. My backpack snapped open, books flying everywhere.
I groaned and tried to crawl.
The thing was above me now, its claws raised high.
I closed my eyes.
But before it struck—
A bright light flashed.
A loud screech. The demon staggered back.
I opened my eyes.
A girl stood between me and the monster. She held a long silver scythe, the blade glowing with white light. Her long white hair flowed in the windless air, and her uniform shimmered like it was made of something more than cloth.
She didn't even glance at me.
**"Stay down,"** she said in a cold voice.
And then she moved.
She attacked the creature with such speed and power, I couldn't keep up. Her scythe sliced through the air, leaving glowing trails. The demon tried to fight back, but it didn't stand a chance.
One slash.
Another.
And with a final swing, the demon let out a horrible scream before turning into black smoke and disappearing.
Silence.
I just lay there, my heart pounding. My shirt was ripped, my backpack was in pieces, and I was very sure I was going insane.
The girl turned around slowly. Her eyes locked on mine. Cold. Sharp. Beautiful, but in a terrifying way.
She walked up to me.
**"Name?"** she asked.
**"Uh... Agla,"** I stammered. **"Agla Ashborne."**
She looked surprised for a second. Then serious.
She kneeled down and placed her hand on my chest.
Her eyes widened.
Without warning, she grabbed my shirt and tore it open.
**"Hey! At least take me on a date first!"** I said, panicking.
But then I saw it.
A glowing red mark.
Right over my heart.
It looked like a strange symbol, like an eye inside a circle with small marks around it. It pulsed slowly, like it was alive.
**"What... what is that?"** I asked, my voice shaking.
The girl's voice dropped to a whisper.
**"You've been marked."**
**"Marked? By what?"**
She stood up slowly, eyes never leaving the mark.
**"The abyss. It means... you're not supposed to exist."**
I blinked.
**"Huh?! What does that even mean?! I'm pretty sure I exist. I mean, I was literally just almost killed by a demon!"**
She didn't respond.
Instead, she leaned down again.
And then—she kissed me.
Her lips touched mine, soft and warm.
The world around us stopped.
I couldn't move. Couldn't think. Her eyes were closed. Mine were wide open.
Then a cold chill spread through my body. My vision blurred. My limbs went numb.
The last thing I saw was the red symbol glowing brighter and brighter—
Then everything turned black.
And that was the night everything changed.
The night I died.
Sort of.