I woke up confused, tangled in my sheets. Apparently, everything that happened was just my overactive imagination. The window was closed, and there wasn't a single trace of fur on my body.
I heard heavy footsteps approaching my room. But this time, it wasn't some monster from my imagination—it was something worse. My grandma.
"You have any idea what time it is?"
The slow rhythm of her breathing, combined with the seriousness in her expression, told me I was in trouble. Before I could even respond, she raised her voice.
"Your classes start at 7 a.m., and it's already 6:40! If you're not ready in ten minutes, I'll drag you out just the way you are."
I just nodded and got dressed as fast as I could.
...
Running to school, I realized that despite the trembling fog that lingered in this town, the people weren't as scary as I'd imagined. With each passing second, I saw how out of my mind I'd been. Maybe fear doesn't protect us. Maybe it just paints monsters where there's silence.
When I arrived, I saw that the school was surprisingly large for such a remote and quiet town. Officially called Havenmere Educational Center, but everyone knows it as Factor. Its pointed architecture, countless windows, and white paint reminded me of a church.
The atmosphere gave me chills. Every shadow seemed to invite me to leave, and the floor felt strange—my footsteps echoed as if they were falling into the depths of the Earth.
Walking through the hallways, I found myself wondering: are there really this many people in town? Maybe the houses aren't small. Maybe they're just full of secrets.
...
"This year we welcome a new student. He's the grandson of Mrs. Firtz and has been through a lot. I hope you'll treat him kindly."
My teacher's voice was soft and angelic, echoing gently through the room. After speaking, she gave me a subtle push toward the front so I could introduce myself.
The classroom seemed pretty normal—no fog, no symbols, no mysterious vibes.
"Good morning. My name is James Kobbala, but you can call me Kobba."
While I spoke, someone threw small stones at me. When I bent down to pick them up, I realized my grandma's shop might cause me some trouble in this new school life—they were little artifacts she sold.
The teacher scolded the students and told me to take my seat. A spotlight was on me. The grandson of the mysticism maniac was going to have a rough year.
But there was one person who didn't seem to judge me. Her black hair had pink streaks, her red nails looked freshly painted, and her brown eyes sparkled like diamonds.
"You're hungry, aren't you?"
She asked while I stared at her, confused.
"Yeah… I didn't eat this morning."
I replied, looking down.
She stepped closer, reached out, and handed me a granola bar. But something felt off—I was sure I'd seen her before.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Naomi Pikita, and I'm a big fan of your grandma's work."
Her gaze, her smile, and the fact that she was a fan of my grandma? What really caught my attention were the scratches on her arm, the freshly painted nails, the pink streaks… And how did she know I was hungry?
It hadn't been a dream. It wasn't just a coincidence. It was her. And now, she knew that I knew.
I stayed until lunch, trying to sketch what I'd seen in my notebook. When the bell rang, her table was surrounded by people. I figured she was popular, but apparently, she was also the captain of our basketball team.
That granola bar didn't satisfy my hunger, so I decided to grab something to eat.
On the way to the cafeteria, amid the usual teasing, a teacher stopped me.
He had an unbearable smell, and his pupils were constantly dilated. It was like something had died inside him.
"Welcome, James. Your scent is splendid. You're one of the prettiest eggs we've ever had here. Ssshehehe!"
When he mentioned my scent, a chill ran down my spine. His laugh echoed like a buzzing insect in my ear. I felt like prey about to walk into a trap.
"Ssshehehe! Forgive me for not introducing myself. I'm Thorne Grimm, but everyone calls me Professor Grimm. I think we're going to have a long year together, my little egg."
I couldn't move or speak. It was terrifying. I felt like I was being crushed by a snake.
He reached out his hand toward me, and all I could feel were the rapid vibrations of my heart. But before he could do anything, Naomi appeared behind me.
"Hi, Professor Grimm! How are you today?"
The professor sighed, visibly bothered by her presence, and walked away muttering something like "damned vestiges."
"What just happened?"
"We need to talk, don't we? But let's go somewhere quieter. I can't be seen with you."
Apparently, she couldn't risk her popularity. But in the end, I was so confused that I had no choice but to accept. I didn't know if I wanted answers. But she seemed ready to give them all.
"Yeah, we do."
We went to the basketball court. It was empty and silent—only the sound of our sneakers against the floor echoed. She hadn't said a word on the way, so I took the initiative.
"What are you? A monster or a ghost?"
She remained silent, but after my question, her eyes began to swallow me. Subtle, but threatening enough.
"Why won't you answer me? Do you know what happened to my family?"
She took off her shoes, inhaled deeply, and… attacked me!
She was incredibly fast. Each of her steps covered three of mine. Kicks, punches, spins—all at a speed I'd never seen before.
I was dizzy and in pain, but panic wouldn't get me out of this. I threw myself to the ground as if I couldn't take it anymore. She hesitated, and that's when I grabbed one of the stones thrown at me earlier and hurled it at her face.
By accident, I hit her eye. And there it was—the blue eyes I'd seen the night before. But why hide her eyes? Why attack me?
Before I could say anything, she burst into laughter—a sound that echoed and washed away all the tension in the room.
"Master Firtz said you were adorable, but I didn't think you'd be this much."
I let out a sigh of relief, lay back staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything. She called my grandma "master"? If they knew each other like that… was this some kind of test?
"Yes. She asked me to test you, and I think you did well."
I didn't say that. How did she—
"How did she know? I can read minds, you idiot."
"What are you?"
"I'm a mystery of nature. A body that exists between life and death."
Her eyes looked sad and misunderstood, as if she were reliving her deepest memories. Still, she continued.
"They're called Nanas—those stuck between heaven and hell, with unresolved matters from their past lives. Most of them only awaken at night and are always searching for closure. My mother was a Nana, and my father a human. That's how I was born."
"But what about my family? What does my grandma have to do with all this?"
Naomi looked away, her breathing quickened. But before she could answer, the bell rang. She put on her shoes, her contact lens, and didn't say another word.
I didn't eat anything. I didn't get all the answers. All I could do was return to class and wait for the day to end.
...
Back in class, to make things worse, it was Professor Grimm's lesson.
The only student who seemed bothered by his awful smell was Naomi. Could he be a Nana too?
"Well, well, look who's late on his first day! I'll let it slide this time, but only this once."
I headed to my seat, but as I passed by him, I heard a whisper.
"I just need proof of what that girl is. I know what's in your notebook. Show me, and we can spare your life."
I immediately looked at Naomi. She subtly shook her head. Spare my life? I feel like I'm stepping into something I won't be able to walk away from.
I have to choose between my life… or hers.
What if I gave him the notebook? What if she was just another monster? But… what if she was the only one truly trying to protect me?