School of Angels

Chapter 2 - The School

Jim sat in the car, looking out at the blur of the countryside. After the orphanage, he hadn't expected much from his new school - a small-town building with a few run-down classrooms, maybe a muddy playground. But as the jeep rumbled along, he realised how wrong he'd been.

Brian nudged him. "You're quiet."

Jim shrugged, still lost in thought. "Not much to say."

He didn't care much for the outside world. It all seemed simple - trees, fields, the occasional house. Nothing to get excited about. But that changed when the school finally came into view.

It stood alone, surrounded by a vast park filled with towering trees that stood like sentinels. A wide stone bridge arched over a moat, the only way to reach the ancient looking building. The grey and black walls of the school rose up, dark and imposing, as if they held centuries of secrets.

"You didn't expect this, did you?" Brian's voice broke the silence, a knowing smile on his lips.

Jim shook his head slowly, his mouth suddenly dry. "No..."

"Well, it used to be a castle, back in the day. Now it's our school. Lots of kids come here from all over, even if they don't live nearby. Most of them live in the dormitories. You'll see."

Jim couldn't take his eyes off the building. The narrow windows looked like slits in a medieval fortress, giving the place an almost watchful feel. The walls themselves were weathered, with a sense of age and authority, as if they'd seen far more than anyone could imagine. It wasn't just a school - it was a presence, heavy and mysterious, casting a shadow over everything around it.

He looked at Brian, still trying to make sense of what he was seeing. "This... this doesn't make sense. There can't be that many kids here. It's a small town."

Brian just chuckled. "You'd be surprised."

They parked in front of the bridge, and Jim stepped out, staring up at the enormous oak doors. They were carved with intricate designs, spirals and symbols he couldn't make out from a distance. His skin crawled, a feeling crept up on him as if the building itself was alive, watching him, waiting.

"It's also a boarding school," Brian added as they walked toward the entrance. "A lot of the students live here full-time. They don't always go home on weekends or holidays. Some don't have a home to go back to."

Jim shuddered. The idea of staying in that looming fortress, day in and day out, sent a chill down his spine. "What do you mean, I won't stick out?"

Brian shrugged as they reached the door, a smirk playing on his lips. "You'll see."

They stepped inside and Jim expected darkness. The building looked like a dungeon inside, but the light surprised him. A huge courtyard filled with plants and benches opened up in the centre, surrounded by large windows that let in the sunlight. It was almost... inviting. But Jim could sense the layers beneath, like a skin stretched too thin over something vast and unknown.

"This place is huge," he murmured, looking around.

Brian laughed. "Then don't get lost. The headmaster's office is this way."

They moved through the halls, up a broad staircase, taking turns that Jim knew he'd never remember on his own. Finally they stopped at a heavy wooden door. Brian knocked and the sound echoed like a hammer on stone.

Moments later the door creaked open and a tall man stepped out, his frame broad and commanding. He had a full beard and wore a tailored suit that did little to conceal his muscular build. For a brief second, Jim pictured him as a cowboy or a soldier, not a school administrator.

"Well, well," the man said, shaking Brian's hand with a grin. "Brian O'Connor, finally bringing in a student of your own. What a surprise."

"This is Jim Milligan," Brian said, putting a hand on Jim's shoulder. "I adopted him from the orphanage."

Jim's face burned with embarrassment, but he forced himself to meet the man's gaze.

"Good afternoon, sir," Jim said, doing his best to sound polite.

The man - Mr Lester, according to Brian - grinned and held out his hand. Jim shook it, surprised at the gesture. Adults usually didn't bother.

"Come in, come in," Lester said, stepping aside and letting them into his office.

The room was huge, with a large leather chair behind an even larger desk. But what caught Jim's eye were the walls. They were lined with framed books and pages, like artifacts from a distant time. Each one seemed to carry a weight of importance, as if it had been carefully chosen, not just for decoration..

"So, Jim," Lester said as he settled into his chair, "how old are you now?"

"Thirteen and a half," Jim replied, fidgeting slightly.

"Hmm, still young," Lester mused. "But you'll find this school will see you through many years. Brian told you, didn't he? You'll be with us for a while, through high school, maybe longer."

Jim shook his head, not sure how to answer.

"This is a special school," Lester continued, leaning forward. "You'll understand soon enough. Now, these are your textbooks." He handed Jim a bundle of books tied together with a thick cord.

Jim glanced at the titles, furrowing his brow. Fundamentals of Healing. Empathy and Problem Solving. How to Become Invisible. Telepathy 101.

His heart raced. What kind of school was this?

He looked up at Brian, but the man was staring out the window, lost in thought.

Lester's deep voice broke through the silence. "Do you believe in angels, Jim?"

Jim blinked, stunned. "I... I don't know."

Lester smiled knowingly. "You will."