Whispers Of The Dark

New Beginings

The old crumbling school had vines crawling their way up towards the roof and the grass reached my knees. The bushes surrounding the grimy walls looked unkempt and were probably dead. Two potted ferns looked like giant green spiders guarding the entrance.

There was no trees here to provide shade from the merciless sun but a forest expanded behind the academy into the horizon. Weeds poked through in between the bricks and small ant piles littered the pathway to the door.

The pamphlet showed a glistening indoor pool but seeing the state this place was in, it was probably full of dead insects and maybe even the skeleton of some small animal.

On the way here, I had read and re-read the pamphlet many times. Swallow Falls was a school where "elite Salvare learn to dominate and manipulate their powers."

Cars had begun positioning themselves behind us and dropping off their kids. For some of them it was their first year, like me, but not for most.

I watched a girl haul her suitcase which was three times my size behind her and up the path. I'm guessing it was her first year because her mother was leaning against her car crying.

More kids scrambled out of their cars and toward the school.

"Are you ready to go sweetie?" I looked at my mom. Her soft brown eyes watched me lovingly and her lips were curved into a smile.

"Yeah. Bye mom. I'll miss you." I gave her a tight hug but eventually I had to break it off or I would start crying like a dork. "Be good alright?" I nodded and opened the door.

"Remember, don't drink, don't do drugs, don't get in trouble, and please try–"

"I know mom. I'll stay of of trouble. No one's gonna notice a crappy witch sleeping at the back of the classroom."

"Elodie Winter! Don't you dare go to sleep in class!"

I chuckled at her reaction and closed the door and went to the back to get my suitcase.

It was really small since I didn't really want to bring anything from home. I didn't own much things anyways. Ever since my dad left us, my mom had very little money and we couldn't afford much luxury.

I sidestepped the ant piles but sadly, my suitcase didn't. It accidentally rolled over the largest pile and before I knew it, ants crawled all over my suitcase.

"Ahhh!" I dipped the suitcase quickly which was a big mistake as it landed on top of another ant pile.

I waved my hands over the suitcase frantically as if they would magically disappear. I guess they could've if I was trying to do magic but I wasn't.

I am terrified of ants, especially red ants. Once in third grade, our teacher brought an ant farm for us to see and everyone complained that there was only 3 ants. I had tried making a couple more appear by magic but instead, I ended up making too much and they crawled out of the ant farm.

About 5,000 angry ants charged towards me. Everyone left the classroom except me. The ants stung my legs and arms and some even on my belly.

I was taken to the hospital where I healed physically but my memory is still scarred.

"Um excuse me? Are you alright?" I focused on the person in front of me. It was a boy. Actually, boy doesn't even begin to describe it. He had a strong chiseled jaw and his hair was dark blonde to the point where is was almost brown and his eyes were stormy grey.

"Hello?" His hands were on my shoulders as he shook me softly.

"Sorry?" I said quickly, and blushed a deep red color.