Vampire University

Chapter 1

It was Lily's idea. She always had these crazy plans, and this time, she convinced the rest of us to sneak into Vampire University. The name alone should've been a warning, but she just laughed it off.

"Come on, Devi," she had said, flashing her usual grin. "What's the worst that could happen? It'll be fun!"

So, there I was, standing at the entrance of a massive, old castle-like building. Vampire University. The name sent a chill down my spine, though I wasn't sure if it was from fear or excitement. The moon was full, casting a pale glow on the tall iron gates and the long, winding path ahead.

"This place is creepy," I muttered, hugging myself as the cold breeze hit my skin.

"Don't be such a scaredy-cat," Lily teased, walking ahead without a care in the world. Jake and Maya, our other friends, followed closely behind her, whispering and laughing like we weren't about to break into a place we knew nothing about.

I stayed back a little, looking around nervously. The stone walls seemed ancient, covered in ivy and shadows. It felt like we were being watched, but every time I looked around, there was no one there.

"Come on, Devi!" Jake called, waving at me to catch up. "You're gonna miss all the fun!"

I sighed, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling. I couldn't let them think I was scared. But the truth was, something about this place felt wrong. It was too quiet, too still, like the air itself was holding its breath.

As we stepped through the gates, they creaked loudly, echoing in the silence. I glanced up at the towering building ahead of us. It was beautiful in a haunting way, like something out of a fairy tale... or a nightmare.

We walked further into the courtyard, passing dark statues and fountains that looked like they hadn't been used in centuries. The place was huge, with twisting hallways and arched windows that seemed to watch us.

"Do you guys ever wonder why this place is called Vampire University?" I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

Lily laughed. "It's just a name! Probably some urban legend or something. You don't really believe in vampires, do you?"

"I don't know..." I muttered, glancing around. "There's just something about this place."

Maya rolled her eyes. "Relax, Devi. It's probably just an old school. I mean, look at it. No one's been here in ages."

I wasn't so sure. There was something... alive about the place. I could feel it in my bones, like the building itself had secrets hidden deep within its walls.

We made our way to the front steps, and just as Jake reached for the massive wooden door, I heard a noise. A soft rustling sound, like footsteps in the distance. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Did you guys hear that?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

"Hear what?" Lily asked, looking around casually.

I was about to brush it off when the door suddenly creaked open on its own. The heavy door slowly swung inward, revealing a dark hallway lit by flickering candlelight.

"That... was creepy," Jake said, laughing nervously.

"Let's just go in and check it out," Lily insisted, stepping inside without hesitation. "We came all this way, didn't we?"

I hesitated at the threshold, a strange feeling gnawing at me. But before I could say anything, Maya grabbed my hand and pulled me inside.

The moment I stepped into the hall, I felt it. A presence. Something... or someone was watching us.