Dark Tales: Shadow [BxB]

Chapter 2

The front gates are massive. If anything, it looks like a prestigious school with high walls and pointed gates. I look at the sides and saw a metal board that said, 'No jumping or climbing of walls and gates.' Is that even possible? From what I can see, the walls end right before a nearby forest. Although I told Rain and Blaze that they don't have to follow me, I don't think I am able to find my way in such a mansion-like school.

"Are you new?" A shadow loomed over me and I screech in surprise. Oddly, I never felt my shadow react like it usually would. Think of it as a radar. While I was still trying to process what was happening, he grabbed my shoulder and I could feel panic starting to kick in. The whisper of someone calling me a murderer sounded in my ears. In an attempt to push him away, my shadow seems to have read my thoughts and shoved him away from me. I could hear a loud crash coming from the direction I pushed him but I didn't sit around long enough to see what happened. I quickly turned and ran back in the direction of Rain's house. I didn't manage to get far before I started to feel breathless, probably due to the lack of exercise.

Deciding to take a break, I sat at a nearby bench I let out a sigh. My mind wandered to the stranger earlier. There was no way this curse would miss a guy approaching me, no matter the intention. Yet it happened. I pondered on who he is, but there was no way I would know. I may have been in this town for a good 2 years, but I avoided going out just in case something happened. I don't think anyone in this town knows me, except the lady from the grocery store, she seems to know that I'm always there to buy those sour candy worms.

I let out a frustrated shout from the pointless thinking and stood up. Something yelped and a ball of brown fur tumbled from a nearby bush. It rolled down to my feet before whimpering softly, trying its best not to move. I'm not very sure what it is but from all the encyclopedias I've read, it looked like a wolf pup. It's probably safe to touch since the shadow was calm, which indicates that there is no hostility.

Scooping the little guy up, I carried him to the edge of the forest I saw earlier beside the school walls. Placing him softly on the ground, I watch him slowly uncurled himself. It stared at me with his little brown eyes, as if trying to figure out what to do next. A desperate howl sounded from a distance inside the forest and the little pup jumped in glee, it quickly scuttled to the source of the noise which I suppose is his parents. Glad that he manages to get back to where he belongs, I got up from the ground and walked towards the humongous gate while debating in my mind if I should still enter the school ground.

I took another look back into the forest and this time, I saw luscious black fur from deep within the forest. It was definitely a wolf, judging by the size it is probably a werewolf, its green eyes stared back at me as if trying to communicate with me. I felt a small smile tug on my face. Feeling slightly better about myself, I took my first step into the school ground.

The school was huge, just like the gate indicated. There wasn't any sign or map to show me where I was heading to so I just walked aimlessly, following the rough instructions Blaze gave me before I left the house.

"Receptionist... Receptionist." I muttered under my breath repeatedly while walking along a long corridor filled with metal lockers lined up on the right. My eyes darted at any form of words, trying to figure out which direction I was walking in.

"Are you lost?" a soft voice sounded from a distance behind me. I jumped slightly, turned around, and saw a person peeking near the start of the corridor. I probably wouldn't have been able to hear him if the corridor was even slightly crowded, not that I was complaining, I could use any help I get to make some sense of this concrete maze. I nodded and he seemed to be glad that I replied. He slowly crept his way towards me in caution until he was at the distance where I am able to see him clearly.