the shadow of sunlake high

Seventeen-year-old Leila Carter lives in the quiet town of Sunlake, where nothing seems to change-except for the haunting shadows of her past. Ten years ago, her father mysteriously vanished, leaving only cryptic rumors and unanswered questions.

Leila's routine life is shaken when a new student, Alex Drake, transfers to Sunlake High. Alex is enigmatic, perceptive, and oddly familiar, as if tied to a part of Leila's life she doesn't remember. Their connection deepens when Alex reveals a shocking photograph of her father taken the day he disappeared. In the background is an indistinct shadowy figure, unlike anything human.

Their investigation into the school's history uncovers chilling truths: Sunlake High was built over a ruined town destroyed by fire a century ago. Legends speak of a shadow that cursed the area, preying on those who crossed its path. This shadow, they realize, is linked to the mural in the school's auditorium-a mural that seems to move in the dark and whispers secrets to those who linger too long.

As the mystery unravels, Leila discovers her father's connection to the shadow and the truth behind his disappearance. Years ago, he made a deal with the shadow to protect Leila and her mother from a disaster destined to strike Sunlake. In exchange, he became part of the shadow's curse, bound to its dark will.

Now, the shadow has returned, targeting Leila. With Alex's help, she must decide whether to confront the entity and risk everything to break the curse or walk away, leaving the shadow to claim more victims.