Chapter 3: First Day of School

The morning sunlight filtering through the windows of Ravenshade High School seemed to illuminate the nervous energy that had been building up inside Elara all night. She took a deep breath, smoothing out her new school dress as she made her way to her locker. The sound of chatter and laughter filled the hallway, and Elara couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by the sea of unfamiliar faces. As she struggled to open her locker, a hand reached out to help her. Elara turned to see a boy with piercing blue eyes and jet-black hair, his smile warm and friendly. "Hey, I'm Cas," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Welcome to Ravenshade High. I see you're having some trouble with your locker." Elara smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "Thanks, I'm Elara. I guess I need to work on my locker-opening skills." Cas chuckled and handed her a combination lock. "Let me show you how it's done." As they fiddled with the lock, Elara noticed a boy watching her from across the hallway. He was tall and lean, with piercing green eyes that seemed to bore into her soul. There was something unsettling about him, but Elara couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. "Who's that?" Elara asked Cas, nodding discreetly towards the mysterious boy. Cas followed her gaze and his expression turned serious. "That's Alec Voss. He's...different. Keep your distance, okay?" Elara raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?" But before Cas could explain, a loud bell rang out, signaling the start of class. Elara grabbed her books and followed Cas to their first-period class, feeling a sense of excitement and trepidation. As they walked, Elara noticed that everyone seemed to be staring at her. She felt like a specimen under a microscope, and it made her skin crawl. "Hey, don't mind them," Cas said, as if reading her thoughts. "You're the new kid in town, and everyone wants to know more about you." Elara smiled wryly. "I guess I'm a bit of a mystery." The rest of the day was a blur of classes and introductions. Elara met her English teacher, Mrs. Jenkins, who seemed kind and enthusiastic. She also met Juno Ray, a quiet and reserved girl who shared Elara's love for books. But despite the friendly faces, Elara couldn't shake off the feeling that she was being watched. She kept catching glimpses of Alec Voss, who seemed to be lurking in the shadows, his eyes fixed on her. As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Elara felt a sense of relief. She was exhausted but exhilarated, and she couldn't wait to see what the rest of the week had in store for her. As she walked out of school, Elara noticed a group of kids gathered near the parking lot, staring up at the sky. She followed their gaze and saw a strange light hovering above the trees. It was a soft, pulsing glow, and it seemed to be calling to her. Elara felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that she was not alone in seeing the light. Cas was standing beside her, his eyes fixed on the glow. "What is that?" Elara asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Cas shrugged. "I don't know, but I've seen it before. It's like...nothing I've ever seen before." As they watched, the light vanished, leaving behind a sense of unease and wonder. Elara felt like she was stepping into a world that was full of mysteries and secrets, and she was both thrilled and terrified to see what lay ahead.