We walked slowly through the quiet, sterile hallway. The air was chilled, the cold breeze from the air conditioner biting gently at my skin, sending shivers down my arms. There were no doors in sight, only endless pale walls that seemed to echo our footsteps. It felt isolated, detached from the world—like a place meant to keep people in, not welcome them.
Miss Paulina occasionally stole glances at me, her sharp eyes observing, measuring. But each time I turned to meet her gaze, she quickly looked away, feigning disinterest.
"So... where are you from?" she asked softly, breaking the silence.
"I can't remember, ma'am," I replied truthfully.
She gave a small nod and turned away again. Her silence after that unsettled me. Fear began to crawl up from within, clutching my chest. Where exactly is this place?
Finally, a door came into view at the end of the hallway. It stood out—simple yet solid, with a brown metal plate screwed above it that read, "The Class." My heartbeat quickened.
Miss Paulina reached the door first and opened it. We stepped inside... only to be met with another door directly ahead.
She didn't hesitate. She opened the door, but then quickly shut it again and turned to me. Clearing her throat, she said,
"Well, Mia, this is where your journey begins. The Class is a place where you'll learn a lot—how to grow into a better person. The education here is top-notch too. After today's lessons, I'll have a few students show you around the building."
She gave a sharp smile, then pushed the door open again, and we stepped inside.
Behind the second door was a brightly lit classroom. It looked fairly typical—rows of desks, a large whiteboard, a teacher standing in front, and around fifteen students seated, facing forward. As we walked in, several heads turned, curious eyes following our steps.
The teacher, a tall man who looked to be in his late thirties, paused mid-sentence when Miss Paulina raised her hand.
"Everyone, we have a new student joining us today," she announced, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Her name is Mia. I trust you'll all help her feel welcome."
A low murmur rippled through the room. The teacher gave me a small nod and a warm smile.
"You may take a seat, Mia," he said.
I began walking toward an empty desk by the window. But as I moved, I could feel their eyes on me—some with amused smirks, others with unreadable expressions. Just as I took another step, my foot caught on something and I stumbled forward.
Before I could hit the ground, a warm hand caught me.
"Be careful…" a deep, gentle voice said.
It sounded oddly familiar. I looked up, and our eyes met. His gaze was soft yet intense—piercing blue eyes, thick brown hair, and pale pink lips. He smiled at me, and for a moment, I felt an unexpected wave of calm. There was something familiar about his face, though I couldn't quite place it.
"Hey, newbie, take a seat already and stop trying to win hearts," another voice called out, teasing. The class erupted into light laughter.
Embarrassed, I quickly straightened up and hurried to my seat, doing everything I could to avoid meeting his eyes again.
I looked up at Miss Paulina, who seemed to be in the middle of a silent exchange with the male teacher. Her lips moved subtly, as though she were whispering words only he could hear. Then she paused and turned to face me.
"Alright, everyone," she said, addressing the class, "please take good care of her. You can all start by introducing your—"
She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes scanning the room as though searching for someone. Then she turned back to the teacher.
"Where is she? Is she still in there?"
"Yes, ma'am," he replied.
Without hesitation, she moved to the teacher's desk and pressed a red button on its surface.
"Send her in," she said firmly.
At those words, a low gasp escaped from one of the students. I couldn't tell who, but the tension in the room suddenly thickened.
I sat still, my hands folded tightly on the desk, my eyes darting nervously between the curious students and Miss Paulina.
Who was this person she had called for? Why did her presence feel so heavy even before she arrived?
Then, slowly, the classroom door creaked open.
A girl stepped inside.
Her long hair fell across her face like a curtain, hiding her features. I leaned forward slightly, trying to get a glimpse, but she didn't look up. She walked in silence, the sound of her shoes echoing softly on the tiled floor.
Then she brushed her hair aside.
And her face became clear.
I froze in my seat, my breath caught in my throat.
It was her.
She's… she's.....