Chast Vaughn stood before the humongous wooden gate, craning his neck to take in its full height. Thick vines, dotted with glowing, mystical flowers, twisted around the edges, each bloom pulsing faintly as if breathing. The gate seemed to stretch endlessly upward, daring him to step through.
Tall trees flanked the entrance, their massive trunks wide enough to hide entire carriages. Firefly-like creatures zipped between the branches, their shifting lights making the leaves shimmer in a kaleidoscope of colors. The air was thick, musky, and earthy, almost intoxicating.
"Are you ready?"
Chast flinched at his uncle Johann's voice, tearing his eyes away from the towering gate.
"I... uh..." He cleared his throat, still in awe. "Yeah. Totally ready."
A faint chuckle drifted from nowhere, teasing the edge of his hearing. Chast spun around but saw nothing.
I bet this little boy doesn't even know what he's getting into, a thin, mocking voice whispered, high and sharp.
"Shut up!" Chast snapped, clapping his hands over his ears.
Johann frowned, puzzled. "What the hell, Chast?"
Amazing! The boy can hear us! More giggles followed, sharp and cruel.
Chast shivered, ignoring them. "Nothing," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "Damn insects," he thought, watching glowing creatures zip around his luggage like mischievous sparks.
The vines suddenly vibrated, a low hum resonating through the ground beneath their feet.
"You should hurry before the ground swallows you whole," Johann teased, just as the earth trembled violently, like it might crack open.
"Great joke," Chast muttered, clutching his bag tighter. His legs screamed at him to run.
Without warning, Johann grabbed his hand, pricked his finger with a thorn, and smeared a drop of blood on a glowing flower at the gate's center.
"I have to leave you here now," Johann said casually, patting him on the back. "You're on your own, kid."
"What—wait—"
Before Chast could finish, Johann vanished.
A deep rumble rolled through the gate, and every glowing creature scattered into the night. A cold wind swept through, rattling branches and making the towering trees sway. The gate pulsed with blinding light, like it was alive... like it was welcoming him.
"What's going on?"
Chast spun to see a group of robed students approaching, their luggage wheels clattering against the stone path. He instinctively stepped back, gripping his bag.
"Can't you see? Are you blind?" he shot back irritably.
A blonde girl frowned. "What's going on?" she repeated.
Chast rolled his eyes. "Stupid," he muttered, whistling a tune to ignore her.
The students exchanged confused looks, then began performing the same blood ritual one by one.
But nothing happened. No tremors. No blinding light. No icy wind.
"What the hell..." Chast whispered, watching them vanish through the gate like it was a normal doorway. His chest tightened. Why was it different for me?
"Hey."
Chast spun around as a hand patted his shoulder.
"Woah!" he yelped, jumping back.
"Sorry!" The student raised both hands, chuckling nervously. He was tall, lanky, and wore glasses that slid down his nose. "Didn't mean to scare you."
Chast glared at him. "Freaking nerd."
The boy winced. "Uh... I'm Ronnie." He offered a hand. "You looked... alone, so I thought maybe you'd like some company."
Chast glanced at his hand, unimpressed. "Maybe you're the one who needs company." He brushed past him. "I don't trust anyone here."
Ronnie blinked, awkwardly lowering his hand. "O...kay."
But instead of leaving, Ronnie followed.
Chast's heart pounded as more students pushed by, brushing his shoulders. The scene felt mechanical, like a line of dolls vanishing one by one.
"I don't like this place," Chast muttered under his breath. "One of them's a thief... or worse. And I'm the only normal one here."
"Come on."
"Wait—what—"
Ronnie suddenly grabbed his hand, grinning. "You're overthinking it. Let's go."
"Hey! Let go!"
Before Chast could fight back, Ronnie yanked him forward, dragging him through the glowing gate.
Light swallowed them. Chast screamed, holding his breath.
"Freaking nerd!" he shouted. "Is this it?! Am I dying?!"
The world twisted. The ground vanished beneath his feet.
Chast staggered forward, his chest tight with fear. His legs felt like jelly, his head spun, and his heart hammered so loudly he thought it might burst. Stepping through the gate felt like dragging a mountain on his back—an invisible weight crushing him down. He collapsed to his knees, breath coming in ragged gasps, his fingers digging into the damp earth as he tried to ground himself.
Ronnie immediately dropped beside him, rubbing his back. "Hey, you okay?"
Chast's jaw clenched, rage bubbling up with every word Ronnie spoke. He gripped the grass so hard his knuckles whitened, his breaths growing louder, sharper.
"Ughhh..." The sound ripped from his throat, guttural and low, as he squeezed his eyes shut, screaming silently in his mind.
The sky cracked.
A deafening boom of thunder split the air, making the towering gate shudder. Lightning flashed overhead, jagged and blinding. Students shrieked in fear, robes whipping in the sudden gust of wind.
"Run!" someone shouted.
Panic rippled through the crowd. Students bolted toward the academy's looming silhouette, their luggage clattering behind them. A few braver ones stayed, shouting incantations, their glowing hands raised to calm the storm. But this wasn't an ordinary storm—this thunder was alive, its energy sharp and wild, like it had teeth.
He didn't notice the chaos. He barely registered the terrified faces around him. His whole world narrowed to the pressure inside his chest, a strange, burning force clawing to get out. His vision blurred at the edges, black spots swirling. His body trembled, his breathing ragged.
"What's happening to me?" he thought, panic mixing with fury. He felt like he was going to burst, like something deep inside him was cracking open.
"Hey!" Ronnie's voice cracked with panic as he grabbed Chast's shoulders, shaking him. Thunder roared again, louder this time, rattling the towering gate as its glow flickered violently.
"Chast! Stay with me!" Ronnie's face was pale, his glasses reflecting jagged streaks of lightning that split the sky.
But Chast couldn't answer. His lips parted soundlessly. His body felt unbearably heavy, and his eyelids drooped like lead.
The last thing he heard was Ronnie's panicked voice, distant and muffled, as darkness swallowed him whole.