Chapter 1: The Silent Night

The night was unusually still, as if the world itself held its breath. Not even the rustle of leaves disturbed the air, and the usual chorus of crickets and night creatures had fallen into a chilling silence. The moon hung heavy and low, casting a pale silver glow on the empty road where a solitary figure walked

Bella, A twenty-year-old girl with deep, thoughtful eyes that seemed to carry the weight of centuries. Her footsteps were soft against the gravel, yet they echoed in the emptiness around her. Alone, always alone. But strangely, she was not afraid. Loneliness had become her shadow long ago, and fear had long since lost its hold on her heart.

Bella had grown up in the shadowed corners of an orphanage, the echoes of her past following her like a curse. Her parents had died when she was just ten, and her remaining relatives had turned their backs on her, whispering of dark omens and cursed blood. “She brings death,” they had said behind closed doors. “Wherever she goes, misfortune follows.”

They blamed her.

And in her heart, so did she.

Bella had a secret—a terrible, undeniable truth that she could not escape. Since childhood, she had visions. Not of distant futures or grand prophecies, but of death. And not just any death—only the deaths of those she loved. She had seen her parents’ demise before it unfolded, had warned them tearfully, but they dismissed her fears as mere nightmares.

Until the day it came true.

Since then, Bella buried her emotions deep beneath a cold, silent surface. She dared not love, dared not care. She believed with all her heart that it was her affection, her attachment, that summoned doom upon those she held dear. Even the small puppy she had once cherished met a grim fate shortly after she dreamed of its happen

Bella had long accepted the way people looked at her. Fear. Disgust. Whispers behind her back like a cold wind always biting at her skin.

“There goes the witch.”

“Don’t look at her, or she’ll curse you.”

“She killed her own parents, you know.”

None of it was new. Since the day she had first set foot in Blackthorn High, her fate had been sealed in the minds of her classmates. A curse that followed her like a second skin.

She never bothered to correct them. What was the point?

They avoided her at lunch, left empty seats in classrooms as if she carried a disease. Teachers spoke to her with caution, as though afraid her mere gaze would bring misfortune.

There were no notes passed to her in class, no smiles exchanged in corridors. No secret friendships. No birthday invitations. Just silence and fear.

Bella had learned to walk through the halls with her head high and her heart locked away, safe behind iron walls.

Don’t love anyone, she reminded herself every day. Don’t let anyone get close.

Graduation came like the closing of a long, dark chapter. There were no cheers for Bella, no claps when her name was called. She walked across the stage in eerie silence, her eyes steady, her face expressionless.

As she held her diploma in her hands, she felt a cold emptiness inside. What was supposed to be a moment of triumph felt like a hollow victory. She was free of Blackthorn High, but not free of herself.

And yet, life pushed her forward.

She had applied—more out of routine than hope—to the prestigious Eldermere College, a place of high towers and old stone buildings that smelled of history and promise. She never believed she would be accepted.

But she was.

When the acceptance letter arrived, sealed in an elegant wax crest, Bella felt a flicker of something she hadn’t felt in years: uncertainty.

Why me? she thought.

A part of her hoped maybe things would change there. Maybe at Eldermere, no one would know her past. No one would whisper “witch” behind her back.

But another, darker part of her—the part that had grown strong over the years—told her it wouldn’t matter. People like her were born to be feared, not loved.

Still, despite the weight of her doubts, Bella packed her bags. She boarded the train to Eldermere, watching the fields blur past the window, her thoughts tangled between hope and despair.

I don’t like to live, she admitted silently, her reflection pale against the glass. But I’m not ready to give up.

She remembered her parents’ faces, the way they had smiled at her, even when they didn’t believe her visions. She had seen their deaths, and still, they had loved her till the end.

For them, I will keep going.

Bella arrived at Eldermere with a storm of emotions swirling inside her. There was a heaviness in her heart—an uncertain weight she couldn’t quite name. Was this the start of something new? Or would it be just like her high school years—lonely, quiet, and invisible?

She stepped through the gates of Eldermere College, took a deep breath, and made her way to the admissions office. There, she collected her admission form, filled it out, and learned she would be staying in the college hostel. The staff directed her to the hostel and mentioned that she’d be sharing her room with a roommate.

That news made her stomach twist with anxiety.

Bella had never had anyone close to her. Throughout high school, she was the quiet girl no one spoke to. She walked alone, sat alone, lived alone in the world she had built to protect herself. The idea of sharing a room with someone—of letting someone that close—frightened her.

She found her room and stepped inside. It was empty. With a small sigh of relief, she placed her suitcase in the corner and started organizing her shelf. The silence was comforting. She wandered over to the balcony, drawn by the golden evening light.

The view was breathtaking. Rolling hills stretched in the distance, kissed by the sunset, and a gentle breeze whispered through the trees. For the first time in a long while, Bella felt something close to peace.

And then—a gentle touch on her shoulder.

She turned quickly, heart pounding.

A girl stood behind her, smiling warmly. “Hey! I’m Ava,” she said brightly. “I’m your roommate.”

Ava looked kind and open, but Bella’s walls shot up instantly. She had been hurt before. People pretended to be nice, then left. Would Ava be the same?

“I’m from Eldermere too,” Ava continued, stepping inside. “My parents are always busy with work, so I’ve lived in hostels most of my life.”

Then she looked at Bella with curiosity—not in a judging way, but like she genuinely wanted to know her.

“What about you?”

Bella froze. Her voice caught in her throat. She didn’t want to share her past. She feared that once Ava knew the truth, she would keep her distance like everyone else.

Ava seemed to sense her hesitation and quickly added, “Hey, it’s okay. You don’t have to talk about it if you’re not comfortable. I just wanted to get to know you, that’s all.”

Bella looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m an orphan. I don’t have anyone.”

A moment of silence passed between them.

Then, without a word, Ava stepped forward and hugged her tightly. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “Everything will be alright.”

And for the first time in a long time, Bella believed it might

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window, waking Bella gently. She opened her eyes slowly, almost forgetting for a moment where she was. Eldermere. The hostel. A roommate.

Ava.

Bella sat up and saw Ava already awake, sitting cross-legged on her bed, flipping through a book. She looked up and smiled when she saw Bella stir.

“Good morning!” Ava chirped. “I didn’t want to wake you. You looked peaceful.”

Bella nodded shyly, still unsure how to respond to so much kindness. “Morning,” she said softly.

“Classes start tomorrow,” Ava said. “But today’s orientation. Want to go together?”

Bella hesitated. Her instinct was to say no—to avoid crowds and keep to herself—but something about Ava’s genuine warmth made her nod. “Okay,” she said.

Ava beamed. “Awesome! Let’s grab breakfast and head to the main hall.”

They walked side by side to the cafeteria. Students filled the space—laughing, talking, already forming groups. Bella kept her eyes down, her old fears trying to creep back in. But Ava stayed close, occasionally pointing out something funny or trying to lighten the moment with a quiet joke. Slowly, Bella felt her tension ease.

At the orientation hall, they sat near the back. A few professors gave speeches about college life, expectations, and how Eldermere was more than just a school—it was a place to grow, to find your path, and to build lasting friendships.

Those words struck something in Bella. Could she really find her place here?

After the session, a group of students approached Ava. One of them, a tall boy with a confident grin, waved at her. “Ava! You made it back early this year.”

Ava laughed. “Of course. I missed this place.”

They exchanged hugs and stories, and then Ava turned to introduce Bella. “This is Bella. She’s my roommate.”

Bella’s heart skipped. Being introduced felt strange… and nice.

The tall boy extended his hand. “I’m Euston. Welcome to Eldermere.”

Bella shook it, surprised by his easy smile. “Thanks,” she murmured.

Soon, the group included her in their conversation. It was awkward at first—Bella wasn’t used to being acknowledged, let alone included—but no one treated her like an outsider. They asked about her classes, joked about campus food, and told her the best and worst professors to look out for.

Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon again, Bella stood on the balcony with Ava.

“You okay?” Ava asked, leaning on the railing beside her.

Bella nodded slowly. “I think… this place might be different.”

Ava smiled. “It already is.”

For the first time, Bella let herself hope. Not all beginnings had to be lonely. Maybe, just maybe, this time she wouldn’t have to walk alone.

The next morning, Bella stood in front of the mirror, buttoning her uniform. But today, something felt different. She couldn’t explain it—maybe it was the way her reflection looked back at her, calmer, more alive. There was a quiet strength in her eyes she hadn’t seen before.

“Ready?” Ava’s voice broke her thoughts.

Bella nodded, grabbed her bag, and the two walked to college together. As they reached the main gate, they smiled at each other and parted ways—Ava headed toward her science building, while Bella turned down the literature wing.

Bella entered the classroom early. A few students were already scattered around, chatting or scrolling through their phones. She spotted an empty bench by the window and quietly slipped into the seat. Pulling out her notebook, she slid on her headphones and let the music wash over her—a soft, nostalgic tune from years ago, the kind that made her heart ache in the best way.

She didn’t notice Euston until he was standing beside her.

“Hey,” he said casually, “Can I sit here?”

Bella blinked in surprise and quickly pulled out one earbud. “Um… yeah. Sure.”

Euston dropped into the seat next to her like it was the most natural thing in the world. Bella’s heart raced. A boy—a popular boy—was sitting next to her. That had never happened before.

“What are you listening to?” he asked, glancing at her headphone cord.

“It’s… just an old song,” she mumbled, hoping he wouldn’t ask more.

Instead, he smiled and gently took one of her earbuds, placing it in his own ear. They sat like that for a few seconds, both listening. Then he leaned back and said, “Wow. You’ve got really good music taste.”

Bella didn’t know what to say. Compliments weren’t something she was used to. She just nodded and looked away, hoping her face wasn’t as red as it felt.

Moments later, the professor entered the room and called for silence. He introduced the course, handed out the syllabus, and then gave the students their first assignment: “Prepare your own handwritten notes on today’s topic. No photocopies. I want to see your words.”

Class ended before Bella had fully processed what had happened. As she packed her bag, Euston gave her a small smile. “See you around,” he said and walked off.

Bella still hadn’t found the words when Ava appeared outside the building, waving at her.

Back at the hostel, the girls kicked off their shoes and collapsed on their beds. Ava turned to Bella, grinning.

“So? How was your day?”

Bella hesitated, then softly said, “Euston sat next to me in class.”

Ava bolted upright. “Wait—Euston Euston?”

Bella nodded slowly. “He asked if he could sit. Then… he listened to my music.”

Ava stared at her like she had just announced she met a celebrity. “That’s… weird. I mean—not in a bad way! But Euston isn’t like that. He’s the dream boy of half the girls in Eldermere.”

Bella frowned. “Why is it so surprising?”

Ava leaned in, lowering her voice. “Because Euston the leader of his group. He’s cool, confident, kind of mysterious. The kind of guy who usually sticks with his own circle. I’ve been here two years, and he’s never just walked up and talked to someone new like that—not even to me.”

Bella looked down at her hands, unsure what to make of it.

“I’m just saying…” Ava continued, narrowing her eyes playfully, “I feel something fishy here. Like—why you? Not that you’re not amazing, Bella, but… there’s something he’s not telling.”

Bella smiled faintly. “Maybe he just liked the music.”

Ava raised an eyebrow. “Or maybe the mysterious Euston is finally curious about someone different.”

And with that thought, Bella lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. The day had surprised her in ways she didn’t expect. But what lingered most in her mind wasn’t the music, or even the compliment.

It was the way Euston had looked at her—like he saw something she hadn’t even seen in herself yet.