Chapter 1: Ravenwood

The road curled like a black ribbon through the mountains, narrow and silent except for the hum of their car engine and the crunch of gravel beneath the tires. The headlights carved through layers of mist, revealing only fragments of the world outside—jagged rocks, skeletal trees, and the occasional lonely road sign pointing toward Ravenwood.

Selene Vale pressed her forehead against the window, watching the trees rush past. It was almost evening, the sun already drowning behind the mountains, and the sky had that haunting, blue-grey hue she’d only ever seen in gothic paintings. The deeper they drove into the valley, the heavier the atmosphere seemed to grow, as though the city itself carried an invisible weight pressing down on every stranger who dared enter it.

Her father’s voice broke the silence.

“We’re almost there.”

Adrian Vale, always calm and steady behind the wheel, didn’t glance at her when he spoke. His police uniform still looked crisp even after hours on the road. Selene had grown up watching him juggle the chaos of work and the mess of home, especially after the divorce. Now, his transfer had dragged them here, to a town most people didn’t even know existed.

“Doesn’t really look like a city,” Selene murmured. “Feels more like… a forgotten place.”

Her father gave a small smile but didn’t argue. “It’s quiet. Safer in a way.”

“Safer?” Selene raised a brow, her voice soft but edged with doubt. “This place feels like something out of a horror movie.”

He chuckled lowly, though the sound lacked real amusement. “Don’t let your imagination run wild, Selene. People live here just like anywhere else.”

But as they passed through the town’s entrance—a rusted iron gate with the word Ravenwood etched across it in faded letters—Selene couldn’t shake the chill that crawled up her spine. Streets wound like veins through the fog. Old brick buildings leaned close together, their windows glowing faintly yellow in the dusk. Shops were closing for the night, their owners pulling down iron shutters with hurried hands. And in the distance, at the highest point of the valley, loomed the dark silhouette of Blackthorn University.

It wasn’t just a school. It looked like a castle, its towers stabbing into the mist, gargoyles crouched on the rooftops as if guarding secrets centuries old.

Selene stared. Something about it made her chest tighten—not fear exactly, but a strange awareness, like she had stepped into a place where the world tilted slightly off balance.

Finally, the car slowed in front of a stone house on the edge of town. It wasn’t far from the police station her father would be working at, but it sat disturbingly close to the forest that surrounded Ravenwood like an endless wall of shadows. The trees stretched high and thick, their branches intertwining as though to keep whatever lurked inside from ever escaping.

Adrian killed the engine and got out. Selene followed, her boots crunching against gravel as she tilted her head up to take in their new home.

It was old—two stories of dark stone, ivy crawling along the walls, shutters that creaked with the wind. The balcony on the second floor jutted out toward the forest, as though daring anyone to stand there and stare too long into the abyss of trees.

“Charming,” Selene whispered dryly.

Her father ignored her sarcasm. “It’s not perfect, but it’s solid. The department arranged it. Close enough for me to get to work quickly, and…” His eyes softened slightly. “I thought you’d like the view.”

“The view?” Selene looked at the looming forest again and shivered. “Dad, the forest looks like it wants to eat the house.”

“Don’t exaggerate,” Adrian said, though even he glanced at the treeline a second longer than necessary.

Inside, the house smelled faintly of wood and damp stone. The living room was spacious but bare, a fireplace cold with ash, the furniture modest but sturdy. Boxes were stacked in corners, waiting to be unpacked.

“Go check your room upstairs,” Adrian said, already pulling his phone out as it buzzed. Duty never left him alone for long.

Selene climbed the creaking stairs, her fingers trailing over the banister polished smooth with age. The second floor hallway stretched narrow and dim, lined with doors. At the end of it was hers.

The door squeaked as she pushed it open.

Her room wasn’t large, but it carried a strange charm. Wooden floors, walls painted a muted cream, and a balcony door framed by heavy curtains. Selene walked straight to it, pulling them aside and pushing the glass door open.

Cool air rushed in, carrying the scent of pine and earth. The balcony overlooked the forest, endless and dark, the trees swaying gently as though whispering secrets only the night understood. She stepped out, resting her hands on the iron railing.

It was beautiful in a haunting way, but it didn’t feel safe.

Behind her, her father’s voice echoed faintly up the stairs. “Selene?”

“Yeah?” she called back.

He appeared at her doorway, phone pressed to his ear, his face drawn. “I have to head to the station. They’ve had… another call.”

Selene frowned. “Another call?”

“Animal attack. A hiker found near the forest. It’s the third one this month.” His voice was clipped, professional. “Stay inside, alright? Don’t wander out. Especially not near the woods.”

She wanted to ask more, but he was already halfway down the stairs, pulling his jacket tighter. Within minutes, she heard the engine roar to life again and fade into the night.

Selene turned back toward the balcony. The forest stood silently, watching her as much as she watched it.

And then—movement.

Between the trees, a figure.

Too far to make out clearly, just a shadow against shadows, but it was there. Standing still, facing her.

Selene’s breath hitched. She blinked hard, leaning forward. But when her eyes focused again, the figure was gone. The forest was empty, or at least it seemed that way.

The unease crawled into her chest like ice. She shut the balcony door quickly and yanked the curtains closed.

The next morning dawned pale and cold. Ravenwood looked different in daylight, but no less strange. Mist still clung to the trees, and the streets seemed hushed, as if the city never truly woke up.

Adrian had already left for work by the time Selene came downstairs, leaving a note on the kitchen table: First day of classes. Good luck. Don’t be late.

She rolled her eyes but smiled faintly, grabbing a slice of toast before heading out.

Blackthorn University was even more imposing up close. Its arched gates loomed overhead, iron blackened with age, the crest of the school carved into the stone: a raven clutching a thorn branch. Students milled about the courtyard, their voices echoing against the tall walls, but even their laughter seemed muted in the shadow of the building.

Selene clutched her bag tighter as she walked inside.

The lecture hall was massive, ceilings high, chandeliers swaying faintly as if moved by an unseen draft. Stone pillars framed rows of wooden desks. She slid into a seat near the middle, trying not to look as out of place as she felt.

Then the room fell silent.

A man entered, his steps measured, coat brushing the floor like liquid shadow. He set a leather-bound book on the desk at the front without a word, his presence commanding without effort.

Professor Lucian Duskbourne.

Selene knew immediately he wasn’t like anyone else in this room.

He was young, far too young to carry the title of professor—at least, he looked it. Tall, lean, his black hair falling in careless strands that only made his sharp features more striking. His eyes, however, were what caught her, holding the room in a quiet, unyielding grip. Grey, like storm clouds before lightning.

“Good morning,” his voice carried, low and smooth, with the faintest trace of an old accent. “Welcome to Literature and Gothic Studies. I am Professor Duskbourne.”

The way he said it—like every syllable had been practiced a thousand times—sent a shiver down Selene’s spine.

When his gaze swept the room, lingering on each student in turn, she felt her stomach tighten. And when his eyes locked with hers, even for the briefest second, it was as if the world around her hushed.

Something ancient stared back at her.

Something dangerous....

---

💀🖤

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***