Chapter 19: “Welcome to Ashwood: A New Beginning”

The day of the orientation had finally arrived, and Aurora was excited to learn more about Ashwood Boarding School. She had settled into her dormitory and had made a few friends, but she was eager to hear from the headmistress and the board.

As she entered the grand auditorium, she was struck by the sheer size of the room. The walls were lined with tall windows, and the ceiling was adorned with intricate moldings. The stage at the front was set with a long table, where the headmistress and board members were already seated.

Aurora took a seat next to Mia, who was chatting with a few other students. As the room filled with chatter, the headmistress stood on stage, her expression serious but reassuring.

"Students, as you know, we've had a challenging start to the year. But we're committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all of you. That's why we've made the decision to transition Ashwood High to Ashwood Boarding School."

Aurora listened intently, along with her fellow students, as the headmistress outlined the new measures in place. "We've increased security patrols, installed additional cameras, and implemented a buddy system to ensure no one walks alone on campus."

The board members took turns speaking, addressing concerns and answering questions. Aurora felt a sense of relief wash over her, knowing that the school was taking concrete steps to protect them.

As the orientation came to a close, Aurora turned to Mia and whispered, "I'm glad they're taking this seriously. I was getting really worried."

Mia nodded in agreement. "Me too. I'm just glad we're all in this together."

As the students filed out of the auditorium, Aurora noticed Ethan standing by the door, his eyes fixed on her. She felt a flutter in her chest and quickly looked away, not wanting to draw attention to herself.

Mia nudged her playfully. "Hey, Aurora, I think someone's got a crush on you!"

Aurora blushed and whispered back, "Shut up, Mia! It's not like that."

But as they walked out of the auditorium, Aurora couldn't help sneaking glances at Ethan, who was now walking alongside them, his eyes still fixed on her.

Suddenly, he spoke up, his voice low and smooth. "Aurora, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Aurora's heart skipped a beat as she nodded, her mind racing with possibilities.

Aurora followed Ethan to a quiet corner of the hallway, her heart pounding in her chest. "What's up, Ethan?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

Ethan leaned against a locker, his eyes fixed on hers. "I wanted to ask you something.

Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, "Aurora, what do you know about the school's history?"

Aurora shrugged. "Not much, just that it's old and has a lot of secrets."

Ethan's expression remained neutral. "That's true. But there's more to it than that. There are rumors of...things that happen here. Things that can't be explained."

Aurora felt a shiver run down her spine. "What kind of things?"

Ethan's gaze was cold and detached. "Things that might make you wish you had never come here."

Aurora's heart raced as she wondered what Ethan was trying to tell her. Was he warning her away from something, or was he just trying to scare her?

Aurora's mind raced with questions, but before she could ask any of them, Ethan turned and walked away, leaving her standing alone in the hallway.

She watched him go, feeling a mix of confusion and frustration. What was Ethan trying to tell her? And why did he always seem to be hiding something?

As she stood there, trying to make sense of the cryptic conversation, she heard a faint whisper in her ear. "Be careful, Aurora. Ethan Blackwood is not what he seems."

Aurora spun around, but there was no one there. The whisper seemed to come from all around her, echoing off the walls. She felt a chill run down her spine as she realized that she was not alone in the hallway.

Aurora's heart raced as she scanned the empty hallway, her senses on high alert. She could have sworn she heard a whisper in her ear, but now there was only silence. She took a deep breath and told herself she was just being paranoid.

But the feeling of being watched persisted.

Just as she was starting to feel like she was losing her mind, Liam appeared at the end of the hallway, his bright blue eyes sparkling with a warm smile.

"Hey, Little Wolf!" he called out, striding towards her with a relaxed air.

Aurora's tension dissipated slightly at the sight of her friend. "Hey, Liam," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

Liam fell into step beside her, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "What's up? You looked like you'd seen a ghost when I came up."

Aurora hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But Liam's warm and encouraging gaze made her open up. "I thought I heard a whisper in my ear," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "It freaked me out."

Liam's expression turned serious. "That doesn't sound good. Let's get out of here and grab some fresh air. I don't like this creepy hallway either."

Aurora nodded gratefully, feeling a surge of relief with Liam by her side. Together, they walked out of the hallway, leaving the eerie atmosphere behind.

As they walked out of the hallway, Liam checked his watch. "Hey, Little Wolf, I've got to run. I've got a class in five minutes, and I don't want to be late."

Aurora nodded, knowing that Liam was a junior and had a different schedule than her. "Yeah, me too. I've got a history class in a few minutes."

Liam smiled. "Okay, well, I'll catch up with you at lunch then? Or maybe we can study together later?"

Aurora smiled back, feeling grateful for her friend's support. "Yeah, that sounds great. Thanks, Liam."

With a quick wave, Liam took off in the opposite direction, leaving Aurora to head to her own class. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering feeling of unease. She knew she had to focus on her studies, but her mind kept wandering back to the strange whisper in her ear.

As she walked into her history class, Aurora couldn't help but scan the room, wondering if anyone else had experienced something similar. But everyone seemed engrossed in their own world, oblivious to the eerie atmosphere that lingered in the hallways.

Aurora slipped into her seat next to Mia, who immediately turned to her with a curious expression. "Hey, girl! What's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost!"

Aurora hesitated, unsure if she should share her strange experience with Mia. But her friend's bubbly personality and eager gaze made her open up. "I thought I heard a weird whisper in my ear in the hallway," she admitted, trying to downplay it.

Mia's eyes widened. "What?! That's so creepy! What did it say?"

Aurora shook her head. "I couldn't make out what it said. It was really faint."

Mia leaned in closer. "That's so weird! But hey, forget about it for now.

Mia leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, what happened with Ethan this morning? You guys seemed pretty cozy in the cafeteria."

Aurora blushed, feeling a flutter in her chest. "We just talked, Mia. It was nothing big."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "Just talked? That's all? You're not going to give me any juicy details?"

Aurora laughed, feeling a bit more at ease. "There's nothing to tell, Mia. Really."

Just then, their history teacher, Mrs. Johnson, began to speak, and the class fell silent. Aurora was grateful for the interruption, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She was glad to focus on something other than her confusing feelings about Ethan.

As the lesson progressed, Aurora found herself engrossed in the discussion, her mind occupied with historical dates and events. She couldn't help but wonder what Ethan was doing in his own class, and whether he was thinking about her too.

As the history lesson drew to a close, Aurora and Mia packed up their bags together, chatting about the day's events.

"I can't believe you're being so tight-lipped about Ethan," Mia said, playfully rolling her eyes.

Aurora smiled, feeling grateful for her friend's support. "There's nothing to tell, Mia. Really."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "Fine, be that way. But I know there's more to it than that."

Together, they headed out of the classroom, ready to face their next class - and whatever the day might bring.