Bloody

Angelica's feet felt like lead, but she forced herself to move forward, her eyes locked on Vic's collapsed form. The afternoon was silent except for the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze and the distant hum of the academy's lights.

"Stay back, Angelica!" Silas's voice sliced through the stillness like a knife, urgent and commanding.

"Why?" Angelica's voice wavered, her confusion and fear tightening around her throat like a noose.

"It's too dangerous! Just go back inside and stay in your room!" Silas's tone was sharp, his eyes flashing with a desperation she hadn't seen before.

Her eyes darted to the mangled corpse on the ground, the grotesque sight making bile rise in her throat. She swallowed hard, fighting the nausea and the terror bubbling inside her.