Outside it was a beautiful clear day, the sun was shining, a cool wind was blowing from the east, and yet somehow I felt a sense of dread.

I tried to shrug it off, plastering on a smile to hide my nerves, and telling myself there was nothing to worry about, nothing to be afraid of, no boogeyman, no monster under the bed.

My mind flashed to the dreams, to the creature that even when I was awake seemed to dance outside my window, if that wasn't a monster I didn't know what was.

I quickened my pace shivering, all I had to do was make it up this hill and I would be at the bus stop.

All around me leaves were falling, floating gently to the ground landing were ever the wind took them. I watched them as I walked seeing how with each sweep of the wind blew dozens more leaves from there trees, it was calming, every time the wind blew I let it wash over me, lifting my worry's away like the leaves

By the time I reached the top, I no longer had to force a smile onto my face. It still felt like there was something off but I refused to let my own uncertainties and fears control me, I would never not in a million years let fear win, my mind flashed to little five year old me, he didn't give up, and neither would I, if Woodbrook Academy was where I had to go to keep that promise, then I wouldn't hesitate.

The bus pulled up its small door swinging open. Inside sat a plump older lady with a kind smile, frizzy white hair, and pale grey eyes.

I took a deep breath, now or never, I took a step forward and then another, until I stood just inside the bus.

The woman gave me another small smile. "The new student then I presume"?

"That would be me", I assured her, letting myself relax a bit. She nodded her head slightly and waved a hand gesturing to the empty bus. "Find a seat then sweetheart. I moved to the back of the long bus, this was going to be a long ride. The door swished closed with a soft click, and the bus rolled out.

First an hour past, and then two, after a while I lost track of the time, but by the time we arrived at Woodbrook, the sun was starting to go down.

As the large grey building rose into view, I sat there in disbelief. It was by far the largest building I had ever seen, and the bus pulled up right in front of it.

For a moment all I could do was sit there in fascination, the walls of the Academy were taller than any of the surrounding trees that I could see.

The opening click of the bus' door pulled me out of my trance, I stood pulling my bag up onto my shoulder, much to the displeasure of Jade who had slept the whole way there.

When I got to the other side of the bus I turned to look at the plump old bus driver one more time, and smiled, "thanks for the ride".

The woman nodded, "anytime deer anytime".

With that I turned to climb down out of the bus, when suddenly I felt a hand on my arm, I turned in surprised the old bus driver was staring blankly at me her eyes looking at me, but I got the feeling she wasn't really seeing me.

Her mouth opened to speak, but when she did it wasn't the bubbly voice I had gotten used to on the way to the academy, but instead, a colder much fear voice spoke using her mouth.

"Free me, boy, come find me, set me free". I pulled my arm away, I couldn't listen to this, there was something so familiar about the voice but I couldn't quite place it.

I stood there for a moment unsure what to do, at least she wasn't talking anymore.

I took a deep breath, you can do this Ember. I clenched and unclenched my fist, and slowly reached out a hand to set lightly on her shoulder and shook her gently.

Her eyes snapped into focus, and she looked at me confused. "Everything all right deer".

I let out a breath her voice was normal again, "uh yeah sorry", I called, turning and rushing from the bus as quickly as I could, I didn't stop until I was inside of the academy.

I didn't even want to think about what had just happened, it felt unreal, almost like a dream, but then if it was a dream and I had fallen asleep somewhere why did the voice seem so familiar.

The academy halls were almost empty, and what few students I did see talked quietly among themselves.

This place was really starting to creep me out.

I walked over to the closest student I could see, "excuse me", the girl looked over at me and brown eyes wide with what I could only describe as a fearful uneasiness.

"Can...can I help you", she reminded me of a bunny who had crossed paths with a fox with the way she was looking at me.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but could you tell me where the headmaster's office is". I shrugged apologetically, I was by no means a shy person, in fact, I tended to think of myself as a very extroverted person, but there was just something about this place like it flipped everything upside down, and I found it hard to make eye contact.

The girl looked me up and down slowly, taking in my appearance. After a moment she seemed to relax and even smiled a little.

"Go down this hall turn left, it's the doors at the end of the hall".

I thanked her and headed in the direction she had pointed, there was still something about her that didn't quite sit well with me but at the moment all I wanted to do was find the headmaster, figure out where I was going to sleep, and take a shower, oh and food would be good too I hadn't eaten since morning. I had ended up giving Jade most of the lunch I had packed, and I was starving.

I turned left at the end of the hall, and the door was just a few steps farther.

I knocked on the door, and almost immediately a voice answered calling me into the office.

I twisted the doorknob open and stepped into the office.

It was a pale cream in color, with mahogany brown trim. The walls were adorned with portraits of who I could only assume were the previous headmasters and headmistresses.

In the middle of the room sat a large mahogany desk with stacks of paper so high that every moment brought them closer to the avalanche that was imminent. Seated behind the desk and the mess of papers was Mr. Woodbrook himself.

He was a tall man with wide shoulders and a bit of a potbelly. His grey-brown hair was starting to thin, but he had kind eyes and an easy-going smile.

"You must be Ember, correct"?

His voice was a deep baritone with a certain strength to it that felt natural like he was born to lead.

I nodded my head unable to find my words, Mr. Woodbrook was everything anyone had ever said about him, and all I could really do was stand there feeling awkward.

I wondered if he had a power like I did and if so what it was. Dozens of questions formed and swirled in my head, but I stood there completely silent, waiting, waiting for exactly what I couldn't be sure, I just waited.

Mr. Woodbrook sat there examining me, looking me up and down, he seemed to be waiting as well.

Then finally after what felt like ages but was probably not even a minute Mr. Woodbrook smiled and looked me in the eye.

"Welcome to Woodbrook Academy Ember, please have a seat", he indicated the chair in front of his desk, and I sat. I still hadn't spoken, but Mr. Woodbrook didn't seem to mind. He pulled a few papers from his desk, "I just need you to sign these, and then we can get you your uniform and find somewhere to put you". He handed me a pen, as I signed them I could feel his eye's on me burning into me, the longer I sat there the more his coal grey seemed to be swallowing me, I didn't like the feeling. I signed my name as fast as I could glancing over the paperwork just enough to tell that it all seemed normal.

I handed over the pages, I really just wanted the day to end I didn't even care about eating anymore I just wanted to sleep.

Mr. Woodbrook stood, and I followed suit. He opened one of the drawers in his desk looking through and pulling out uniforms until he saw one that looked about right he handed it to me, and we started walking, out the door back down the hall up a flight of stairs honestly at this point I wasn't paying much attention.

Eventually, we stopped outside of a plain brown door just like every other door in this hall. Mr. Woodbrook knocked and opened the door leaving the rest to me as he turned and headed back through the maze of staircases and long halls.

I entered the room, it was completely devoid of life there wasn't even a potted plant, the walls were a plain cream color, and on either side of the relatively small room sat twin-sized beds one of them obviously lived in.

I gently dropped my bag to the floor letting it slide from my shoulder and plop the rest of the way down.

I unzipped the bag letting Jade out for one of the first times that day I pulled out a blanket it was surprisingly cold in the room like the a.c. had been put on high for most of the day.

I left the uniform hanging at the edge of the bed, and half-collapsed half plopped down into the bed, and I was out as soon as my head hit the pillow.

A/n
Sorry this one took so long to put out, life is hectic I just started a new job, I got stuck on some scenes. But hey at least this one's a bit longer.

Anyway, I hope you guys like it I mean there's only like two people reading but hey whatever at least someone is.

If you like it please comment and vote I love to hear what you say, and I think voting let's other people know to check it out. Hope you liked reading it as much as I liked making it, and I will try to get the next chapter out as soon as I can bye.