Chapter 1: Woods of Silence

Seraphina’s mornings unfolded like a relentless cycle, each day mirroring the last. The dizzy awakening, the unsteady steps, and the mindless tasks painted her life in shades of monotony. The mirror reflected the chaos within – messy violet-colored hair and hazel eyes showing the weight of another restless night.Washing her face without a second glance at herself, Seraphina moved through the motions, a silent participant in the daily ritual. Bag slung over her shoulder, sneakers on her feet, her dad emerged from the kitchen to the hall, questioning her face. Yet, she offered no words in response.

“Again no talking, what the heavens are you thinking, Seraphina? Look at yourself, your face. Your face is not even strong enough; you can’t even argue and defend yourself,” her father’s familiar ramblings echoed through the apartment, a daily symphony of discontent. As her mother joined the scene, offering a half-hearted encouragement to go to school, Seraphina slammed the door behind her, eager to escape the confines of her home.

The apartment, with its rusty rails and moldy walls, mirrored the poor state of her surroundings. The high school was far away. This made the journey through gloomy, wet roads with streets without any greenery, painted in plain grey with faded colors. The clouds above Umbravale were as smoky as its reputation.Finally, the bus arrived, announcing its presence with heavy engine sounds. A chaotic rush, as everyone clamored to get in.

In this instance, with a shoulder, a push, and a shove Seraphina found herself on the ground. A boy, expressionless, paused momentarily, his eyes meeting hers before he turned away and entered the bus. Alone, she struggled to rise, her hands touching the moist, muddy concrete, only to be more stained by the exhaust smoke.

Feeling weak, Seraphina watched the bus drive away, pondering her father’s words. Perhaps he was right; maybe she didn’t belong in this world of cruelty, distrust, and deception. In Umbravale, where shadows danced with malevolence, everything revolved around dread, wickedness, chaos, and corruption. Goodness was not just shunned; it was banished. This was the stark reality of Umbravale – a city where nothing good was praised or accepted, and Seraphina couldn’t shake the feeling that she was a misfit in this realm of darkness.

She got up by gathering her strength and pushed her knees with her hands. All she could think about was her first lesson, she was going to be late.The school halls had a peculiar smell, like chemicals lingering in the air. The walls were always this strange shade of disturbed turquoise. The girl never liked the emptiness of the school and being late was something she truly despised.

As she entered her classroom, all eyes turned to her, creating an uncomfortable silence. The history teacher, with a thin grin, approached her notebook, making a note about her lateness. She quietly but quickly moved to her seat.”Well, this is the first time this semester, isn’t it, Seraphina? It was about time; I was waiting for you to be late, finally.” the teacher remarked. Instead of responding, Seraphina stayed silent. The history teacher wasn’t making a joke or speaking ironically; she had genuinely been waiting for Seraphina.

Surprisingly, she was the only student in the whole class who hadn’t been late the entire semester.Here, being lousy or rebellious was considered essential. It was the only way to gain respect from both teachers and students. Otherwise, you risked being seen as a loser and got bullied. But Seraphina didn’t feel the need to push herself in any direction. Instead, she followed her instincts.

The break time became Seraphina’s rescue, the one time when she could be happy. It was the chance to talk with her only friend, Lydia. Just as the break began, Lydia walked into the class, she was also late. Her platinum blonde hair and ice blue eyes caught Seraphina.

“How is it going, heh?” Lydia asked enthusiastically.”Normal-ish, yours?””Well, that’s not the best! So don’t worry. You’re not going to believe what happened this weekend…” Lydia teased, her eyes sparkling.Lydia, much like Seraphina, stood apart from the rest of the school. Her openness and curiosity about life made her a kind spirit. The bond between the two girls was very strong.

The bell signaled the end of the break. With a shared glance, Seraphina and Lydia had to return to the class.As they made their way back, Seraphina couldn’t shake off the lingering sense of longing for something more, something beyond Umbravale’s bleak corridors.

The classroom door creaked as it closed behind them. The history lesson droned on, the teacher’s voice blending into a monotonous background noise. Seraphina’s mind, however, was elsewhere. The walls of Umbravale High seemed to close in on her, the air becoming harder to breathe. Everything now felt intolerable.Finally, the bell rang and released the students from the classroom’s captivity.

Seraphina and Lydia exchanged a knowing look, a silent agreement forming between them. Without a word, they slipped out of the room, their footsteps echoing through the empty corridor.With each step, the excitement grew. The world outside awaited, promising an escape. They reached the main doors, the threshold between the familiar and the unknown. A surge of adrenaline pulsed through Seraphina’s blood as she pushed the door.

The outside world greeted them with a breath of fresh air, a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere of the school. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows that whispered tales of unexplored possibilities.Seraphina’s freckles sparkled in a gimmer of sunlight that filtered through the grey clouds. Her hair danced in the wind as a symbol of rebellion.what they were doing was a rebellion, it was prized. Still, none of them cared if it was wrong or right.

The school, a distant silhouette in the back, witnessed the beginning of a story untold. As they ventured into the woods, the atmosphere shifted. The trees told ancient tales, and the patched sunlight painted patterns on the floor. The forest embraced them with open arms, inviting them into its secrets.

Lydia led the way with a twinkle in her eye. Her excitement was always contagious. The thrill of the unknown pulsed through their veins. Their laughter echoed through the trees.As they talked and kept exploring the forest, Lydia felt the need to have a break from walking.

“Just wait here; I’ll be back in a sec. I gotta go pee,” she announced with a carefree smile, skedaddling her way out quickly. As Seraphina was left alone, the enchantment of the woods shifted, replaced by an uneasy stillness. The giant trees stood close to each other, and the bird noises now seemed more like cryptic whispers.As time passed and the shadows deepened, Seraphina began to feel the weight of loneliness. The giant trees now loomed like silent sentinels.

A chill ran down her spine as the silence became noticeable, and the woods held an air of mystery that unsettled her.As minutes stretched into an anxious eternity, Seraphina started to think that Lydia might not return. Pushing down the rising panic, she called out, “Lydia, is everything okay?”.

Her voice sounded calmer than she felt, but there was no response. Uncertainty clung to the air like a heavy fog.The eerie silence persisted, and Seraphina’s mind became a place of conflicting emotions.

“Lydia?” Seraphina called again, her voice edged with concern. The forest responded with nothing but its hush. Anxiety gnawed at her, and the shadows now whispered of hidden perils.Fighting back the fear, Seraphina took tense steps toward where Lydia had disappeared. The need to find her friend battled with the nervousness that gripped her.

As she ventured deeper into the woods, the shadows clung to her like ghostly fingers: “Lydia, this isn’t funny. Where are you?” Seraphina’s plea carried a tremble of desperation. She kept navigating through the labyrinth of trees.With every passing moment, the line between reality and imagination blurred. She didn’t know nor wanted to believe her best friend was lost in the woods. As Seraphina delved deeper into the heart of the forest, her heart raced and a dizziness started to spin her head.