Raven Hills

Prologue

She is scared.

And there is no denying it.

         She went out of the school at a curfew time. She had sneaked out of the dormitory to attend at a friend's party and her friend offered to accompany her home. It's a shame she laughed at her friend's concern and went back by herself. Like they say, in the end, there's always regret.

She was confident that she can sneak back in and get some rest before any of the wandering guards or the landlady catches her out of bed while wearing a thick plate of make-up. What she didn't count on her calculation is the mist that always covers the town in the most ungodly hour.

When she left Tasha's house, the night was nice and stars shone brightly as if it twinkles to guide her way back to the academy and the full moon gave her extra light. She had a feeling someone's watching her; more likely following her ever since she was a block off of Tasha's residence. The trees were a little bare and the wind slowly got stronger, a sign that fall is definitely here and winter can't be far behind.

Suddenly, the street lamps began to suddenly turn off, she waved it off as a coincidence and continued to walk past the community park, the resident owl hooted in a haunting manner, making the hair on the back of her neck stand up and goose bumps rose on her arms. She broke into a sprint, mentally berating herself for being given a fright by an ordinary bird.

She zigzagged her way and jumped up from a few trashcans that became an obstacle, what a time to forget my cell phone, she thought. Her breathes became ragged as she felt mist surrounding her, cutting off most of her vision. She could imagine her friends laughing if they ever found out she was spooked by nothing and being totally paranoid.

Her good mood suddenly crumbled as she heard a growl from behind her. She squeaked like a mouse and ran as fast as she can towards the dark part of the town. She took a turn at a darkened alley and for a minute or two, she stopped to get a breather. The air from her mouth formed a puff of mist from the chilly night air. Now, she was certain the stalker has lost its track on her; she wasn't in the track team for nothing. Before she could even give herself a pat on the back; a shadowy figure rose behind her and its clawed hand raised.

A sickening crack was heard.

And the girl fell down on the ground the she stood a moment ago.

Dead.

The figure leered above the girl and its claws hovered for a moment above the girl's slightly opened mouth. A small pinkish orb flew out of her mouth ad the shadow examined it and murmured in an eerie voice,

"This isn't the one..."

And a gust of wind later, the shadow is gone.

Along with the girl's soul.

________________________________________________________________________

Tucson, Arizona; Happy Mike's Bed n' Breakfast

         There was a reporter on the telly. A woman with a tailored blazer and a gold pin on her hair that shined perfectly on the lighting of the studio, her eyes are critical as she reported the news, "In Raven Hills; another student is found dead on an alley with no visible marks but the caused of death is her neck that was snapped into two, police say that it could have been a sorority matter but forensic experts and the school she attended believed it was an accident." Suddenly, a video of a man with graying ginger hair is talking through the mic, his eyes are wrinkle with age and tiredness. "I know it was horrible to know that Ms. Miriam Cameron passed away but we can't assume it was always foul play."

The view was returned to the redhead reporter, "That was a statement from Raven Hills Academy headmaster, John Denvers. Police say it was gang violence since the number of students’ accidental-"

The woman was cut off as the girl turned off the television. She twirled a stray lock of hair from her face and began to rummaged in her bags and retrieved a wrinkled yet still glossy brochure her dad gave her two months ago. Her eyes widened at the academy and a curious gaze at the school buildings.

"Raven Hills, huh?"