Tenebria.

A small town, tucked between hills and forests the maps seem to avoid.

A place the world forgot — or maybe chose to forget.

It was a Tuesday. Nothing special.

The sky hung low and grey, and the air smelled like cold rain and dead leaves. Tenebria South High stood still under the clouds, like a building that knew something and refused to speak.

Myles walked with his head down, hoodie pulled up, trying to slip through the crowd of students without being noticed.

His heart beat too fast for a normal morning.

The dreams had returned — always the same: a forest, shadows, a voice whispering his name. Never clear, never complete.

He could feel something coming. But he had no name for it.

— “You saw it again, didn’t you?”

The voice was calm, nearly a whisper, coming from behind him. Sath.

He always seemed to know things others didn’t. He never asked about the dreams directly, but every time Myles was shaken, Sath was there. As if he sensed it.

— “No one’s been there… but the forest remembers you,” Sath said, his eyes drifting toward the treeline behind the school.

Myles swallowed hard. He didn’t want to know what that meant.

— “Ugh, what are those faces? Did you two have terror soup for breakfast?”

Lexi burst into the scene with her usual grin, hoodie bright pink and a coffee thermos swinging from her hand.

— “Come on, drop the creepy vibes. Either someone died, or Myles dreamed of the talking forest again!”

She laughed, light and teasing, but it came from a place of care. She always tried to lift the mood.

Behind her, another voice — sharp and cool as glass:

— “Another minute and you’ll be summoning demons in the courtyard.”

Nico leaned against the school wall, eyebrow raised in that signature look.

— “If the forest comes for you, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Honestly, it wouldn’t be much of a loss.”

Lexi widened her eyes.

— “Whoa, good morning to you too, Nico. You’re sharper than caffeine today.”

The bell rang suddenly.

All four flinched, for no real reason. A normal day, the start of class… and yet, something hung in the air. Cold. Restless.

Behind the school, the wind stirred the branches of an old tree. Just a breeze.

But the forest was listening.