Then a figure emerged from the forest’s shadowy depths.

It was a girl. She had pastel-pink hair, disheveled and tangled with twigs and dead leaves, as if she’d fallen or crawled through the underbrush. Her uniform was rumpled, the sleeves rolled up, and her sneakers were caked with mud. She muttered something in an irritated tone as she brushed off her shoulder, not yet having noticed me.

-…damn brambles… I’m going to end up getting bitten by a ghost squirrel, this is ridiculous…

She suddenly looked up. Her large blue eyes met mine.

A tense silence hung for a moment.

Then she raised an eyebrow.

-Oh, you’re not a ghost. Well, that’s good. Means I’m not crazy… yet,” she murmured before giving me an almost sheepish smile.

She approached, dragging an old backpack from which the corner of a notebook and… a camera peeked out.

-“Hi, I’m Nessa MacRae, third year in Visual Arts, specializing in film,” she said, brushing her hair aside with a sigh. “You’re new, right? You’ve got that look of someone still wondering why they set foot here.”

I blinked, a little taken aback by her frankness.

-“My name is… Niahm Mallory Larkin, but you can call me Nia. Yes, I just arrived today.”

She nodded as though it were obvious.

Curious, I asked her,

- “What were you doing in the forest? You know it’s forbidden to go there, especially at this hour…”

Nessa flashed a mischievous grin, then proudly pulled her camera out of her bag.

-“I’m looking for ghosts. Well… filming them, actually. This place is full of weird stories. Students swear they’ve seen things near the old cemetery to the north, and I’m determined to get my own proof. Can you imagine the footage I could get if I catch one in action?!”

She tapped her camera softly, as if it were a treasure.

Luna growled low, wary.

-“Your cat is really cool, by the way,” Nessa added. “But it looks like she doesn’t like me much…”

I stroked Luna gently to soothe her, my gaze still on this strange, overly confident girl—someone I might have thought lost in the woods.

In the distance, the bell rang, its echo stretching between the trees like a silent reminder of reality.

-“Ah, it’s already 6 p.m.?” muttered Nessa as she quickly checked her camera screen. “I haven’t noticed the time… Have you eaten? If you want, come with me to the dining hall. It’s nothing amazing, but there’s plenty to fill your stomach.”

I nodded slowly, and she led me toward the main building.

The dining hall was almost empty at that hour. A few students ate in silence, the tables spaced out and bathed in a warm light. The atmosphere was calm, restful. Thanks to the light crowd, we could help ourselves: the trays overflowed with varied dishes—thick soups, roasted vegetables, tender meats, fresh bread… A comforting aroma hung in the air.

I looked at my tray piled with hot, fragrant food. My stomach rumbled softly, but my mind had already drifted elsewhere.

I remembered…

When I lived with my father, my stepmother, and my half-brother, it was different. When my father wasn’t home—which happened often because of his work—my stepmother would lock me in the attic. She’d scream at me, repeating that I was cursed, a mistake, a shame. She only gave me the leftovers from her son’s meals—cold crumbs on a dirty plate. I only ate normally when my father was home. And even those moments were rare.

A familiar pain squeezed my chest.

-“Hey, you okay?” Nessa asked, frowning. “Why do you look like that?”

I jumped slightly, pulled from my memories by her voice.

No one had ever really worried about me. And those who did found out who I really was and drifted away.

I forced a smile, averting my eyes.

-“I’m fine, just… tired.”

She looked at me for a few seconds, skeptical, but didn’t press further. She simply nodded and stabbed a piece of meat with her fork.

-“If you need to talk, I’m not a shrink, but I’ve got ears and a full stomach. That’s already something.”

I lowered my gaze to my plate. For once… I had someone sitting across from me.

We went and sat at the back of the dining hall and began to eat.

Halfway through my meal, I stared at Nessa, hesitant to ask the question that had been nagging me since the tour of the buildings.

-“Uh… Nessa?” I said, still uncertain.

-“Mmm?” she replied, mouth full.

-“I was wondering… If curfew is at 10 p.m., why aren’t we allowed to leave the dorm after 8?”

Nessa swallowed her bite, then quickly wiped her mouth on her sleeve.

-“Well, you’re new… As far as I can remember, the people of this town have always believed in ghosts. Even if none of them have ever really seen one—or at least they refuse to admit it. According to the elders, it’s when night falls that spirits become more active, especially in the forest. And there are… three kinds.”

She lowered her voice, looked around us, then continued.

-“First, there are the Devas. Those aren’t harmful. Some protect places, trees, or animals. They say the Devas even guide lost travelers or whisper safe paths to children. They rarely appear—maybe only when the forest recognizes you as one of its own.”

I furrowed my brow, intrigued. She went on, in a darker tone.

-“Next, there are the Sgàilean. With those… you never know what to expect. They’re spirits that wander, often tied to a tragedy or an unfulfilled promise. Sometimes, they repeat the same actions, as if reliving their last day. They don’t seek to harm you… but if you ignore them, or if you prevent them from finishing what they must do, they can become unstable. Dangerous, even.”

She paused as if a memory had brushed her, then set her fork down.

-“And finally… the Cythraul. Those you really don’t want to run into. People call them the Silent Ones. They say the Cythraul appear when someone draws their attention… or when an emotion too strong lingers in the air. Some are filled with hatred, others just want to consume what is alive. There’s even a legend here in the town…”

She leaned toward me.

-“A hundred years ago, a village child disappeared into the forest at night. The search parties found nothing. But every year, on the same date, the townspeople hear crying… and sometimes, laughter. Since then, no one dares venture there after dark. Not even the oldest residents. The few who have… came back different. Silent. With empty eyes.”

She straightened up, crossed her arms, and added in a lighter tone:

-“In short, you’ll understand why after 8 p.m. it’s not a good idea to leave the dorm. Even if some like to break the rules… they never do it alone. That’s why I go into the forest,” Nessa added nonchalantly, a small smile playing at her lips. “I want to find out if these legends are true.”

I began to tremble slightly. My heart raced; my hands grew clammy despite the gloves. An unpleasant shiver slid down my spine. Fear crept into me, silent but persistent, like a cold mist thickening with each of Nessa’s words.

We continued eating in silence, as if nothing had been said. But I felt the invisible weight of that conversation settle on my shoulders.

Once our trays were empty, we left the dining hall and headed for the dorm. The hallway air felt heavier than usual.

When we reached the third floor, Nessa stopped in front of her room.

-“Good night, Nia,” she called, giving me a small wave.

-“Good night,” I replied, returning her gesture with a discreet smile.

Then I resumed climbing the stairs, each step creaking beneath my feet. The higher I went, the more my thoughts thickened.

Nessa spoke of all this as if it were an old tale, a harmless legend. But for me… it was far more than that. It was reality.

I had spent years searching. Digging through forgotten books, dubious testimonies, obscure forums. I had read everything: spirits, curses, visions. And among all those scattered pieces of information, the legend Nessa had just told me… it was the closest thing to what I was living through. To what I am.

A cold uncertainty squeezed my chest. What if I never find answers? What if this curse is part of me forever? If I am doomed to live in the shadow of what I don’t understand…

I gently pushed open my bedroom door. The air inside felt warm, calm. Luna was already stretched out on the bed, peaceful.

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it for a moment. I looked down at my gloved hands. These hands I had almost never seen uncovered. These hands that changed everything.

Perhaps… perhaps here, I could find answers. Maybe this place, strange as it was, would bring me something other than fear. A beginning. A key. A glimmer. A spark of hope flickered within me, fragile but genuine.

But… would it really be that simple?

A doubt knotted in my throat. Nothing in my life had ever been.

I slowly turned my head toward the window. From here, you could see the forest… Silent. Motionless. Bathed in the deepest darkness.

I remained still, my heart beating a little faster. This forest, this place, radiated a strange atmosphere… and despite myself, a single thought crossed my mind: Something is waiting for me out there.