Sera
...
As Serafina opened the door to her room, she was greeted by a group of giggling girls. "Oh, you're the new girl," one of them said, eyeing Serafina up and down.
Serafina felt a surge of annoyance. "Yeah, that's me."
The girls exchanged skeptical glances. "What are you doing here?" one of them asked.
Serafina shrugged. "I'm a student here, I guess."
The girls laughed. "Well, we're looking for Ryker," one of them said. "Do you know him?"
Serafina's mind flashed back to the boy with the orange hair and blue eyes. "I met him earlier," she said. "But I don't know where he is."
The girls exchanged disappointed glances. "Well, thanks for nothing," one of them said, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
As they walked away, Serafina caught the name "Alisha" and wondered if she would have to deal with these girls again.
She closed the door and let out a sigh of relief. But her peace was short-lived, as she noticed a piece of paper on the desk with a note scrawled on it.
As she read the note, she felt a shiver run down her spine. Who had written this? And what did they mean by "the others"?
Serafina's eyes landed on the box and crystal on the desk, and she felt a surge of curiosity. What was the significance of this crystal?
Just then, she heard a faint knock at the door. It was Alisha again, this time with a sly grin on her face.
"Oh my god, you got the crystal," Alisha said, her eyes wide with excitement. "You must be special."
Serafina rolled her eyes. "I guess."
Alisha's grin faltered for a moment before she recovered. "Well, congratulations. You must be thrilled."
Serafina shrugged. "I don't know what it means."
Alisha's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh, you'll figure it out. Meanwhile, I'll just leave you to your...whatever it is you're doing."
With that, Alisha flounced out of the room, leaving Serafina feeling frustrated and confused.
She slammed the door shut behind Alisha and let out a deep breath. She was so done with these drama queens.
As she turned back to her room, she noticed a drawer in the desk. She opened it, revealing a stash of uniforms, a credit card, and a school ID.
Her eyes widened as she saw the balance on the credit card. Thirty thousand dollars? Three hundred thousand dollars?
She couldn't believe it. What kind of school gave out this kind of money?
As she continued to explore her room, she stumbled upon a drawing book. She hadn't drawn in years, but something about this book called to her.
She sat down at the desk, pencil in hand, and began to sketch. The lines flowed effortlessly onto the paper, and she felt a sense of peace wash over her.
As she drew, she noticed a small inscription on the wall. "Welcome, Serafina. I see you're getting settled in."
She looked around, wondering who was speaking to her. That's when she saw it - a small, almost imperceptible glow emanating from the walls.
"Hello?" she said, her voice tentative. "Is anyone there?"
"I am," a low, smooth voice replied. "I'm the imprint of this building. I'm here to help you with your day-to-day life."
Serafina's eyes widened in surprise. "You're the building?"
The voice chuckled. "Not exactly. I'm more like...the building's consciousness."
Serafina's mind reeled as she tried to wrap her head around this concept.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"I mean that I'm here to help you with anything you need," the voice replied. "I can provide you with information, assist you with tasks, and even help you navigate the school's social hierarchy."
Serafina's eyes narrowed. "What do you know about the school's social hierarchy?"
The voice chuckled again. "Let's just say that I've been around for a while. I know all the players, and I can help you navigate the complex web of alliances and rivalries."
Serafina's mind was spinning. She had so many questions, but before she could ask any of them, the voice spoke up again.
"By the way, your phone and iPad will be delivered to your room later this evening. The principal wants to make sure you have everything you need to succeed here."
Serafina's eyes widened how...do you know all of this?" Serafina asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I'm connected to the school's system," the voice replied. "I have access to all sorts of information. But don't worry, I'm here to help you, not spy on you."
Serafina nodded, feeling a sense of relief. "Okay, thanks. That's good to know."
The voice chuckled. "You're welcome, Serafina. By the way, I should mention that you have four roommates. They're all boys, and they're all...interesting."
Serafina raised an eyebrow. "Interesting?"
The voice laughed. "Yes, interesting. You'll see what I mean when you meet them. But don't worry, they're all harmless...mostly."
Serafina smiled, feeling a sense of excitement. She couldn't wait to meet her roommates and see what this school had in store for her.
As she continued to chat with the voice, Serafina felt a sense of belonging that she hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe this school wouldn't be so bad after all.
Just then, the voice spoke up again. "Serafina, I should mention that your roommates are all from different... backgrounds. They're all very powerful, and they all have their own secrets."
Serafina's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
The voice hesitated before responding. "I mean that they're all from different families, different bloodlines. They all have their own unique abilities, and they're all...complicated."
Serafina's mind was racing. What did the voice mean by "different bloodlines"? And what kind of abilities were we talking about?
But before she could ask any more questions, the voice spoke up again. "Serafina, I think that's enough for now. You have a lot to process, and I don't want to overwhelm you."
Serafina nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards the voice. "Thanks," she said. "I appreciate it."
The voice chuckled. "You're welcome, Serafina. Just remember, I'm always here to help you. And don't worry, you'll figure everything out in time."
With that, the voice fell silent, leaving Serafina to her thoughts. She sat back in her chair, her mind racing with questions and possibilities.
What had she gotten herself into?