Curfew.

Recommended song: Two Steps from Hell – Victory

The school bell rings, and the wide hallways of Prestige High grow quiet.

There is no one in the spacious classrooms, arenas, or quarters.

Everyone seems to have disappeared, except they haven't. They're all gathered in a place they call the Summon Hall, one of the largest halls in the school.

This hall is only used when the board of directors wants to pass a strict order or deliver a judgment.

It's where authorized decisions that have been carefully made are revealed to the students, and where major unspoken issues, such as when the school is about to go into one of its scariest lockdowns, are discussed openly.

Murmurs rumble through the students, and gossip is already spreading among the groups. They've heard about the tragic incident that happened the previous day after the school alarm went off out of nowhere in the middle of classes.

The noise was so loud that everyone evacuated the school buildings and retreated to their boarding quarters, terrified of what was going on. This only fueled the rumors about monsters in the northern region of the school, where a sign boldly declared, 'No Trespassing.'

This whole talk about monsters has been going on for a while now, mostly because of the laws that were passed right after a similar incident occurred behind the werewolf boarding quarters, in the 'No Trespassing' zone.

It was the only school rule that no student had the guts to break, except for the foolish ones who always fell victim.

"Omg... D-did she die?" one of the students gasps, covering her mouth and causing the others around her to shiver as well.

"I heard she sounded mentally deranged and is unable to speak actual words," one of them whispers.

"W-what?"

"No way. That's even worse."

"And the boy? What happened to him?"

She shuffles closer this time.

"My friend is close to one of the healers in the infirmary, and he said she kept mumbling, 'He's dead,' 'He's dead,' over and over, but the board is trying to cover it up."

With terror in their eyes, the girl closest to her stutters, gently covering her mouth.

"D-do you think he's dead?"

"Why would the board cover something like this?" another asks.

She widens her eyes, feigning shock.

"Wait, haven't you heard?"

"What? Heard what?"

The once-excited teenager, who seemed so interested in the gossip, suddenly lowers her head and bites her lower lip as though she's just let something slip.

Her eyes dart everywhere, alert to see whether anyone passing by is paying attention to her words. She doesn't want to say anything that might get her into trouble, but the curiosity in the eyes of the girls she's speaking to encourages her to continue.

In a hushed tone, she gestures for them to move closer, shuffling toward them as they all lean in to listen.

Gently, her lips part, and the words leave her mouth.

"It's a Code X."

She purses her lips, leaving them in utter shock. A series of gasps escapes them, and the most terrified expressions spread across their faces as they instinctively cover their mouths.

They all know what a Code X is and who it's directed at.

"W-was it Bale?" The girl who finds the courage to ask immediately covers her mouth and shuts her eyes in terror, but nobody answers her.

They're too shocked to speak. Even when the wide doors of the large hall open to admit the school administration, they're unaware of it. Each of them is startled when the administrator's voice echoes through the microphone as everyone settles down and the hall falls completely silent.

"I'm sure all of you are aware of the current situation, and a few of you are confused," she states.

"Most of you are new here, so it must have been quite a shock to witness a fresher like yourselves being in such a terrible state. But I want to assure you that the school board is doing everything it can to get to the bottom of this."

"While we try to get to the root of the problem, we advise that you stick to the current arrangements and programs our school will be adhering to, as we will be enforcing a curfew and temporarily suspending all off-site activities."

The tension filling the air as the current situation is handled like a normal occurrence in the school doesn't stop the students from murmuring in protest. Their disappointment and dissatisfaction are evident as they hear about the changes to the schedule they'll all have to adjust to.

They want their voices to be heard, but the school administrator seems determined to complete her speech.

With a stern expression, she continues.

"The updated schedule will be uploaded to the school system and implemented effectively starting today," she states.

"No loitering, no trespassing into other clans' quarters, no visiting, and all devices must be handed over to your teachers for immediate inspection."

A couple of 'What the hells?' echo through the hall before a new wave of murmurs rises.

She doesn't stop. Instead, she raises her voice.

"This is to ensure that the affairs of Prestige High stay within the walls of Prestige High, thereby avoiding presumptuous scandals and the miscommunication of unnecessary information."

She adds this, and the murmurs rise again, forcing her to pause before gently dismissing the gathering.

"That will be all. Please return to your respective classes and commence your lectures."

Her words leave everyone perplexed.

Everyone exits the hall as instructed, but that doesn't mean they're satisfied with her decision. They continue discussing it among themselves.

Those who have already grown accustomed to the school's rules know how to mind their own business and go along with its policies, while the newcomers find it difficult to adjust. They have the most complaints.

"What? Did she just say 'unnecessary information'?" one of them scoffs in annoyance while standing in front of her locker.

"Gosh, a student just fucking lost his life. What a bitch," another girl beside her adds, rubbing her arms repeatedly for comfort.

"Hey, that's a presumptuous scandal," a student among the others counters, and everyone bursts into laughter, infuriating the girl.

"Is everything a joke to you? Don't you feel even a little sympathy for your fellow student?"

"Hahaha, what?" He snickers. "Of course I don't. He trespassed. Serves him right."

"What a jerk."

"Besides," he continues, "this is just a clear case of miscommunication... Nobody knows for sure if he's actually dead or not."

"Yeah, he's right," another dude chimes in from behind him. They seem to be close friends.

It's now an argument between the guys and the girls, so other students gather to watch.

"You can't just say things when you're not sure of them," he adds. "You guys are freshers, aren't you?"

"Why? What does that have to do with anything?" the edgy girl asks again.

The dude chuckles, but his friend is already getting annoyed.

"Well, you still have a lot to learn," he adds simply.

She scoffs. "Probably not from you, I guess." She gives him a dirty look.

"Hey, are you going through puberty or what? Why so edgy?" another dude who takes something out of his locker chips in. He also seems to be one of their friends. "We're just stating facts. The dude trespassed and got what he deserved."

"Facts? The only fact here is that you mutts are jerks." She glares at them, and the first guy responds.

"Hey, watch it," he warns, growing even more furious as his friends try to calm him down.

"You're only supporting this act because you're freaking werewolves," she attacks. "I can smell you all the way from here."

She growls, her eyes fixed on them in challenge, while the other students egg them on with a chorus of "Whoas!" and "Ohhhhs!"

They've attracted the attention of the entire student body sharing the same hallway lockers. The students seem to have already picked sides in the fight as they cheer them on.

The girl's friend tries to tell her to stop, but she shoves her aside, causing the angry dude to chuckle as she moves toward him and stands directly in front of him.

He knows exactly what this is, and he finds it hilarious.

She's challenging him.

"Hey, fox girl, run along now before you get hurt," he warns again, his emotions slipping out of his control. He's losing it the more she glares at him with those eyes.

She has personally challenged him, so his friends back off, giving him a slight tap on the shoulder as they watch from behind.

His claws are already protruding, and his eyes have become a brighter shade than their usual color.

He's fighting back a growl.

His wolf is beginning to surface, accepting her challenge and asserting its dominance.

Her eyes also change to the lightest shade of blue, showing that she's not backing down even as he towers over her. She growls back, instantly shifting into a defensive stance.

And just when they're about to pounce on each other, a student from the opposite hallway rushes into theirs, coming to a stop between them and the heated fight that's about to erupt.

He's panting as though his lungs are about to explode.

He's barely able to catch his breath when the words spill from his mouth like a dire warning.

"He's here!" he exclaims in terror. "B-B-Bale is here!"