One Letter

Chapter One: The Letter

Elara’s POV

I held the letter in my hand like it was a piece of gold.

My fingers were shaking. My heart was beating fast. I couldn’t stop smiling.

I had read it over ten times already, but I still didn’t believe it.

“Congratulations. You have been chosen.”

Those words kept ringing in my ears. Me. Of all people.

After everything life had thrown at me… I was finally chosen for something special. Something bigger.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

And I knew exactly who I wanted to tell first—Jace. My best friend. My boyfriend. My everything.

We had been together since we were kids. He knew every pain I’d faced. Every tear I’d cried. Every scar. He was the only one who never made me feel small.

And now… now I could finally give him good news. Something that would make him proud.

I rushed through the empty street, my shoes slapping against the wet ground as I held the letter close to my chest.

“Wait till he sees this,” I whispered to myself, a smile breaking through my lips.

But that smile didn’t last.

Because when I turned the corner and stepped into the garden behind his house—the place where we used to meet every single evening—I stopped cold.

There he was.

Jace.

But he wasn’t alone.

He was kissing someone.

And not just anyone.

My best friend. Layla.

The world around me froze. My legs stopped working. My breath caught in my throat.

They didn’t see me at first.

And I wished they never did.

But they pulled apart, laughing at something. And then they saw me.

Layla didn’t flinch.

She didn’t look guilty.

She didn’t even look surprised.

Jace looked at me like I was just a stranger who had walked in on something private.

No shame.

No fear.

I couldn’t breathe.

My fingers tightened around the letter, and I stepped forward.

“Jace,” I said softly. My voice was trembling.

He raised a brow, but didn’t speak.

“I came to tell you…” I held up the letter, my voice breaking. “I got it. I was chosen. For the Nightbane Academy.”

Silence.

Then Layla chuckled.

Jace scoffed.

“Seriously?” he said, crossing his arms. “You?”

I blinked. “What?”

“You’re not ready for that place,” Layla said, flipping her hair. “They only take the strong.”

“You’re too soft, Elara,” Jace added. “You’ll be eaten alive there.”

My mouth opened, but no words came out.

“You can’t even sleep at night without crying,” Layla smirked. “What will you do with alphas, witches, and professors who can kill with a look?”

“She’s probably going to cry and beg to come home after the first day,” Jace said.

They laughed.

And something inside me broke.

I didn’t cry.

I didn’t beg.

I just looked at them. Really looked.

And in that moment, I realized… they never really saw me.

They saw a weak girl.

Someone easy to lie to. Easy to leave behind.

I turned around without another word.

I walked back home, went straight to my room, and packed my bag.

I didn’t even tell my stepfather.

Not that he’d care.

He’d probably celebrate when he noticed I was gone.

I left a note. Just two lines.

“I’m leaving. Don’t look for me.”

I took one last look at the small room that held too many painful memories.

Then I walked out.

And never looked back.

The bus station was nearly empty.

Cold wind brushed past my face as I stood under the dull, flickering streetlamp, hugging my bag tightly like it could keep me from falling apart.

I had nothing else.

No one.

I wiped my face for the hundredth time, but the tears still came. I told myself to stop crying. I told myself he wasn’t worth it.

But it still hurt.

God, it still hurt.

“You’re too soft, Elara.”

His voice played in my head again.

“You wouldn’t last a day without me.”

Guess we’re about to find out.

A loud screech pulled my eyes forward. The bus rolled in, darker than the sky. The headlights flickered once, then dimmed as it stopped in front of me.

The driver stepped out, but didn’t say anything. Just stared straight ahead.

He looked… lifeless.

“Is this—uh—Nightbane?” I asked, my voice small.

He didn’t reply.

Did he hear me?

Before I could ask again, he just pointed to the open door.

I hesitated.

Something about this didn’t feel right. The way the air grew heavier the closer I got. The silence. The smell—like rain and burnt metal.

Still, I climbed on.

The inside of the bus was just as dark. A few other students were already seated, scattered. Some looked older. Some wore hoods. No one looked at me.

No one spoke.

I took the last seat by the window and stared outside.

Was it too late to run back home?

To my step father?

No

There was nothing left to go back to.

So I stayed quiet. Watching the world outside fade as the bus drove into the woods.

We drove for what felt like forever.

The forest grew thicker. The trees turned black. Not just from the night, but like they were actually burnt. Twisted and broken. The moon peeked through the branches like it was afraid to shine too brightly.

My breath fogged the window.

I didn’t realize how tight I was holding my bag until my fingers started to ache.

“Relax,” I whispered to myself.

But how could I?

I had no idea what I was walking into.

When we finally stopped, I expected lights. Gates. Some kind of welcome.

Instead… there was darkness.

A huge building stood ahead. Cold, gray stone. Towers rising into the night like claws. Shadows moved along the windows—or maybe that was just my imagination.

I stepped off the bus, nearly slipping on the slick ground.

The other students walked ahead without a word.

I stood there, frozen.

“I shouldn’t be here,” I whispered. “This is a mistake.”

“Then leave,” someone muttered behind me.

I turned quickly, but saw no one.

Heart pounding, I forced my feet to move.

I stepped into the building.

The air inside was worse. Cold, thick, heavy like it didn’t want me here.

The chandelier above dripped candlewax onto the floor. The walls were lined with strange symbols I couldn’t read.

Then—

BAM.

I crashed right with someone.

Hard.

I moved backwards, my bag dropping to the floor.

"—I'm sorry—" I babbled, gazing up.

He didn't respond.

He simply looked down at me, his dark eyes colder than the atmosphere surrounding us. His expressionless face didn't budge. No emotion. No expression.

He appeared… dangerous.

There was something about him that sent shivers down my spine.

His gaze held for a moment too long, like he was weighing something. Then he departed without utterance.

No apology.

No interest.

Just silence.

I bent to grab my bag, my hands shaking. "What is wrong with this place?" I grumbled to myself.

I walked down the hallway until I reached a small desk at the rear, where a woman sat flicking through a book with fingernails as long as my pinky finger, crimson-red in color.

"Uh… hi," I spoke softly.

She didn't even look up.

"I am new here I'm new. Elara Grey?"

"Room 308. East wing. Top floor," she said bluntly.

"You'll be sharing."

"With whom?"

She finally looked up. "You'll find out."

She handed me an old brass key, then turned around to return to her novel.

I swallowed hard.

I was diminishing second by second.

The stairs creaked with every step I took. The walls were lined with paintings of people who seemed to be looking at me. I attempted not to look at them for more than a few seconds.

I was panting by the time I reached the top floor.

I approached door 308, wiped my face for the second time, and pushed the key into the lock.

Click.

The door opened.

Before I could even get inside—

"AHHH!! You're here!!"

A girl with a huge curly afro and way too much energy jumped off the bed. She was wearing mismatched socks and a robe covered in bunnies.

I blinked. "Uh—what?"

"You're my new roommate, yeah? Elara! I love your name. I was so relieved that you wouldn't be boring, and you're not! I mean, you haven't said much so far but I can tell."

She ran in and picked up my bag as if it were hers. "Come on in! I made the left bed for you. Do you like chocolate? I have chocolate. Do you snore? Because I do. But it's sorta cute."

I was too stunned to speak.

She smiled even more broadly. "Oh, hi, I'm Mira. I chattering too much. But don't worry, I swear I am not a weirdo. Or like, deadly or anything."

"I—uh, thanks," I stammered.

"You look like you've just emerged from a haunted house," she said, plopping down onto her bed. "Don't worry, everyone does on first day here."

I let out a little laugh before I could stop myself.

She smiled. "See? I knew I'd like you."

That evening, I spread out on the darkness, gazing up at the split ceiling. Mira had fallen asleep in midsentence, snoring quietly.

I turned my head to the window. The woods were still out there.

Waiting.

"I don't care what Jace said," I whispered. "I'll survive this."

Even if this place eats me alive… I won’t be the same girl they left behind.