W
Wingshadow
Guest
The second week of classes had just drawn to a close, and the usual freshmen enthusiasm still ran high among the students. Some had already begun to create waves in the athletic clubs, while others remained relatively unknown within the student body. In either case, meeting new people who could potential friends or important contacts, and working toward their lifelong goals doubtless took up a majority of their thoughts. They likely considered confronting a bloody and brutal end the least of their worries. Even so, such a fate remained hidden within each one of these idealistic youths' shadows. Its arms reached wide around the college, gazing down upon the collection of unwary prey.
Three years prior, and again ten years before that, a vicious chain of murders had erupted at public schools. Students, teachers, both popular and obscure alike had fallen victim to a mysterious assailant. No connection between the victims had ever been established, and the deaths would stop as abruptly as they had begun over the course of a few days, claiming over a dozen lives each time. Without any substancial leads, the investigation stopped entirely and while the suffering of those who lost loved ones remained, those not directly effected went on with their daily lives before long as if the earlier tragic events only bore temporary signficance.
Not all had forgotten, however. Some took it to heart, desiring to search for the truth and uncover it at all costs. Some sought to bury the past and move on with their lives. One would become entangled in it, and one would seek to bring it to pass once again...
This particular morning began like many others had before. The early-risers had already begun heading to their respective classes, milling about the campus with their book bags and backpacks. One of these students stood a full foot shorter than the rest, her beautiful blonde hair carefully styled into long drills on either side of her head. She reached one hand up to shield herself from the piercing morning sun which had decided to hang in the air at just the right angle to shine directly into her sensitive eyes. Her eyebrows knit together in mild irritation, her free hand gripping her backpack's shoulder strap a bit more firmly as she continued on her way. Her short stature and unusual style of dress drew much unwanted attention, adding somewhat to her frustration.
She stepped quickly, compensating for her shorter gait with a faster pace, as she made her way over to the college library. Passing through the door and nodding toward the librarian at the front desk, she sat down at one of the wide tables in the center of the room and slid her backback off from her shoulders, opening it quickly and depositing its contents onto the wooden surface in front of her. She laid the books out neatly, and drawing one toward herself, she opened the volume and began to carefully scan each line.
She was not, however, the only freshmen who had decided to start the day off early. Twin sisters, the elder sporting pink hair and the younger a pale blue, discussed their plans for the day as they stepped out of their shared dorm room. They walked in unison, nodding to their fellow students that waved to them as they passed.
"Sister, Sister," the younger whispered to the older, "The morning breeze is very pleasing, is it not?"
"Rem, Rem," the older whispered back the younger, "It is indeed best enjoyed before the sun fully awakens and enforces its will upon the earth."
As the pair walked, they passed by a silver-haired young woman seated beside a fountain, her gaze directed toward the bubbling water as it reached up toward the sky. She shifted her weight toward the right slightly, her left hand reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from her face, her thoughts dwelling on matters other than her studies and the weather.
The stage had been set and the players assembled, and all that remained was the inciting incident to sent everything into motion, a simple text message that would appear on a certain young man's cell phone which read:
"Transfer out of this college. Your life is in danger if you stay."
Three years prior, and again ten years before that, a vicious chain of murders had erupted at public schools. Students, teachers, both popular and obscure alike had fallen victim to a mysterious assailant. No connection between the victims had ever been established, and the deaths would stop as abruptly as they had begun over the course of a few days, claiming over a dozen lives each time. Without any substancial leads, the investigation stopped entirely and while the suffering of those who lost loved ones remained, those not directly effected went on with their daily lives before long as if the earlier tragic events only bore temporary signficance.
Not all had forgotten, however. Some took it to heart, desiring to search for the truth and uncover it at all costs. Some sought to bury the past and move on with their lives. One would become entangled in it, and one would seek to bring it to pass once again...
This particular morning began like many others had before. The early-risers had already begun heading to their respective classes, milling about the campus with their book bags and backpacks. One of these students stood a full foot shorter than the rest, her beautiful blonde hair carefully styled into long drills on either side of her head. She reached one hand up to shield herself from the piercing morning sun which had decided to hang in the air at just the right angle to shine directly into her sensitive eyes. Her eyebrows knit together in mild irritation, her free hand gripping her backpack's shoulder strap a bit more firmly as she continued on her way. Her short stature and unusual style of dress drew much unwanted attention, adding somewhat to her frustration.
She stepped quickly, compensating for her shorter gait with a faster pace, as she made her way over to the college library. Passing through the door and nodding toward the librarian at the front desk, she sat down at one of the wide tables in the center of the room and slid her backback off from her shoulders, opening it quickly and depositing its contents onto the wooden surface in front of her. She laid the books out neatly, and drawing one toward herself, she opened the volume and began to carefully scan each line.
She was not, however, the only freshmen who had decided to start the day off early. Twin sisters, the elder sporting pink hair and the younger a pale blue, discussed their plans for the day as they stepped out of their shared dorm room. They walked in unison, nodding to their fellow students that waved to them as they passed.
"Sister, Sister," the younger whispered to the older, "The morning breeze is very pleasing, is it not?"
"Rem, Rem," the older whispered back the younger, "It is indeed best enjoyed before the sun fully awakens and enforces its will upon the earth."
As the pair walked, they passed by a silver-haired young woman seated beside a fountain, her gaze directed toward the bubbling water as it reached up toward the sky. She shifted her weight toward the right slightly, her left hand reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from her face, her thoughts dwelling on matters other than her studies and the weather.
The stage had been set and the players assembled, and all that remained was the inciting incident to sent everything into motion, a simple text message that would appear on a certain young man's cell phone which read:
"Transfer out of this college. Your life is in danger if you stay."