THE LAST BELL

The morning sun rested weakly over Ravenswood Boarding High. The old stone walls looked dark, almost like they were hiding secrets. Axel Vega walked slowly through the main gates, his shoulders low, his arms tight around a stack of worn-out books. His shoes were torn at the sides, the sole of the left one almost coming off. He kept his eyes on the ground, hoping no one would notice him.But people always noticed.“Look who crawled back from the trash,” Damian sneered as he stepped out of the crowd. He was taller, stronger, with sharp eyes that always searched for trouble. He pushed Axel hard against the lockers, and the books slipped out of Axel’s hands, scattering across the hallway floor.Laughter erupted around them. Mason bent down, picked up Axel’s homework, and waved it like a trophy. “This is mine now. Thanks for the effort, loser.” He stuffed it into his bag, ignoring Axel’s quiet protest.“Say something, mute boy,” Sophia said from behind Mason. She leaned against the loc

Axel walked into class early that morning, holding his books close to his chest. He wanted a little peace before the noise and trouble started. The classroom was quiet, only the sound of his shoes against the floor. For a moment, Axel felt calm.He placed his books on the desk and sat down.“Maybe today will be different,” he whispered to himself.But peace never lasted long.Damian walked in with a smirk on his face. He spotted Axel sitting alone. “Look who came early, the little nerd,” Damian said loudly, making sure everyone heard.Axel looked down, hoping to ignore him.Damian came closer. “Stand up,” he ordered.Axel shook his head. “I don’t want any trouble.”But Damian didn’t care. He stuck his foot out and tripped Axel as he tried to move. Axel fell forward, his books scattering all over the floor. The class burst into laughter.Sophia, who sat at the back, quickly raised her phone. “This is perfect,” she giggled while recording the whole thing.Axel’s face burned red. He pick

The classroom was quiet except for the sound of pages turning. Professor Grant stood at the front, holding a book in his hand. His sharp eyes moved around the room.“Lena,” he said suddenly. “Please read the next passage.”Lena froze. Her fingers shook as she picked up the book. Her heart raced, not because of the professor, but because she felt Axel’s eyes on her. Axel sat near the back, silent as always, his messy dark hair falling into his face.Lena took a shaky breath and started reading, but her voice broke.“Lo… love is… like—” She stopped, her cheeks red. She could feel Axel watching her.Damian, who sat two seats away, smirked. “Hey, Lena,” he said loudly, so the whole class could hear. “Why are you stuttering? Oh, I get it. You’re staring at the loser.”The class laughed. Lena’s face burned.Sophia, with her perfect smile, leaned forward. “Aw, isn’t it cute? Our little Lena has a crush on Axel.”“I don’t!” Lena said quickly, her voice trembling. “I don’t like him!”But her d

The library was too quiet. The air felt heavy, and every step echoed like thunder.Axel held his breath as he crouched behind a tall shelf. In his hand, he clutched nothing but an old wooden ruler. His knuckles were white from holding it too tight. It was not a weapon, but it was all he had.Beside him, Chloe pressed against the shelf. Her body trembled, but her eyes did not. They burned with a strange courage that Axel had never seen before.“Axel,” she whispered, her voice almost broken. “It’s coming closer.”“I know,” Axel whispered back, his throat dry.The pale figure moved slowly between the rows of books. Its skin was gray and cracked, like dry mud. Its eyes were empty, but its mouth stretched open, showing sharp yellow teeth. Every step it took sent dust falling from the shelves.Axel’s heart pounded so hard he thought the creature could hear it.The pale figure stopped. It turned its head slowly, listening. Then, with a sudden scream, it lunged forward, knocking down books an

The tunnel was cold and heavy with dust. The smell of rot filled the air, making every breath hard. Axel held a small torch in one hand and Chloe’s wrist in the other. The flame shook against the damp stone walls. The sound of dripping water echoed like faint whispers.Chloe pressed closer to him. “I don’t like this place, Axel. It feels… wrong.”Axel gave her hand a squeeze. “Stay close. Nothing will happen to you while I’m here.”Her eyes softened at his words. Even in this dark, haunted place, her fear could not wash away the strange warmth she felt for him. She leaned her head against his arm for a moment, drawing courage from him.The walls narrowed the deeper they went. Strange carvings covered the stones—symbols that looked older than the school above them. They were not letters anyone could read. They looked like warnings.Chloe reached out and touched one. “What do these mean? Who put them here?”Axel shook his head. “I don’t know. But it feels like the dead are watching us.”