Blackwood Academy

It was always dusk at Blackwood Academy.

The sky hung in a sickly orange-red, as if stained with blood. The sun never moved, fixed forever on the western horizon, casting a faint, cold light over everything.

The campus buildings were pure Gothic-spires, arches, stained-glass windows. But every window was pitch black, showing no light inside. Dead black vines crawled up the walls, twisting like serpents.

The air reeked of mildew, blood, and something indescribably rotten. From the distant main building came faint footsteps and dragging sounds, but when you listened closely, there was nothing there at all.

Their skeleton homeroom teacher led them down a long corridor. The walls were lined with yellowed photographs-graduation photos of past classes. Eli noticed that none of the students in the photos had eyes.

Their eye sockets were empty black holes, as if someone had dug them out.

Junior clung to Eli's arm, shaking so violently he could barely stand. Leah snapped photos as they walked, but every flash made the skeleton turn his head. The red glow in his empty sockets made her blood run cold.

They were led into a windowless classroom. The desks and chairs were black, covered in scratches and dark red stains. The green blackboard had a few words scrawled in white chalk: "Welcome, Freshmen."

The skeleton stepped onto the platform and turned to face them.

"I am your homeroom teacher, Designation 013." His cold voice echoed off the walls. "For the duration of your time here, I will teach you how to survive at Blackwood Academy."

"Before we begin, I will read the Blackwood Academy Freshman Code. Listen carefully. Every single rule is a matter of life and death."

He picked up a piece of white chalk and wrote three large words on the blackboard: FRESHMAN CODE.

The sound of chalk against stone was sharp and shrill, like nails scraping glass.

"Rule One: Credits are the only currency within Blackwood Academy. Each of you starts with 10 credits. Credits can be exchanged for food, water, medicine, weapons, survival information, lifespan, and anything else you might desire."

"But-" The skeleton paused, his glowing red eyes sweeping over the class. "Anyone whose credits reach zero is terminated."

Dead silence. No one dared to breathe.

"Rule Two: Every Monday at midnight, all students must participate in mandatory off-campus trials. Trials have clear objectives and time limits. Anyone who fails their mission, violates trial rules, or fails to return on time is terminated."

"Rule Three: Fatal private combat is prohibited on campus. However, the academy does not interfere with the theft of credits or items from other students."

The skeleton set down his chalk. "These are the three core freshman rules. You will learn the rest as you survive."

"Any questions?"

Before he finished speaking, a burly man slammed his fist on his desk and stood up. He had arrived with Kane, another gang member by the looks of him.

"Fuck your rules!" He roared. "This is kidnapping! I'm calling the police! Let me out!"

He charged toward the classroom door.

The skeleton raised his hand.

Without warning, the man's body began to twist. The sound of breaking bones filled the room-crack, crack, crack-as if a thousand hands were tearing him apart from the inside. His arms bent backward at impossible angles, bone shards piercing through his skin, glistening wet with blood.

He screamed, a sound of pure agony, but it lasted only a few seconds before cutting off.

Then his body began to melt.

Skin, muscle, bone... everything dissolved into black mist, which was absorbed by the classroom walls. Seconds later, he was gone completely, leaving only a pool of black blood on the floor and his black acceptance letter.

The letter crumbled to ash and drifted away on an unseen breeze.

The classroom was deathly quiet.

Someone vomited. Someone else began to sob quietly. Junior fainted dead away. Dr. Irene rushed to his side to administer first aid.

Eli's stomach churned, but he forced himself not to be sick. His nails dug deep into his palms. He saw genuine fear flash across Kane's face for the first time.

"Any more questions?" The skeleton asked again, his voice exactly the same as before.

No one spoke.

"Good." He nodded. "You now have one hour to familiarize yourselves with the campus. You may go to the cafeteria to exchange credits for food and water, to the dormitories to assign rooms, or to the administration office to learn more rules."

"But remember-" His gaze swept over them once more. "Do not go to the third floor of the library. Do not go to the basement of the main building. Do not leave your dormitory after midnight. Violators will face the consequences."

"Return here in one hour. At that time, your first off-campus trial will begin."

The skeleton turned and walked out of the classroom. The door closed automatically behind him.

Only when his footsteps had faded completely did the room erupt in suppressed sobs and panicked whispers.

"Oh my god... this isn't real... this is a nightmare..."

"We're all going to die here... every single one of us..."

"I don't want to die... I want to go home..."

Eli walked to the window and stared out at the eternal dusk. There was no fear in his heart, only a single, unshakable resolve: survive.

He had to survive.

For Lily.

He turned and saw Leah standing at the blackboard, staring at the three rules with a grave expression. Kane leaned against the far wall, lighting a cigarette, his face hidden in smoke. Dr. Irene had revived Junior, who sat in his chair trembling uncontrollably.

Eli walked over to Leah and spoke in a low voice. "We need to form a team."

Leah turned to look at him. "A team?"

"Yes." Eli nodded. "No one survives alone here. We need to watch each other's backs."

Leah was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I'm in."

"Me too." Dr. Irene joined them. "I know first aid and pharmacology. I might be useful."

Junior raised his hand quickly, his voice still shaking with tears. "I... I want to join too... I'll do anything... I can remember all the rules..."

Eli looked at them and nodded. "Good. From now on, we're a team."

At that moment, Eli glanced back at the blackboard.

He froze.

Beneath the words "FRESHMAN CODE" that the skeleton had written, a new line had appeared, scrawled in what looked like fresh blood.

The handwriting was messy and uneven, as if written with a finger:

NO ONE GRADUATES.

Eli's heart dropped into his stomach.

He looked up at the classroom door.

For a split second, he swore he saw the skeleton standing there, watching them through the crack, his empty eye sockets glowing red in the darkness.