The doors of Briarwood Academy swung open, and students poured in, chattering. Among them, Elara stood out—her uniform subtly altered, silver rings on her fingers, dark hair cascading around her sharp features. Her green eyes scanned the hallway with disinterest as the noise around her hushed, replaced by whispers.

“Is she new?” “She looks… intimidating.”

Elara ignored them, clutching a black notebook as she made her way to her locker. She overheard a group of girls laughing. “Looks like we’ve got a Halloween transfer.”

Elara shot the blonde girl a cold glare before heading toward the dorms. The path was quiet, the trees casting long shadows. She reached the entrance to the dormitory and climbed the stairs to her room.

When she opened the door, the flood of pink almost blinded her. The pastel walls, curtains, and bedspread made the room feel suffocating.

Elara glared at the decorations. “Really?” she muttered, tossing her bag onto the bed. “Pink? The universe has a sense of humor.”

Everything felt too soft, too perfect. She couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped.