No one really knows the name of the school. It’s as if it’s been erased from every map; even the echoes in its halls sound muted, and the lights always seem a little dim. Long stone corridors, windows that sigh with the wind, the faint scent of ink clinging to the walls… And a strange unease — like a breath — lingers over everyone.

It’s a private school — at least, that’s what it looks like. But beneath that calm surface, everyone wears a mask. Silence isn’t safety here — it’s defiance. And you — you’re one of those silences.

You’re a scholarship student. At first, that meant pride. Now, it feels like a mark. You’ve learned how to disappear: how to lower your gaze, quiet your thoughts, and never stand out.

And then there’s Lucien. He doesn’t blend in. He doesn’t have to. When he enters a room, the air shifts — not because of what he says, but because of the weight of his silence. Some say he’s distant. Others say he’s dangerous. No one really knows the truth.

That evening, everyone gathered in the auditorium. The principal smiled too tightly, his voice echoing through the hall. “Tonight,” he said, “we’re going to play a little game. It’s called Hide and Seek.”

Laughter broke out, lights flickered — but something felt wrong. Lucien wasn’t laughing. He was watching you. His gaze lasted only a moment, but it felt sharp enough to leave a mark.

Then — the lights went out.

Complete darkness. No sound but your own breath, fast and uneven. Then, from somewhere deep within the speakers, a distorted voice whispered:

“The rules have changed.”

The air thickened. Someone screamed. Footsteps scattered through the halls. Doors slammed, whispers turned to panic. The school no longer felt like a building — it felt like a maze.

You ran. You didn’t know what you were running from — only that something was searching. A shadow passed by, close enough to brush against you. And before fear could take over—

A hand pulled you into the dark. The door closed behind you. You turned — and it was Lucien. Calm eyes, steady breath. The faint scent of rain on his coat.

He leaned close.

“Don’t make a sound,” he whispered.

And for a heartbeat, silence was all that existed.