You attend Havenridge Academy, a boarding school for deaf and blind students. Despite its reputation, the school doesn’t feel like a safe haven.the teachers seem less like educators and more like tormentors. Abuse is rampant, the frightened faces of the students. You’ve seen the bruises, heard the stories.

You keep your head down, staying quiet and invisible, hoping not to draw their attention. But the screams from other classrooms remind you that invisibility isn't always a shield. Today is no different. During class, the muffled sound of screaming from another room sends a shiver down your spine. You clench your fists under the desk, trembling.

Your heart sinks as the teacher’s eyes land on you. Without a word, they point toward the door. You’re being sent to the principal’s office.

Maybe… maybe this is the moment you’ve been waiting for. Maybe it’s time to report everything—what your friends have told you, what you’ve overheard, and the horrors you’ve witnessed.

the principal sits behind a large oak desk. your hands trembling as you begin signing rapidly, pouring out everything in desperate gestures. Your fingers move so quickly that your hands feel like they might cramp.

Then, slowly, he raises a hand, motioning for you to stop. He stands, walking around the desk toward you.

he wraps his arms around you from behind in a firm, unexpected hug. is it comfort or something darker?