| RED'S POV |

Beautiful

The forest looked stunning, with vibrant colors and tall trees reaching for the sky. The sun shone bright, making everything clear. I turned to my uncle, who seemed impressed too.

"It's amazing," I said, filled with awe.

But I couldn't shake a nagging question: Where was the academy we were supposed to find? I looked to my uncle for answers.

He paused, scanning ahead. I saw nothing but a path. "Why aren't you telling me?" I asked, feeling frustrated.

"It's not that," he said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "The school is right here, but you can't see it... yet," he explained calmly.

"I thought we've had enough challenges today," I said, feeling tired.

"We have, but you don't understand how important this place is. Red, we have to keep it hidden to protect our kind," he said urgently.

"Our kind?" I asked, unsure if I was part of that group.

"Of course, you're part of it too. Do you think everything in the human world happened by chance?" he asked, his eyes showing he knew something.

I paused, unsure what to say. "I guess not," I admitted quietly.

"Good," he said, rubbing his hands together.

"What are you doing?" I asked, curious.

"Now that we're on the same page, you need to know to get into the school, you need someone with authority to let you in. Luckily, that's me," he said proudly.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "So, I need to hold your hand to get in?" I sighed, feeling resigned.

He nodded. "What other choice do you have?"

Reluctantly, I took his hand, feeling uneasy. Besides Aunt May, I didn't like touching others, but I didn't want him to know that.

"Just be quiet for now," he ordered.

"But-" I started to argue, but he gave me a look that made me stop. Afraid of what he might do, I apologized quietly and lowered my head. He sighed and started mumbling something I couldn't understand, like he was speaking a different language.

Suddenly, the trees vanished, replaced by a tall building. It appeared out of nowhere, leaving me speechless. It was all so strange, so amazing.

"This is incredible!" I exclaimed, turning to see my uncle staring at the school with mixed emotions.

I wanted to ask what was wrong, but I held back. He might snap at me.

"Let's go," he said, letting go of my hand and walking towards the school entrance. I followed, feeling frustrated and curious. I didn't want to pry into his problems, but I hoped he'd help me in this new place.

As we walked, I admired the huge school grounds, unlike anything I'd ever seen. A dragon-shaped fountain caught my eye, water sparkling as it flowed.

We walked in silence, and I noticed how quiet it was. It felt like we were alone there, which made me uneasy. Finally, we reached the entrance, and my uncle opened the door to reveal an office. The room felt old but charming, with a statue of a man and a werewolf shaking hands at its center, both funny and intriguing.

"This represents the equality between vampires and werewolves," my uncle suddenly spoke, startling me from my thoughts.

"I thought you said all creatures are welcome here," I replied, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"They are, but the hierarchy still exists, and these mystical beings hold a special place. Vampires and werewolves, despite their differences, remain at the forefront, regardless of other magical beings," he explained, his gaze lingering on the statue before he resumed his forward march.

"But if there is peace and unity among them, what's the purpose of being a hunter?" I asked, voicing my confusion. It seemed redundant to have hunters if everyone coexisted peacefully.

"Before the unity and peace among those creatures, hunters like us played a vital role. Without us, countless lives would have been lost and destroyed," he replied, his tone serious and determined.

"But..." I started to question further, only to be interrupted by my uncle's swift movement.

"Not all of them are at peace with each other," he said, his pace quickening as he moved ahead, leaving me momentarily stunned.

I had to take a few hurried steps to catch up with him, trying to trace his path, but it became increasingly difficult. Something felt off, as if the space around me was shifting and distorting.

"Why are you here, Hathaway?" a voice echoed in my mind, causing me to stop abruptly. I turned, searching for the source of the voice, but all I could see were portraits of strange and mysterious figures lining the walls.

"Red?" my uncle called out, puzzled by my sudden halt.

"I... I thought I heard someone calling me," I stammered, my gaze shifting between him and the portraits. The voice had sounded distinctly female, but perhaps it was just my imagination playing tricks on me again.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with urgency. He seemed more focused on our objective, eager to move forward.

"Yeah, let's continue," I replied, though my mind was still preoccupied with the mysterious voice. I pushed the thoughts aside and followed my uncle, unable to shake off the nagging feeling that something was amiss.

As we walked, I couldn't help but notice the absence of any signs of life. No sounds of footsteps, no voices or laughter. It was as if the school had been deserted, frozen in time.

"Uncle J, what's going on?" I finally couldn't contain my curiosity any longer. My uncle stopped momentarily, his gaze fixed on me, patience etched on his face.

"What do you mean?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation.

"Where is everyone? You said creatures stay here, but I don't see anything out of the ordinary, except for these strange portraits hanging on the walls," I said, noticing the eerie atmosphere they created. The portraits seemed alive, their eyes following my every move, sending shivers down my spine.

He stayed silent, refusing to answer. "Just follow me and don't ask any more questions. We're almost there," he said, his tone strange.

Almost where? I wondered, but I didn't want to upset him. Thoughts of danger crossed my mind, but I shook them off. He wouldn't hurt me, right? I was his brother's only child.

Then, he opened a door, revealing a messy office. On one wall, it read, "Guardian of the Argent." I read it out loud, curious about what "Argent" meant. But before I could ask, he interrupted.

"Hey, who are-"

"Freeze," he commanded suddenly, and I couldn't move. Memories of this happening before made me angry. Why did he keep doing this? I glared at him, unable to speak. He sensed my frustration.

"I know you're confused, but trust me, it's for your safety," he said, sounding concerned.

Trust him? I thought. No, not after this.

"If I were to lock you in here, you'd find a way to break free, and it would attract unwanted attention. This way is better," he explained, looking worried. He closed the door gently, leaving me alone in the office.

As the door clicked shut, I realized my uncle wasn't trustworthy. Frustration filled me, and I couldn't help but think he was the worst person to have around.

~~~~~~

| Hope you enjoyed this Chapter |