C5 Dispatch of a New Soul

Theo awoke with a start. Her heart raced like a wild stallion, the terror of the previous night flooding back in waves. The first rays of sunlight pierced through the curtains, casting eerie shadows on the walls, heightening her disorientation.

She winced in pain, her hand instinctively reaching for her bandaged leg. A sharp intake of breath accompanied the realization that the events from last night were not just a figment of her imagination.

Theo snickered quietly to herself, "Was it real? Or am I losing my mind now?”

Gritting her teeth and lifting the blanket to examine her injury. She pulled the bandage down and to her surprise a dark bruise bloomed angrily across her calf, resembling some twisted work of art. It was tender to the touch, sending shivers up her spine as cold sweat clung to her forehead.

"Ugh, maybe not," Theo muttered, massaging her aching leg.

The room suddenly felt suffocating, the air thick with trepidation. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet touching the cool wooden floor. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for something familiar, something to anchor her to reality.

"Okay, Theo, get a grip," she chided herself, exhaling slowly. "Just focus on getting ready for school and figuring out what happened last night." With a sigh, Theo pulled herself out of bed and began getting ready with a heavy heart.

She huffed and puffed as she hauled on her socks, musing to herself: 'So what was that thing? A vampire? Oh, how romantic. Fabulous. Is this the start of my new vampire life now? Where did Caleb go off to?' She took an unsteady step, wincing in pain at the reminder of her fragility – oh yeah, like that would help against some mythical monster.

Yet, despite her terror and disorientation, Theo felt a thrill of intrigue. Even with all the hazards she had suffered, she was unable to resist the lure of the unknown.

"Maybe today," she mused sarcastically, "I'll get some answers that won't just end up leading me into more trouble."

Despite her injury, she managed to get dressed, sliding into a too-simple T-shirt and jeans combination. Theo rolled her eyes as she absentmindedly attempted to tie up her sneakers with pain radiating from her leg. She paused for a moment, taking an unnecessary deep breath before launching herself headlong into another day of misery. Her reflection in the mirror looked like it had been kicked by a mule, but who cared?

"Great," she muttered under her breath sarcastically, "Just what I wanted." She shook her head lazily and walked away.

Theo frantically hopped around the room, attempting to collect her things for the day on one leg like some kind of circus act. Suddenly, she stumbled upon her forgotten laptop and was struck with a brilliant idea. With a sharp intake of breath and a dramatic lip bite, she scampered back to her workstation and feverishly typed away. After an extensive search for information on vampires and all things spooky, it became apparent that she needed something stronger than the weak sauce internet had to offer. So off she went, lugging her stuff down to the academy library like a Sherpa in search of enlightenment.

As she stumbled down the stairs, a sudden realization dawned on her - Caleb’s beloved cherry red Ferrari was missing from its usual spot. A chill ran down her spine as the truth slowly revealed itself. She approached the familiar portly male butler who served the Vandeviere family. "Good morning," she said, trying to steady her trembling voice. "Have you seen my friend Caleb around?"

The butler’s face hardened and his gaze shifted away from her. “No miss,” he replied gruffly, clearing his throat uncomfortably. “He didn't come home last night.”

Those words sent a jolt of fear through Theo's body and she gasped involuntarily at the news. Anxiety clutched at her throat as dark thoughts began to swirl in her head about what might have happened to Caleb. Her legs felt suddenly weak with dread.

"I see," she said, trying to sound calm. She paused for a moment before continuing, her voice barely above a whisper. "What about his sister? Is Catherine Vandeviere around?"

The butler's expression remained unchanged, as if he had been carved from stone. "Madam Vandeviere has taken a leave of absence to a spa retreat," he said with barely concealed disdain.

Theo's heart sank as she realized the truth of her situation - it was now up to her to solve the mystery of what happened last night and help Caleb. As much as she wished otherwise, it seemed fate had now thrust this weighty responsibility upon her shoulders.

With a wry smile, she tipped her head mockingly at the butler before hightailing it out of the door towards the academy in pursuit of some real answers.

As she exited the prison-like gates, the fresh morning air slapped her face with frigid fingers, a startling antithesis to the stifling suffocation that had been her life within. She pointed the remote at the gate and they groaned shut. When she turned around, standing across the street was a young man; his expression showing an eagerness reminiscent of a hound awaiting his master's commands.

Theo examined him in surprise. He wore an amused smile on his face; as if he already knew exactly what would happen next. Curiosity piqued, she couldn't help but take in his features: his punkish hairstyle and hard-edged angles of his face, his chestnut eyes seemingly filled with hidden tales he wasn't willing to share. He had on an outdated leather jacket—an obvious attempt to give off a 'bad boy' aura—which made Theo want to laugh out loud rather than feel drawn towards him.

She clutched her jacket like a lifeline and struggled to heft her backpack as she took each step forward at a glacial pace. Behind her, the lecherous stalker followed her every move with an uncomfortable closeness. Theo tried to move faster, but her injured leg made it impossible and the situation was just perfect for this psycho. She burst into a clothing store, dodging past mannequins in various stages of undress. The rows of wardrobe acted as a barrier between them, giving Theo enough time to slip away unnoticed into an alleyway where she could hide until this pervert finally lost track of her.

Her heart was pounding so loudly that she was sure he would hear it, but relief washed over her when she realized she had managed to escape him - for now. She couldn't shake off the suspicion that he might somehow be involved in Caleb's disappearance. It would be best if she avoided him until she could gather more information on this creep.

She continued her journey, winding down a street which eventually leads to the academy library--her goal for the day. As if it was planned, a man ahead of her waved in friendly greeting and started to approach her. Theo swiftly spun around and marched away from him, zipping up her jacket as she did and adjusting her backpack so it fit perfectly against her finicky body. He stayed close behind, always two steps behind, no matter how hard she tried to increase the distance. Not wanting to take any chances with her injured leg, Theo made an abrupt detour through a clothing store and quickly jettisoned out the back door, barricading the exit with a hefty garbage bin. When she looked back to see if he had followed, he had vanished like a ghost!

Taking a short break and checking the area carefully for any signs of him, Theo sped off towards the entrance of the academy library.

As she stepped into the building, she noticed an all-too-familiar figure at the reception desk. It was Mr. Beaumont of her English class. She scoffed to herself, relieved; if nothing else, he could attest to how she had injured her leg in the first place. As soon as he saw her, his face paled and his eyes widened as though a ghost had appeared before him. "It looks worse than it really is." She rolled her eyes at her own leg. Instead of saying anything, he gave her a single nod and then briskly departed.

Left alone in the hallway, Theo shook her head with amusement. "What a strange reaction!" she whispered to herself sarcastically. "I'm sure it has something to do with what happened last night..." She let out a cynical chuckle.

The inside of the modern private academy was a big contrast. Giant bay windows illuminated rows of polished wooden shelves that were filled with books from centuries ago - each one boasting intricate gold embossed titles and illustrations. She could hardly contain her anticipation as she wandered deeper into the room, coming to a stop in front of the stacks devoted to arcane mythology texts. While it was terrifying in parts, the knowledge captivated her curiosity.

With trembling hands, she pulled out several dusty volumes from its depths. One book in particular grabbed her attention: A Compendium of Supernatural Creatures and Their Habits. Intrigued, Theo opened up its hefty well-worn pages to let its stories unfold before her eyes. She found detailed descriptions of vampire rituals from around the world – dark rites, blood feasts, spells and invocations – all recounted with great detail and vividness.

Time seemed to stand still as Theo browsed the musty aisles of the library, carefully trailing her fingers along the spines of each book. She was transfixed by the books in her hands, barely aware of her surroundings, until a clock chimed somewhere in the library. She jolted back to awareness and quickly collected the books she had picked out. She carefully replaced the books in their places before making her way out of the building.

As Theo stepped out into the majestic morning dew, a refreshing cold breeze ran across her skin. She sauntered towards the school's main building with an immaculate slowness that could only be achieved by someone paying no attention to the bell schedule. Suddenly, she noticed a suspicious figure lurking not too far behind her. Clad in a hoodie and with their face was concealed by gloomy shadows. Theo felt something peculiar stirring inside of her - almost like paranoia and fear combined into one. She felt like every step she took was just drawing them closer and closer. But when she finally arrived to English class, POOF! The stranger had vanished into thin air.

Nevertheless, Theo searched the faces of those present - but alas, the mysterious figure was nowhere to be found.

Theo glared at the clock in the hallway. Of course it was 8:59 am. She felt her eyes run over the room for any sign of the mysterious stranger, but his presence had completely vanished. In other parts of the hallways, students hurriedly shuffled into classrooms, blabbering away like parrots or absorbed in their phones - same old, same old.

To Theo they all blended together into a bland sea of faces and figures until their words became nothing more than white noise and she focused on nothing but that metallic taste in the back of her mouth.

"Strange?” she uttered sarcastically to herself before quickly scurrying into room 215.

Theo's chair was conspicuously vacant. Oh, how tardy of her! The university-style classroom loomed oppressively in the center of the second floor, extending along both sides of the hallway with lecture halls and offices on either end. Sliding glass doors were ajar at the far side, cascading radiant sunrays into the room and highlighting the miniature garden of blooming lavender bushes and grasses; it almost looked like a scene out of an impressionist painting.

Mr. Beaumont sat in his desk, scrutinizing Theo inquisitively. She painted a fake grin on her face and slowly trudged to her seat in the third row, feeling incredibly embarrassed under his appraising gaze. Her mouth felt parched and her mind was swimming with visions of the shadowy figure chasing behind her, cloaked in a hoody billowing in the breeze.

Theo took her seat with a dramatic flourish, relishing the cool touch of her chair's vinyl against her skin. The unnatural chill made her shiver in mock pleasure.

Her hands quivered, and yet Theo could find no solace in the salty sweat that beaded on her palms - an ironic reminder of the fear that lurked just beneath the surface.

She moved to brush her fingertips against the wooden desk top, only to recoil from its warmth. It felt like the welcoming palm of an old friend who'd outlived his usefulness, cracked and uneven.

Theo licked her lips but there was no sweet taste, only saltiness - a bitter reminder of the anxiety that overshadowed this moment.

The taste of blood; metallic.

“Was this the price I paid for...” she couldn't even say the word out loud. She huffed and mumbled it under her breath, "Vampire". Everyone in the room immediately stopped talking and looked Theo's way. Mr. Beaumont rolled his eyes before carrying on with his mundane lesson at the chalkboard. She was so annoyed at herself that she uttered such a ridiculous term. It wasn't like that was going to happen anyway. Right?

She slunk into her seat, pretending to ignore the gawking peers around her.

As Theo clumsily weaved through the school halls, a new face abruptly caused her to halt in her tracks. A mysterious boy with excessively styled black spiky hair, offensively beady golden brown eyes, and overly bronzed olive skin, stood leaning against a locker, his gaze unflinchingly locked onto her. Theo felt a wave of contempt wash over her as their eyes met, and she quickly spun away from him with a scoff.

"Who does this clown think he is?" Theo thought indignantly. "And why can't he take a hint?"

Throughout the day, no matter where Theo went, she could feel the mysterious boy’s eyes on her. Even in class, she'd find him sitting a few rows behind her, his unwavering gaze never leaving her. It unnerved her even more than her throbbing leg, which served as a constant reminder of her harrowing encounter.

"What do you want?" Theo huffed at the boy, taking a seat in front of her while the rest of the cafeteria buzzed around them. "Anything I can get for you? A cup of sugar perhaps?" she added sarcastically, her voice dripping with annoyance. As JoJo looked at her with shock, it was like a needle piercing her heart. She knew the boy hadn't expected such harshness from her timid frame, but Theo had had enough.

He let out a nervous chuckle. "Let's just say I'm curious... about you," he said, his tone almost too soft to even hear. "You're definitely not like anyone else!"

JoJo cut in, intrigued by the conversation and seemingly oblivious to the tension between Theo and the boy. "What's your name? What makes you so different?"

He grinned and bowed slightly at JoJo. "You may call me Way." He turned back to Theo with a sly smile.

“Why am I such a special snowflake? Let’s just say it’s a secret between me and your curiosity...but if you're good I might give you a hint.”

He jumped up from his seat with a flourish, shooting them both an exaggerated wink. "Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce myself: Waynescott Onyx is the name. I'm here to show you a good time!" He said with a showy bow that sent the hood of his jacket flapping.

Theo simply stared at him.

"Is that supposed to mean something to me?" she finally asked.

“Not now...not here,” he chuckled as he started to saunter away. “But, be sure to meet me by the main gate after school and it shall all become crystal clear.” He flashed them a mischievous grin before spinning around and vanishing into the sea of teenagers.

"My goodness!" JoJo cried, fanning her face with a notepad. "He's surely a sight to behold and looks like quite the bad-boy type." Her expression turned into a wide smile.

Theo was transfixed on her tray of food, refusing to make eye contact, much to JoJo's exasperation.

JoJo nudged her arm. "Admit it, you like him." She beamed at Theo.

Theo huffed in frustration and harshly shoved her tray away. "Not even remotely," she sneered.

"Who are you?" She thought as she watched him walk away, her hearts pounding in her chest. "And why can't I shake this feeling that we're connected somehow?"

As the day drew to a close, Theo found herself unable to concentrate on her studies or even her friends' conversations. The unknown weighed heavily on her mind, causing her thoughts to wander back to the previous night's events and the enigmatic boy who seemed to have taken a sudden interest in her.

"Maybe he knows something about what happened to me," Theo mused, her gaze drifting toward the window where she caught sight of Way standing just outside. As shadows of the day began to elongate, one thing was for certain; she couldn't ignore the growing connection between them any longer.

Theo's heart raced as the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. She hesitated for a moment before grabbing her bag and heading for the exit. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of fear and curiosity, both driving her towards and away from Way Onyx.

"Keep it together," she whispered to herself, her knuckles turning white as she gripped her bag tightly. She shuffled past the main and Way Onyx standing against it.

"Wow, I really love hobbling around with this injured leg. It's just so much fun," she thought sarcastically as she urged herself to move forward and get the heck out of there. "Oh, but before I go, let me remind myself to find Caleb because who else can save the day?" she muttered under her breath before setting off into the unknown.

She quickened her pace, hoping to put some distance between her and Way. But every time she glanced over her shoulder, there he was - always a few steps behind, his golden-brown eyes locked on her. The fear of the unknown gnawed at her insides, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Way held the key to understanding her recent brush with danger.

“Well, well, aren’t you just a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day?” Theo said sarcastically as she whirled around to confront Way. “I suppose I don’t need to ask why you’re here - being my shadow seems to be the only thing you’re good at. So why don’t you enlighten me for once? What do YOU want?” Way shifted his feet uncomfortably, still not answering but giving her a look of pity and concern.

He caved and finally responded, “I swear, I just want to make sure you don’t do anything dumb… or… dangerous.” He sheepishly added.

“Safe from what exactly?” Theo snapped, her voice shaking with contempt. “Just who do you think you are?"

“Oh, it’s someone totally mysterious who understands unrevealed secrets you don’t even know you possess," Way said, wagging her eyebrows for extra effect. "And that special person can lend a little assistance? Could we just help each other? ”

Theo rolled her eyes and cocked an eyebrow at me. "Help? Like you so kindly helped out in the cafeteria earlier?" She mocked, arms crossed tightly over her chest.

"Look, if you know something about what happened to me last night, just spit it out already."

Way squinted, as if the intensity of his gaze could make his plea more convincing. "Pretty pleeeease," he begged, inching closer and closer. "My mom always said not to trust strangers. But I'll take my chances with you…just this once! Let's scuttle away somewhere else - preferably a place where no one can hear us."

Despite her better judgement, Theo mulled it over.

"Okay, whatever," Theo spat out, her nosiness prevailing. "I'm just here for the answers I guess."

"Fantastic, finally!" Way exclaimed, striding ahead with comically exaggerated military movements.

Theo threw him an icy glare as she trudged on behind him, her contempt evident in her every move.

As they traipsed to the outskirts of town, Theo immediately spotted Caleb's absence. Anxiety turned into irritation as she scanned the area for any trace of her accomplice, but there was no sign of him.

"Oh great," she sarcastically exclaimed, her vexation and confusion showing in her tone. "Just what I need. He's always around when it matters least."

“Your brother is out of danger,” Way assured her, his tone exaggeratedly soothing. “But we must depart soon if you are to find the answers you seek in a place called Ravensky.”

Theo parroted the name with a sarcastic twist, her eyes narrowing as she recalled Caleb's words from the night before. "Never heard of it," she scoffed, her tone implying that she wasn't about to give away all her secrets in one fell swoop.

“Oh yeah,” Way muttered in a mysterious tone. “Not many people have. But I can assure you, this is the key to understanding where all your socks have gone!”

Theo stood there, her gaze flitting between the sidewalk, which marked the final remnants of civilization, and Way. It was ludicrous; why would she do this? But something in her gut seemed to be telling her, although now it seemed more like screaming, to trust Way, so she reluctantly nodded her head.

"Fine," She huffed. "Let's go if we must."

A gust of wind mussed his carefully styled black spikes as they slowly meandered side by side. Theo cast suspicious glances at Way, attempting to solve the mind-boggling conundrum that he represented. His presence felt both alluring and excruciatingly irritating, like a dreaded old tune played on an off-key kazoo. The further they drifted from the confines of the town’s edge, the more her thoughts buzzed, a torturous tumult of queries and suspicions.

The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the deserted meadow. Theo's heart pounded in her chest as she took a deep breath and braced herself for the conversation she knew they had to have.

"Way," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "There's something I need to tell you."

The boy turned to face her, his golden-brown eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her feel both exposed and strangely secure. He nodded slowly, urging her to continue.

"Last night... something happened to me," she confessed, hesitating for a moment before plunging into the story. "I was attacked by some sort of monster. It bit me, and then Caleb showed up, and he said it was a vampire." Theo glanced down at her bandaged leg, the memory of the sharp pain still fresh in her mind. "I don't know what to think anymore."

Way listened intently, his expression unreadable. When she finished speaking, he reached out and gently took her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "I need you to trust me, Theo," he said softly. "I want to help you."

"Help me how?" she asked, her skepticism warring with her desperation. "What can you possibly do?"

"I know someone in Ravensky who can guide you through this," he explained, his words measured and deliberate. "A mentor. He's helped others like you before."

"Others like me?" Theo's brow furrowed as she tried to process his revelation. "You mean there are more people who've been... bitten?"

Way bobbed his head vigorously. "Absolutely! Though it won't be easy," he added with a coy wink, "we must first find our way into the majestic city of Ravensky. Pray that we make it unscathed!"

“So you're telling me that was a joke, right?” Theo snorted disbelievingly. Way sauntered away without batting an eye. “Way…?” she muttered cynically, not expecting a reply as the man continued on his path without sparing her another glance.

Theo took a deep breath and stepped into the forest, her shoes crunching against the damp leaves covering the ground.

Agonizing pain ripped through her with each step, but she trudged onwards. She must find a way to stop her transformation into an abomination; the only thought in her mind was that she had to take one more step and then another and another until she could reach her destination.

She glanced at Way, whose back was straight with determination, then looked up at the towering trees around them. The leaves rustled in the wind, stirring an anxiety deep within her chest. Theo's breaths came in shallow gasps as she struggled to match Way's brisk pace.

“Ravensky,” Theo drawled sarcastically, her furrowed brow expressing her disbelief. “Why do they call this place a city? It looks more like a jungle to me.”

“Looks can be deceiving,” Way replied, his voice becoming noticeably more high-pitched with each word. “Just because it doesn't fit the definition of a potato chip doesn't mean it isn't food!”

“Hey, I'm not saying it's a utopia or anything," Theo seethed, her temper boiling over. "But calling it a city when there isn't even a building around is quite the stretch of imagination.”

“Your perception of a city is way off-base,” Way said with a snort, his golden brown eyes becoming slits. “In Ravensky, we love nature and make it our home. So there’s no need for those pesky skyscrapers or noisy boulevards!”

Theo's face grew hot with indignation, but she refused to be cowed. "Sure, my definition of a city might be slightly different from yours. But why should I believe anything you say when you haven't yet provided me with a proper explanation?"

Way stopped in his tracks, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. "You don't need to understand everything, Theo. Sometimes, faith is the only thing that can guide us through the shadows."

His words left her speechless, the sincerity behind them piercing through her defenses. As they continued their journey deeper into the forest, Theo couldn't shake the feeling that trusting Way was both her greatest risk and her only hope. The silence between them hung heavy, laden with unspoken thoughts and fears. She could feel her pulse quicken as they walked further away from the safety of civilization. When they encountered a wild boar snorting and prancing across their path, or when Theo nearly tumbled into one of the many sinkholes hidden beneath a blanket of foliage, she refused to let her fear take control- even though every inch of her body trembled.

Way confidently navigated the terrain ahead, his eyes scanning the shadows with a hunter's intensity. He stepped around bramble bushes and over fallen logs with the grace of familiarity, seemingly knowing every inch of the unfamiliar land as if he had been exploring it for years. Theo couldn't help but be impressed by his knowledge and was grateful to have him lead the way. After what felt like an eternity of walking, Way froze in his tracks.

The sun dipped beneath the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the forest path. Long shadows stretched across the ground, reaching out towards Theo and Way like grasping fingers.

"Can you feel it?" Way suddenly asked, breaking the silence and bringing Theo back from her thoughts.

"Feel what?" Theo replied cautiously, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Way's eyes were focused on the path ahead, but his voice was soft and reassuring. "The energy around us. It's... protective." He glanced at her briefly before continuing, "It's one of the reasons I brought you this way."

Theo paused for a moment, trying to process his words. She wasn't sure if she could feel any energy, but as she considered the possibility, a faint tingling sensation seemed to envelop her, like a warm blanket on a cold night. It was subtle, but undeniably there.

"Is that... is that magic?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, her hazel eyes wide with wonder.

"Magic, yes," Way confirmed, his expression unreadable. "But also trust. The bond we share with one another, Ravensky is strong. And it's growing stronger. We're here, right on top of it”

Theo's heart skipped a beat, a flurry of emotions swirling inside her. Fear warred with curiosity, skepticism with hope. But as she looked into Way's golden brown eyes, she felt something she hadn't experienced since the night of the attack – safety. This enigmatic boy, who had appeared out of nowhere and insisted on guiding her to Ravensky, somehow held the key to her survival.

"Alright," she sighed, letting her guard down for the first time since they met. "I'll trust you, Way. I don't know why, but... I do."

"Thank you, Theo." The slightest hint of a smile graced his lips, and it made her heart swell with an unexplainable warmth.

"Let's go," she urged, taking a deep breath.

“It ain't no walk in the park. It's like trying to get into the White House." Way said with a smirk. "We gotta plead and beg for permission and there's still a chance they won't let us in," Way snickered with a knowing smile.

"They?" Theo asked with eyebrows pulled together.

He smiled slyly at her walking on.

Soon, they reached a lush clearing ringed by tall trees and soft mossy grass. At the center of this clearing was a set of imposing black iron gates, so large that they seemed to reach up to the stars above them.

"They." He finally said pointing at the two gargoyles sitting on pillars on each side of the iron gate. They looked unassuming and made out of concrete.

Way stepped forward and bowed his head respectfully. "We are here to seek entry into Ravensky," he said calmly.

The one gargoyle stood up on its pillar and turned to us. A moment went by as it seemed like nothing else would happen.

Way looked at Theo and then back at the statue.

"I will vouch for her." He said.

"Very well," the gargoyle said gruffly as he waved them through the gates with an outstretched hand.

As they walked past the gates into a beautiful garden, Theo could feel her heart racing with anticipation and fear - she had no idea what to even make of what just happened. She didn't dare ask Way. She already felt silly about everything else.

Theo nervously followed Way into the dense shrubbery in what looked like a path leading somewhere, feeling a mix of fear and excitement bubble up inside her. She thought of all the things that could go wrong as they ventured deeper, but in spite of her trepidation, she couldn't help but be curious about this place. Everything seemed just a little bigger and a little prettier then everywhere else in the forest.

The dark trees seemed to close in around them as they walked, and then suddenly it all cleared.

Standing at the edge of this mysterious new place was a huge black mansion. Its tall windows glinted in the moonlight ominously, and a chill ran down Theo's spine as she looked upon it fearfully. She opened her mouth to voice her doubts about entering such a foreboding place, but Way silenced her with a look before pushing open the enormous iron doors and leading them inside.

The foyer was even more imposing than it had appeared from outside, with high ceilings, dirty walls and broken furniture surrounding them ominously. Way gestured for Theo to follow him up a long staircase leading further into the depths of the mansion. As they reached the top landing, Theo could feel her heart pounding in her chest as anticipation built within her - whatever secrets were hidden here must be important indeed!

Way stopped abruptly before yet another set of towering double doors and turned to face Theo.

“Oh boy, welcome to Ravensky’s entrance!” he exclaimed melodramatically. “Now I can sense that there may be some shenanigans waiting for us inside, just try not to wet your pants when things get spooky - that’d be embarrassing for both of us!”

Theo nodded solemnly, barely registering his words through her own waves of unease. Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and stepped forward pushing the doors open...