The last Moonborn

Chapter 1: The Town That Kept Secrets

The bus slowed as it climbed the winding mountain road.

Rain tapped gently against the windows, blurring the world outside into streaks of gray.

Lily Carter rested her forehead against the cool glass.

The farther they traveled, the fewer signs of civilization remained.

No gas stations.

No neighborhoods.

No passing cars.

Only endless pine trees disappearing into thick fog.

The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror.

“First time in Raven Hollow?”

Lily nodded.

“Yeah.”

The man hesitated before speaking again.

“Not many people come here willingly.”

Before Lily could ask what he meant, the bus rounded one final bend.

There it was.

A weathered wooden sign stood at the edge of town.

WELCOME TO RAVEN HOLLOW

“Some secrets should never be found.”

A shiver ran down Lily’s spine.

“What kind of town has a welcome sign like that?” she whispered.

The driver didn’t answer.

Instead, he pressed harder on the accelerator.

The bus came to a stop in the nearly empty town square.

Lily stepped outside with her suitcase.

The air felt colder than it should have.

The streets were strangely quiet.

Small brick shops lined both sides of the road.

An old bookstore.

A bakery.

A flower shop.

Everything looked peaceful.

Too peaceful.

As she walked through the square, conversations began to fade.

One by one...

People turned to look at her.

A little boy tugged on his mother’s sleeve.

“Mom...”

“Is that really her?”

His mother quickly pulled him away.

“Don’t stare.”

An elderly man standing outside the bakery removed his hat.

His hands trembled.

“It can’t be...”

Lily slowed her pace.

Why is everyone looking at me?

Do they know me?

I’ve never been here before.

She tightened her grip on her suitcase and kept walking.

At the far end of the street stood a tall woman dressed in a long navy-blue coat.

Her silver hair was neatly pinned back.

She carried herself with quiet confidence.

When she smiled, it was warm.

But somehow...

It didn’t reach her eyes.

“You must be Lily Carter.”

Lily nodded.

“I’m Eleanor Ashcroft.”

“Headmistress of Ashthorne Academy.”

She extended her hand.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Finally?

The word lingered in Lily’s mind.

Had they been expecting her?

They drove toward the academy in silence.

The road twisted higher into the mountains.

Soon, the town disappeared beneath the fog.

Towering stone walls emerged from the mist.

Behind them stood Ashthorne Academy.

Its dark towers reached toward the clouds.

Ivy climbed the ancient walls.

Rows of gothic windows reflected the fading afternoon light.

It looked less like a school...

...and more like a castle guarding forgotten secrets.

“It’s beautiful,” Lily whispered.

“It has been standing for over three hundred years,” Eleanor replied.

“It has seen many students.”

She glanced at Lily.

“And many stories.”

Something about the way she said it made Lily uneasy.

As they walked toward the entrance, Lily noticed statues lining the stone path.

Each one held a lantern.

Each face looked strangely lifelike.

Then...

For just a second...

She could have sworn one of them blinked.

She froze.

When she looked again, the statue was perfectly still.

“Is something wrong?” Eleanor asked.

Lily forced a smile.

“No... I thought I saw something.”

Eleanor simply nodded.

“Raven Hollow has a way of making people question what they see.”

Far above the entrance...

Hidden on a balcony overlooking the courtyard...

Someone watched them.

A boy.

He couldn’t have been much older than Lily.

His dark hair shifted in the cold wind.

His crimson eyes never left her.

For the first time in years...

Hope flickered across his face.

“She’s finally here,” he whispered.

Then...

He disappeared into the shadows.

End of Chapter 1