Sophie's POV
The day was dragging slowly.
Classes at Crestwood were strange. Not because of the teachers or the subjects, but because of the constant feeling that something about this school wasn't normal.
Every hallway looked older than the last. Ivy crept along the outer walls like it had been growing there for decades.
And somehow… that line from the letter kept echoing in my head.
The ivy hides what your eyes ignore.
I tried to forget about it and focus on class instead.
When the bell rang, students immediately started packing their bags. Lysandra stretched beside me.
"That class nearly killed me," she groaned. "How do people understand math before lunch?"
"I have no idea," I said while putting my notebook into my bag.
She laughed and walked out to meet her friends, leaving me behind in the classroom.
I picked up my bag and slung it over my shoulder.
But something felt… strange.
The bag felt slightly heavier.
I frowned.
Did I put something extra in here?
Curious, I opened it and moved my books aside.
And then I froze.
A folded piece of paper sat inside.
My heart skipped a beat.
I slowly pulled it out.
The same old paper.
The same rough edges.
Another letter.
"What the—"
I was sure this wasn't here before.
No one had touched my bag.
So how did it get inside?
With slightly shaky hands, I unfolded the paper.
The handwriting was the same.
And the message read:
"Some doors remain closed for a reason.
But the brave will still try to open them.
Look where the ivy grows the thickest."
I stared at the words.
My mind immediately went to one person.
Ryan.
I grabbed my bag and rushed out of the classroom.
The hallway outside was crowded with students. Lockers slammed, people laughed, someone shouted about football practice.
But I ignored all of it.
My eyes searched the corridor until I spotted him near the windows.
Ryan Cooper.
Of course he looked perfectly calm. Leaning against the wall like the world wasn't secretly turning into a mystery novel.
I walked straight toward him.
"Ryan."
He glanced at me.
"Well, well," he said lazily. "Miss Rude decided to talk to me again."
"Not the time."
Something in my voice must have sounded serious because his expression changed slightly.
"What happened?"
I pulled the letter from my bag and handed it to him.
"I found this."
Ryan took the paper.
At first he looked amused.
Then he read the message.
And the amusement disappeared.
His eyes narrowed.
"You're kidding."
"I wish I was."
"Where did you find it?"
"In my bag," I said. "And before you ask, no one touched it."
Ryan read the letter again.
Then he compared the handwriting with the one he had earlier.
"Same paper," he muttered.
"Same handwriting," I added.
He folded the letter slowly.
"Which means whoever is sending these…" he said quietly, "…is watching us."
A small chill ran down my spine.
"That's not creepy at all."
Ryan looked down the hallway thoughtfully.
"Look where the ivy grows the thickest…" he repeated.
"That could mean literally anywhere in this school."
"Not exactly."
"What do you mean?"
Ryan pushed himself off the wall.
"There's one place where the ivy grows more than anywhere else."
"And you know this because…?"
"I've been studying here longer than you," he said.
Typical Ryan.
"So where is it?" I asked.
He hesitated for a second.
Then he said,
"The old wing."
I blinked.
"Old wing?"
Ryan nodded.
"It's a part of the school that's been closed for years."
"Well that sounds safe and completely normal."
He ignored my sarcasm.
"The ivy there basically swallowed half the building."
"And we're supposed to go there?" I asked.
Ryan shrugged.
"The letter literally told us to."
"That's a terrible reason."
"And yet," he said, "you still came to show me the letter."
I opened my mouth.
Then closed it.
He had a point.
Ryan smirked slightly.
"Exactly."
"Don't look so proud," I muttered.
Just then another voice appeared behind us.
"Well well."
We both turned.
Gideon was standing there with his usual mischievous grin.
"I leave you two alone for five minutes and suddenly you're having secret meetings in the hallway."
Ryan sighed.
"Gideon."
"Ryan."
"Don't start."
Gideon looked between us curiously.
"So what are we discussing so seriously?"
"Nothing," Ryan said immediately.
Which of course made Gideon even more interested.
"Nothing?" he repeated dramatically. "Ryan Cooper hiding secrets? Impossible."
"Go away."
But Gideon had already noticed the letter in Ryan's hand.
"What's that?"
Ryan quickly folded it.
"Homework."
Gideon stared at him.
"On paper that looks like it came from the medieval ages?"
Ryan didn't answer.
Gideon's eyes sparkled.
"Oh this is interesting."
Before either of us could react, he leaned closer.
"You know," he said casually, "this reminds me of something."
Ryan narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
Gideon shrugged.
"Just something I heard."
"About what?"
"The old wing."
Ryan stiffened slightly.
"What about it?"
Gideon leaned against the locker beside us.
"They say that place was closed because someone died there."
I felt my stomach drop.
"What?"
"Yeah," Gideon continued. "Years ago. Some kind of accident."
Ryan's expression became serious.
"Where did you hear that?"
"Students talk," Gideon said.
"That's not an answer."
Gideon shrugged again.
"All I know is that the teachers hate when anyone mentions it."
A strange silence settled between us.
Ryan glanced at me.
I could see the same thought forming in both our minds.
The ivy.
The closed doors.
The letters.
And now…
Someone dying there.
Ryan folded the letter again and slipped it into his pocket.
"We're going after school."
My eyes widened.
"What?"
"To the old wing."
"You're serious?"
"Completely."
"That place is closed!"
"So?"
"So that means we're not supposed to go there!"
Ryan looked at me calmly.
"Miss Rude."
"Yes?"
"You do realize you're the one who brought me the letter."
I crossed my arms.
"That doesn't mean I agreed to explore haunted school buildings."
Ryan smiled slightly.
"You're curious."
"I am not."
"You absolutely are."
I hesitated.
Which was apparently answer enough.
Ryan turned toward the exit.
"Meet me behind the gym after school."
"And if I don't?"
He glanced back.
"Then I'll go alone."
I stared at him.
"You're impossible."
"And yet," he said, "you're still coming."
Before I could argue, the bell rang again.
Students started moving toward their next classes.
Ryan walked away like nothing had happened.
Leaving me standing there.
With a very bad feeling about what we were about to do.