It wasn't long before Klaus and Matt arrived at the entrance of Blackwood High School. Ranked among the top ten schools in the state of West Virginia, the school sat at the edge of the small, isolated town of Hollow Ridge. It was the kind of place where everyone knew everyone—and where secrets never stayed buried for long.
At eighteen, Klaus was finally in his senior year, counting down the days until he could leave Hollow Ridge behind.
"So," Matt said, parking his bike beside Klaus's, "first day of senior year."
"Yeah," Klaus replied. "Finally. One more year and we're out of this shithole."
Matt laughed. "You say that every year."
He glanced at Klaus with a smirk. "Still no girlfriend. Still untouched. Man, you really are wasting your youth."
Klaus scratched the back of his neck, half embarrassed, half annoyed. "This year will be different," he said quietly. "I can feel it."
Matt raised an eyebrow. "Sure you can."
They headed inside the school, disappearing into the crowded hallway.
Moments later, a black luxury sedan rolled into the schoolyard, sleek and deliberate. The engine cut off, and a man in a tailored black suit stepped out. He walked around the car and opened the rear door.
The girl who emerged made time seem to hesitate.
She had long, raven-black hair that spilled smoothly over her shoulders, framing a body that moved with effortless confidence. Her crimson eyes were sharp and mesmerizing, glowing with a depth that felt both seductive and dangerous. Her face was flawless—high cheekbones, full lips, and perfect symmetry—as if every curve had been carefully sculpted by the Goddess of Beauty herself.
Her figure was impossible to ignore. Slim waist, soft hips, and a natural fullness that moved subtly with each step she took. She wore her uniform like it had been designed specifically for her, the fabric clinging in all the right places without her needing to try. Her pale skin was smooth, luminous—inviting stares whether she welcomed them or not.
And people stared.
Conversations died mid-sentence. Heads turned. Whispers rippled across the courtyard.
"Who the hell is she?"
"I've never seen her before."
"She's not from Hollow Ridge, is she?"
Some looked at her with open desire, others with jealousy, a few with quiet resentment. She noticed every glance, every hungry look, and her lips curled in faint disgust.
"Pathetic," she muttered under her breath.
Without slowing, she walked toward the building, heels clicking softly against the pavement, heading straight for the principal's office.
Inside one of the classrooms, Klaus and Matt were seated at the back, unaware of the disruption outside.
"So," Matt said, leaning back and scrolling through his phone, "you trying out for the team this year or what?"
"Yeah," Klaus replied absently, sketching shapes in his notebook. "I might."
Before Matt could respond, the bell rang. Students lingering in the doorway hurried inside, filling the room with restless chatter before settling into their seats.
The door opened.
The principal, a middle-aged woman with gray hair and sharp green eyes, stepped into the room. Someone followed behind her.
"Good morning, students," she said firmly. "We have a transfer student joining us today."
She stepped aside.
"Everyone," she continued, "this is Serin Huston."
Klaus looked up—
And the world tilted.