Eden

The school morning was unusually quiet; sunlight filtered shyly through the high windows, painting golden lines on the floor of the long corridor. The students huddled in their usual corners, their voices subdued, as if something unseen were imposing silence upon them. At the end of the corridor, Alex stood leaning against the wall, his dark eyes observing everything with an uncanny coolness. He wasn't like the other students; his stillness was unnatural, and his gaze held a depth far older than his apparent age. His breathing was almost imperceptible, as if he didn't need to breathe at all. And suddenly… the school gate opened. A new girl entered. Time stood still in Alex's eyes. She walked with hesitant steps, clutching her bag tightly, her eyes scanning the surroundings with a mixture of curiosity and fear. Strands of her hair moved in the gentle breeze, as if she belonged to another world. She wasn't the most beautiful by conventional standards, but there was something about her… something inexplicable. Something awakened the hunger. Alex's eyes slowly widened, his features hardening for a moment, before a faint, cold, almost imperceptible smile spread across his lips. But he wasn't looking at her like any student smitten with a girl… rather like a hunter who had found his perfect prey. He whispered in a low voice, barely audible: "This is…unnatural." Her heartbeat—yes, he could hear it clearly amid the noise—was different. Slower, deeper… as if her blood held a secret. He began moving toward her, with quiet, measured steps, his eyes never leaving her for a moment. With each step, a strange feeling crept over him—it wasn't just hunger… something stronger, almost obsessive. When he got close enough, she stopped suddenly, as if she sensed something behind her. She turned around slowly… Her eyes met his. At that moment, it was more than just an exchange of glances. Rather, it is the beginning of something dark… from which it will not be easy to escape.

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