—𝙎𝘾𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙈: 𝐴.𝑈 ꧂

Westbridge has numerous public schools spread across the various sectors, as well as several private institutions.
There are large public institutes in the central areas, specialized arts and science schools, sports academies, and private schools linked to certain residential communities.
Westbridge students do not necessarily study near their homes.
Some cross half the town daily to attend a specific institution.
This means that Springdale Academy has students from virtually every background.
And there we have a great opportunity for the AU.
Because our 20-odd characters can come from completely different backgrounds.
One can live in Springdale.
Another person may live in a much humbler neighborhood.
Another can study there thanks to a scholarship.
Another may belong to a family that has been involved with academia for decades.
And another could be someone who shouldn't even know certain secrets of Springdale.
But he knows them.
📞
And when Ghostface starts calling, the fact that Westbridge is divided into so many communities may become a key piece of the mystery.
Because in a town where there are bridges everywhere, there's always another way to get somewhere.
And there's always somewhere from where someone can be watching.

Springdale is not the only gated community.
Oakridge is older and more traditional. Its homes are large, but with a much more classic architectural style. Some families have lived there for generations, and the community has a strong sense of tradition.
Cedar Heights is much more modern. It's full of residential buildings, contemporary homes, and minimalist common areas. It's popular with young families and professionals.
Lakeview Estates partially surrounds one of Westbridge's largest artificial lakes. Its homes are enormous, and many have direct access to the water.
Pinecrest is smaller and more secluded. Its houses are surrounded by trees and it has an almost rural appearance despite being located within the municipality.
Riverside Commons is a more affordable gated community. It features apartment buildings, small houses, and shared common areas. It's considerably more diverse than the upscale areas of Springdale.
And Crown Hills is considered the most exclusive community of all. It has very few properties, enormous lots, and considerably higher levels of security.
Each neighborhood has its own little identity.
And that also means that each school has its own culture.

The main building retains a more traditional architecture: light stone, large windows, columns and a huge central hall.
The secondary buildings are much more modern, with glass, concrete and geometric structures.
The campus is divided by academic levels, although some facilities are shared.
There is a multi-story library, a huge auditorium, a science center, technology laboratories, art and music rooms, gyms, outdoor courts, and a stadium.
There is also an older section of the campus that is no longer in regular use.
The building is still standing, but it remains closed.
The students have all sorts of stories about why.
And obviously, no one can agree on which one is the real one. 💀

At the heart of the neighborhood is Springdale Academy, an extremely prestigious private educational institution.
And here we can do something interesting:
It's not just a high school.
It is an integrated educational institution, with different academic levels within the same campus.
There is a preparatory section for younger students, a senior high school, and an associated private university division.
The campus is huge and is completely separated from the housing by a landscaped area.
It has modern academic buildings, laboratories, a library, an auditorium, a gymnasium, sports facilities, a dining hall, student residences for certain students, and several interior courtyards.
The institution has an excellent academic reputation and receives students from wealthy families throughout the region.
But not all students live in Springdale.
Some arrive daily from other neighborhoods in Westbridge.
This creates a rather interesting mix between students who have practically grown up together and external students entering a completely different social world.

Springdale is one of the most prestigious gated communities in Westbridge.
It's not simply a collection of luxury homes. It's practically a complete private residential community.
The main entrance is protected by a massive security gatehouse and a grand entrance with manicured gardens. There is a second service entrance used by workers, suppliers, and authorized personnel.
The interior streets are wide, clean, and meticulously maintained. All the homes adhere to specific architectural guidelines to maintain a uniform aesthetic, although owners can personalize certain elements.
The trees are planted following fairly regular patterns, the sidewalks are wide, and there are small landscaped squares scattered throughout different areas.
Springdale has artificial lakes, private parks, sports courts, a community pool, a social club, walking trails, and a small shopping area exclusively for residents.
There are also strict regulations regarding the exterior of homes. Constructions that drastically disrupt the overall style, extremely bright colors, and certain modifications visible from the street are not permitted.
The result is beautiful.
And slightly unsettling.
Because from the outside, Springdale seems too perfect.
The houses are spotless. The gardens are well-maintained. The parked vehicles look freshly washed. The streets are virtually free of trash.
Everything seems to be under control.

One of the most distinctive features of Westbridge is its gated residential neighborhoods.
They are not all the same. Some are relatively small communities with just a few streets, while others are huge housing developments with hundreds of homes, private parks, sports facilities, small shopping areas, and their own schools.
Many were built during different eras, so each community has a very defined architectural identity.
There are neighborhoods of traditional houses, modern communities with huge contemporary homes, housing developments inspired by European architecture, and extremely exclusive areas where properties occupy huge plots.
In addition, several of these neighborhoods have their own private educational institutions.
And that's where our protagonist comes in.

The most famous bridge in the town is Westbridge Bridge, which ended up giving the town its name.
It is considerably larger than any other bridge in the area. It has several lanes for vehicles, a separate pedestrian walkway, and a metal structure visible from much of the city center.
Its design also doesn't match the other bridges. It was built during a major expansion of Westbridge and subsequently remodeled several times, so it combines old elements with modern infrastructure.
At night it is illuminated and can be seen from several kilometers away.
It is practically the symbol of the people.
It appears constantly in tourist photographs, postcards, municipal brochures and even souvenirs.
And naturally, that means that in our AU it could end up being a VERY important place. 👁️📞

The center of Westbridge is the most densely built-up area. The buildings vary considerably: some have only two or three stories, while others reach between ten and fifteen stories.
There are offices, apartments, hotels, restaurants, shops, cafes, banks, a public library, a cinema, a relatively small shopping center, and a transport station that connects the center with the outer neighborhoods.
The main streets are wide and quite busy during the day. The side streets, on the other hand, can be surprisingly narrow, especially near historic buildings.
The center also has several pedestrian bridges that allow you to cross the canals without having to go all the way to the main avenues.

Westbridge is a sprawling town built around a main river that runs east to west through the area and several smaller canals that branch off into residential neighborhoods. Its name comes from the numerous bridges that connect its various sections. Some are small pedestrian walkways made of stone or metal, while others are enormous structures designed for vehicular traffic.
The city has an approximate population of 45,000, although the demographic impression varies considerably depending on the area. The center can feel almost urban, with multi-story buildings, traffic, and shops, while certain outlying neighborhoods resemble small, independent villages.
Westbridge developed gradually over more than a century. Therefore, there isn't a single architectural style. Historic buildings stand alongside contemporary structures, small family homes stand next to enormous residential complexes, and old streets eventually lead to completely modern avenues.
The river naturally divides several parts of Westbridge, but the bridges ensure that no area is truly isolated.

Nathan Price, 18, is intelligent, competitive, and proud. He hates feeling inferior to others and can be quite manipulative to get what he wants. He has a complicated relationship with several members of the group and has ample reason to become a suspect.
Claire Morrison, 17, is seemingly calm, kind, and somewhat shy. She never seeks the spotlight, listens more than she speaks, and often offers help when someone needs it. She has a personality that seems impossible to hate, although there's a reason why she knows certain details about the city's past that no one remembers telling her.

Marcus Bell, 18, is protective, serious, and quite intimidating when he's angry. He has a much more sensitive personality than he lets on and often takes on responsibilities no one asked him to. He struggles to accept that he can't protect everyone.
Ella Dawson, 17, is cheerful, creative, and quite the dreamer. She makes friends easily and tends to trust people too quickly. Her optimism makes her one of the few people able to keep the group together when everyone starts to suspect each other.

Samuel “Sam” Cooper, 17, is curious, resourceful, and a horror movie fanatic. He knows all the classic rules of the genre and constantly points out that the characters are doing exactly what they shouldn't be doing. The problem is, knowing the rules doesn't necessarily mean knowing how to survive.
Olivia King, 16, is quiet and observant. She speaks little, but when she does, she usually has something important to say. She is very good at reading body language and can tell when someone is nervous even when they are smiling.

Dylan Morgan, 18, is mysterious, distant, and rather difficult to read. He arrived at the school relatively recently and doesn't talk much about his past. He doesn't look for trouble, but he also doesn't seem particularly interested in proving his innocence when someone starts to suspect him.
Victoria “Tori” Adams, 17, is popular, self-assured, and very aware of how others perceive her. She has a dominant personality and can be quite cruel when angry. However, beneath her confidence lies a deep-seated fear of losing control of her own life.

Benjamin “Ben” Walker, 17, is laid-back, funny, and seemingly carefree. He's the one who eases the tension in the group when things get too serious. However, he pays very close attention to what's going on around him and rarely forgets a conversation.
Grace Thompson, 16, is polite, intelligent, and extremely organized. She has good grades and a flawless image in front of teachers and parents. She worries a great deal about making mistakes and maintaining appearances, even when things are starting to fall apart.

Oliver Grant, 17, is shy, kind, and somewhat socially awkward. He doesn't usually draw attention to himself and prefers to stay out of conflicts. Precisely for this reason, many people consider him harmless. He knows more about his classmates than anyone would imagine.
Harper Wilson, 18, is independent, rebellious, and quite temperamental. She has a complicated reputation and often argues with teachers and students. She can't stand being controlled and can react aggressively when she feels someone is trying to manipulate her.

Daniel Hayes, 18, is calm, responsible, and seemingly incapable of losing his temper. He usually acts as the group's rational voice. However, he harbors information about past events that he'd rather keep buried.
Natalie Reed, 16, is curious, talkative, and incredibly nosy. If something strange happens, she'll probably be the first person trying to find out what it was. She has an impressive knack for uncovering information, but she doesn't always understand when she should stop investigating.

Ryan Foster, 17, is athletic, competitive, and straightforward. He doesn't have much patience for conspiracy theories and initially thinks everything about Ghostface is overblown. When he finally understands that the threat is real, he becomes one of the group's most protective members.
Emma Brooks, 17, is sarcastic, intelligent, and quite sharp-tongued. She has a dry sense of humor that can make her seem cold, but she actually cares deeply for her friends. She's especially wary of overly kind people because she believes no one can be that perfect.

Jack Sullivan, 18, is the typical charismatic guy who seems to get along with everyone. He's funny, self-assured, and very persuasive. He has a tendency to hide his problems behind a smile, and when the situation gets serious, he can completely change his attitude.
Lily Parker, 16, is artistic, introverted, and extremely imaginative. She spends a lot of time drawing and observing people. She has a special sensitivity for noticing subtle changes in other people's behavior, although she often doubts her own conclusions.

Lucas Carter, 18, is confident, competitive, and somewhat arrogant. He has a reputation for getting into trouble and acting before he thinks. Despite his defiant attitude, he has a strong sense of loyalty and would never deliberately abandon someone he considers a friend.
Avery Collins, 17, is intelligent, elegant, and incredibly calculating. She has answers for absolutely everything and rarely shows fear. She can be quite manipulative when she wants to get information, so from the start it's difficult to determine whether she's helping the group or using it.

Noah Whitmore, 17, is reserved, polite, and extremely analytical. He's fascinated by mysteries and criminal cases, so he ends up investigating the attacks on his own. He has a calm personality, although his obsession with finding answers can lead him to cross boundaries.
Sophie Miller, 16, is sweet, empathetic, and quite sensitive. She's the person everyone turns to when they need to talk. She hates conflict and constantly tries to keep the group together, though the pressure of events is starting to get to her.

Ethan Calloway, 17, is Maya's best friend. He's a joker, impulsive, and has an uncanny ability to say the stupidest thing at the worst possible moment. He uses humor to hide when he's truly scared, but underneath, he's very protective of his friends and quite perceptive.
Chloe Ramirez, 16, is outgoing, energetic, and social. She knows practically everyone at school and always seems to know the rumors before anyone else. She may seem superficial at first, but she's much smarter than she lets on and has a worrying knack for detecting when someone is lying.