01:15 PM on Wednesday, the midday sun cast long, wavering shadows across the sprawling grounds of Haul Academy.
The air was thick with tension - not just from the lingering unease of the earlier PTA meeting but also from the ominous prophecy surrounding the upcoming lunar eclipse.
Detective James Carter, Rossie's father, strode purposefully toward the school's main entrance. His police uniform was crisp, the badge gleaming faintly in the sunlight, but his expression was a complex mix of determination, concern, and a hint of exhaustion.
Earlier that morning, while patrolling the dense woods just beyond the school property..following reports of strange, flickering lights• James had stumbled upon something deeply unsettling.
In a small clearing, hidden beneath the canopy of ancient oaks, he found charred symbols scorched into the earth, blackened candles half-melted and scattered haphazardly, and remnants of what could only be described as an occult gathering.
The air there still smelled faintly of burnt herbs and wax, mingling with the damp scent of moss and decaying leaves.
The discovery gnawed at him relentlessly, especially since Rossie had been acting strangely lately, dropping cryptic warnings about the eclipse and some dark entity tied to it.
He pushed open the heavy door to the principal's office, the polished wood and neatly framed certificates inside offering a stark contrast to the chaos he'd just witnessed outside.
Mr. Grayson, the principal, looked up from his desk, his face lined with worry and fatigue
. "Detective Carter," he said, rising slowly.
"What brings you here? More complaints from the parents?"
James nodded, setting down an evidence bag on the desk.
Inside was a blackened candle and a carefully sketched drawing of the strange symbols he'd found.
"I found this in the woods just beyond your property line - signs of an occult gathering. Burn marks, ritual circles, items that don't belong to any natural campfire. Given the recent incidents—the attack on the excursion group, the disturbances in town—
I'm investigating. I need to inspect the school premises, starting with the school. Surroundings and the old wing."
Grayson's face paled, his fingers nervously twitching as he adjusted his tie.
"Occult? That's… preposterous. The woods are public land—could be hikers, vandals, or kids playing pranks.
The school's had enough scrutiny without adding this kind of nonsense."
James's gaze hardened, his years on the force sharpening his instincts.
"Vandals don't leave symbols matching ancient texts I've seen in cold cases - texts tied to cults and dark rituals.
My daughter's involved in whatever's happening here, and I'm not going to ignore it.
I have a warrant if I need it, but I'd prefer cooperation.
Where's the garden key?"
The principal hesitated, then sighed deeply, reaching into his desk drawer and pulling out a rusted, old-fashioned key.
"Fine. But this stays discreet—parents are already on edge. The oldwing's back there," he said, pointing toward the rear exit, his reluctance palpable.
James took the key, his mind racing as he stepped outside, pulling out his radio. "Unit two, meet me at the oldwing entrance. Possible occult site." His voice was low but urgent.
As he moved toward the oldwing, the thick vines twisted unnaturally, the moonflower's faint glow visible even in the bright daylight, casting an eerie, almost otherworldly light.
Just then, Rossie emerged from the courtyard, flanked by Ethan and Becky.
Their faces tightened at the sight of him, a mixture of apprehension.
"Dad?" Rossie's voice was cautious, her eyes flickering nervously to the satchel at her side where the moonflower pulsed softly.
"What's going on?"
James held up the evidence bag.
"I found this in the woods - occult traces. I'm inspecting the school grounds.
You know anything about this?"
Rossie glanced quickly at her friends, then back at him.
"It's… complicated. The woods might be tied to what we're dealing with—the entity, the eclipse. We're trying to stop it.
No more secrets, Rossie." He led the group toward the garden gate, the principal trailing behind, the school now under a shadow of suspicion as the occult discovery hinted at a deeper, darker presence lurking just beyond its walls.
••••••••|•••••Detective James Carter gripped the rusted garden key tightly in his hand, leading the way toward the overgrown garden.
The moonflower's faint glow pulsed through the thick vines, casting an eerie, shifting light that seemed almost alive.
Rossie,Ethan, Becky, and followed closely, while Principal Grayson trailed nervously behind, his eyes darting around as if expecting something to jump out at them.
The discovery of occult traces in the woods had fueled James's determination to investigate further. His police instincts were sharpened by the earlier PTA meeting's outcry and Rossie's vague, unsettling warnings about the entity and the impending eclipse.
"Stay close," James instructed firmly as he slid the key into the rusty lock.
.... The gate creaked open with a reluctant groan, the vines parting slightly to reveal the tangled interior. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine, but beneath that was an unnatural stillness that made James's skin crawl.
He swept his flashlight across the garden, noting the overgrown paths, the wild tangle of weeds, and the occasional glint of broken glass scattered among the underbrush - the remnants of the earlier mirror incident.
But nothing immediately pointed to occult activity.
"Look for anything unusual—symbols, candles, anything like what I found in the woods," he said, his voice low but authoritative.
Rossie kept pace beside him, her satchel warm against her side, the moonflower's pulse quickening as if sensing the scrutiny.
"Dad, it's not always obvious," she murmured, her eyes flicking nervously.
The group fanned out cautiously. Ethan and Becky moved toward the deeper thickets, their flashlights cutting through the shadows.
James moved methodically, inspecting the ground for burn marks, ritual circles, or any sign of recent disturbance. But the garden yielded only natural overgrowth—no fresh signs of occult activity.
The moonflowers glowed steadily, their soft light masking any hidden traces.
..After thirty tense minutes, the group reconvened near the oldwings center. The oppressive silence weighed heavily on them all.
James wiped sweat from his brow, his frustration evident.
"Nothing here matches the woods. No symbols, no candles—just plants and overgrowth. Let's check the next old wing"
They exited the garden, the principal unlocking the door to the dilapidated old wing with a shaky hand.
The corridor inside was a labyrinth of dust-covered rooms, the air stale and cold, carrying the faint smell of mold and neglect. James searched methodically, opening closets, peering behind shelves, and scanning every inch with his flashlight.
Ethan lifted a heavy crate, Becky scanned the walls for hidden compartments.
Rossie stayed close to her father, her heart pounding as they neared the old storeroom, where shattered mirror fragments lay scattered on the floor—remnants of the earlier incident.
Even there, amid the broken glass and peeling paint, no occult traces were visible to James's untrained eye. Only the faint, lingering aura of the entity seemed to hang in the stale air, intangible but unsettling.
After 2hours search, James stepped back, his face etched with frustration and concern.
"Nothing," he said, voice tight. "No signs of that gathering here. The woods evidence doesn't match the school—at least not yet.
I'm going to expand the search outside the property, but Rossie, if you know more, now's the time to tell me. This isn't just vandalism or teenage pranks."
Rossie met his gaze, her resolve wavering but firm.
"I… I don't have proof, Dad. But it's tied to something bigger—the eclipse, the garden. We're trying to stop it."
Her words were evasive, protective of the group's secret, but James could see the weight behind them.
He sighed deeply, torn between his duty as a detective and his role as a father.
"I'll trust you for now, but I'm not dropping this. Keep me posted."
He turned to the principal. "Increase security. Report anything odd. I'll be back with my team.
" With that, James left, the search yielding nothing concrete, leaving the school's mysteries intact and the group to face the unseen threat alone.