Crimson Meadows

Chapter One

Espran walked quickly along the corridor, his backpack slapping against his back with each step. He had studied for too long in the library and now the sun was setting. There wasn’t an official curfew for students at Crimson Meadows Boarding School but mysterious things happened to those foolish enough to stay out after the dusk. Mysterious and terrible.

Crimson Meadows was meant to mould the leaders of tomorrow. That was why Espran’s parents had sent him there. The classes were interesting, he’d admit, but insolence, even unintentional, was punished with canings and beatings. Most of the teachers scared him and so did some of the pupils, for that matter.

There were five buildings that made up Crimson Meadows. It was surrounded by forestry so thick, it was practically isolated. There was the schoolhouse, where lectures and classes were held. There was the library, Espran’s favourite place, his solace, where they had any and every book a pupil could want. There was the mess hall, which doubled as an assembly hall. There was the student commune, where the pupils’ rooms were, where Espran should be now. Lastly, there was the abbey.

The abbey was the last surviving part of a monastery that had dominated the site in the twelfth century but even this was falling apart. The roof had long since caved in and the remaining stonework was crumbling. The abbey was a skeleton of a real building.

Espran stopped and brushed the dark red hair away from his sweaty brow. Whether the sweat was from exertion or fear, he didn’t care. Room 497, his dormitory. He took the out of his pocket and turned it in the lock. The door swung open noiselessly.

He slung his bag on the back of his chair, shirked off his blazer and flopped onto the bed. Back just in time. Now he was safe. The clock on the wall, and all the others in the commune, struck seven. As one, they tolled the hour ominously.

After a few minutes respite, Espran sat up on his bed and rolled back the carpet. Carefully, he lifted up a few floorboards and lifted up two objects from the space below.

On the first day at Crimson Meadows, all pupils are taught one important lesson. A Leader must lead; they must not follow. This meant that all pupils must be opinionated and decisive. It also meant they couldn’t believe anything on faith alone. Blindly following an omnipotent god was all well and good for commoners but a leader from Crimson meadows must answer to no one. The only reason the abbey remained was because it looked nice.

Even so, Espran had his faith, his belief. He couldn’t give it up for anything Crimson Meadows could offer, so he practiced it secretly every night in the security of his room. With a tatty and well-worn book, the word of his master, and a home-made sign, Espran prayed every night.

The shadows moved in and out of other shadows outside Espran’s window in their macabre dance. There was evil in Crimson Meadows. Of course, no one knew exactly what evil stalked the grounds. Everyone who said they would go and find out never came back. The Head and the school governors didn’t care as long there were enough pupils to (be paid to) teach.

Somewhere, a wolf howled. Espran started. He hurriedly hid the book and the sign away again. After rolling the carpet back, he began his homework; Latin, Algebra and Romanian History…