Paul Saint's Guild Cage was the world of Aurora James. Sixteen, lively, and luxurious, she went through her Polish hall, a prized student. This private school costs a lot, but her parents have always been successful, till today. She stepped through her front door. A cold settled deep into her bones. The wind was heavy, thick with a silence that shouted louder than any scream. Her father, usually smiling, slipped into his armchair. His eyes, usually sparkling, dull, and empty, were not seeing anything.

"Father?" The voice of Aurora, usually strong, emerged as a delicate whisper. "What happened to you?"

He did not reply. Could not talk, A dissolve sound ran away before ripping her, "Take a shower, darling." There was no cheering in his words.

Aurora's heart. She knew that something was very wrong. Her mother, usually calm, jerked, moved around the kitchen with unnatural movements. Her face was a mask of stress, and her eyes were swollen and turned red. It felt as if a dark cloud had parked above us. There was no happiness in the house.

The shower rarely washed away the fear. That night, the family gathered. The air was thick with unspecified stress. Her father, Mr. James, breathed a deep, trembling breath. Her look met his, full of Impossible sorrow.

"My dear," he said while his voice was bad, "I lost my job in the oil company today."

The word hit Aurora like a physical shock. The world bowed down. The wind released her lungs. Pain, sharp and cool, pierced her. "Oil company."

"I ... I can no longer raise money for your academics," they confessed, the voice barely audible.

Aurora stared and looked, a yearning. "Dad," she looked straight at her Daddy, "Why are you telling me now? Why Now?"

His heart was beating very fast while his hand was shaking. "I didn't want to hurt your feelings when you came back from school. I want you to be happy. My love. I wanted to see you smiling always." While he tried begging with his eyes. "But I promise you, Aurora, I will try my best to sponsor your academic. It just ... it wouldn't be private. You will need to convert into a public institution."

The words echoed. Public institutions. It was like a punishment to her, but she had no choice. "A fierce resolution arose in Aurora's chest. She swallowed, pushing down."

"I will do this for you, daddy," she swore, voice firm. "I will."

Her mother offered an unstable, tearful head. That night, sleep did not participate. Aurora wakes up late, pressing the weight of their new reality down. Paul Saint, her shelter, was an extinct dream. Unknown, terrible.

The second term at Paul Saint High passed quickly. Each day felt like an inverted count. The last bell rang. Her father couldn't raise funds for the next session.

Mr. James, now quiet but fiercely determined, sat Aurora down. His tired eyes held a new light. "You are my daughter, Aurora," he said, his voice strong. "Please consider me. Things will get better. I sold all my properties, darling. Everything. To finance your materials for this new school, and food. I even started a small business. Just... please make Daddy proud. Make us proud."

His sacrifice stole Aurora's breath. Their home felt emptier. He had sold everything for her future. Love and gratitude washed over her, replacing despair. This was about honoring their impossible sacrifice.

A genuine smile, reaching her eyes for the first time in weeks, I promise Mom and Dad, I will be one of the best students. "I assure you that."

It was early in the morning, and Aurora stood outside Riverstone High with a different feeling of the sun. It was not an ivy castle of Paul Saint. It was a tumbling, tumbling place, full of voices and colour. Aurora is left with her mother as her father has already gone to his new business.

During the walk, Aurora's eyes were used to sharp uniforms, opened widely. The gates yielded students in a mixed bag of styles that she had never thought of. Boys in their pants dangling down to show off their boxers. Others wear sparkling rings in the ears or chains. Girls' too tight, too short, too.. everything. It was an array of Insights; it was a foreign planet.

Her mother, feeling her fear, took her hand. Aurora and her mother walked towards the principal's office.

Her mother introduced her as: "Mrs. Okoro Jackson."

The principal, who was a woman and had very warm and intelligent eyes, rose. She boomed out a welcome to Riverstone High School. A wonderful public school in the entire region!

"Thanks, Ma," said Aurora calmly, giving a polite bow.

Her mother kissed Aurora on the forehead, a silent appeal to be strong, and went away. Aurora looked on as she went. A pang of loneliness had come to her. The principal smiled then. "Come, Aurora. Catch you in your class."

This stroll in the halls seemed ages. She was pounced upon with laughter, shouts, and music. They came to the door. Mrs. Okoro Jackson opened it.

A silence was created. All the students arose. Good morning, Ma! they chorused.

Mrs. Okoro Jackson smiled. "This is your new classmate, she said, indicating Aurora. Her name is Aurora. Have her welcome."

There was a murmur of greetings. Riverstone! Welcome! "Hi, Aurora!" It is nice to meet you! Aurora smiled, shyly and yet honestly, and with a little feeling of relief. Thank thee all, she said, looking round the faces. The principal directed her to sit where she would be staying.

Soon, three girls approached.

"Hi! I'm Anna!" a girl with bright eyes said first.

"Precious," offered another, her smile warm.

"And I'm Victoria," the third added, dark hair framing a sharp face.

Aurora's relief deepened. "Thanks for introducing yourselves," she said, grateful. The girls exchanged knowing glances and smiled.

"Want us to give you a tour?" Anna asked.

"Yes, please!" Aurora agreed.

They toured the basics, then Anna grinned. "Wait till you see this." She led them to the 'Biology Lab'.

Inside, Aurora gasped. It wasn't Paul Saint's state-of-the-art facility, but far from dusty. Microscopes gleamed. Charts adorned the walls. A well-stocked cabinet. It was surprisingly well-maintained, almost attractive.

"Why are you so wowed?" Anna asked.

Aurora felt a flush. "I just... I didn't believe the biology lab would look attractive," she admitted. "My former school is better, of course, but this is... impressive for a public institution."

Precious, curious, tilted her head. "Which school did you attend before coming here?"

"Paul Saint High School," Aurora replied.

Gasp! Gasp! Gasp! Hurled the three. Paul Saint High School? They shrieked. It is one of the costly schools! And why come here, why leave there? They felt confused.

Aurora appeared to be in a surly mood as her shoulders slumped. This was an insulting question. My Daddy... he no longer had a job, she said in a low tone. So I have no money to continue.

The faces of the girls mellowed. Oh, dear Aurora, how sorry we are, said Precious, and gave Aurora a squeeze near her arm. We had not been told.

"That is decidedly all right," replied Aurora, weakly smiling.

Hey, Precious tried to say jokingly." There is a cafeteria. Buy yourself some food. My treat!"

Anna and Victoria agreed. They went to the cafeteria, which was very large and noisy. It was a crowd, and the wind was filled with fried stuff. All things were cheap. They came to a table.

Aurora started, "I would like to ask a few questions about this school."

You may inquire about anything! " Precious promised her."

Aurora asked, she had remembered in the morning. My first impression was when I found some guys wearing earrings on my first day, and some were not appropriately dressed. What is wrong with the school not doing anything about it?"

The girls looked at each other knowledgeably. Precious, Anna, and Victoria smiled. Who said the school is not doing anything about it? One replied.

Aurora was enraged and gave back, "Well, why then do they still go on doing it?" To dress like that?"

A resigned sigh, Precious shrugged. The majority of them are beyond 18. Others are not only... older. They simply do not care. You, as a female, must fend off against them.

The words hung in the air, and a cold realization drew upon Aurora. Protect herself? From what? From whom? The careless manner she had said it gave her the creeps.

Break time was over; the bell shrieked. Oh, we must get back to the class. Anna exclaimed.

When they had all assembled, there was a second stroke of the bell, the signal of going out. Learners rushed to the doors. Aurora soon went over to Anna, Precious, and Victoria, hoping to walk with them. She looked around the hall, trying to catch sight of her newly found friends.

She saw them, close by the main entrance, laughing, chatting a little with a few boys. Aurora was approached by a boy of an above-average height, with dark and untidy hair, an intolerable glare, and on his ear was one silver ring, catchingly bright. He wore his uniform shirt very intentionally untucked, revealing a band t-shirt beneath. He was all that Precious had told her to watch out for.

The eyes of Aurora encountered him in the noisy hall. He grinned more. His black piercing eyes seemed to bore her to the bone, and she felt a shudder run up her spine. Her mind was dragged with a horrible feeling that something was wrong, a foreboding of trouble staring her right in the face. It was not only concerning inappropriate dress codes.

"Aurora!" Precious waved to her. This way we start!

Aurora screwed up her eyes and smiled. She rushed along to the girls when a peculiar feeling fell upon her arm. A strong and warm hand was on her wrist. She gasped and turned.

This was him. The arrogant-looking boy. His dark, unreadable eyes held hers. He did not remark, but clutched her still more, drawing her a little nearer. The school sounds dull. His countenance was thrilling, overawing. Aurora was beating. What was he after?

And her eyes flicked to her chums,

Excuse me, Aurora said, and tried to struggle free, but the chair was strong. A chill came over her with something in it that was not fear.

The boy moved in, puffing breath on her ear. You are new, he murmured in a deep, gruff tone. And you, little dove, you are where I would have thee.

Her blood turned cold. He threw her arm off almost as quickly as he had taken it and disappeared into the press, leaving her fearfully shaking and quite abandoned in this uproar.

Her mother and her father were standing at the door, faces set with anxiety, and behind that anxiety, there was very little hope. Aurora was home at long last. "What school is good, my dear?"

Aurora pushed the disturbing experience aside with a bright smile. This was just superb! she gushed. She explained to them how she had met Anna, Precious, and Victoria, and she was making it sound rosy.

The eyes of her mother grew gentle. This is just right, my love, she said. You will do great things there, I am sure. All you need is to keep it together, and you will shine."

Her Daddy nodded, a wee, weary smile. "You will adapt, honey. It is only a matter of time."

However, when Aurora was in her bed that night, she could still hear Precious' words that it was as a female, she would need to protect herself against them.

She could not sleep. That room was a thin barrier. This new school, this new life, was much more dangerous than she could ever have imagined it to be.