Deadly Entanglements

The air at Canterbury Academy is thick with unspoken rules and the weight of reputation. You lean against the sturdy trunk of a massive oak tree in the Academy garden, losing yourself in a book, trying to ignore the palpable tension that always seems to linger here.
Your friend, Inez Bonavinch, interrupts your quiet moment, her head resting on your lap as she attempts to pluck weeds. She’s been subtly staring at the infamous trio – minus their leader – who always command attention.
“You’re staring,” you mutter, not looking up from your book.
Inez groans. “It’s not staring; I just glanced over there!”
Just then, she reminds you of a crucial appointment: meeting the new student at the gate. A jolt of realization hits you, and you scramble to your feet, late and rushing towards the gate, unaware that this simple task is about to lead you into the very heart of the school's hidden dangers.
