The Mark of the Knife

A young man arrives at Ridgley School, a white‑clad campus perched on a hill above a sleepy village. He steps off the road alone, feeling both excitement for the unknown and the pang of leaving a familiar life behind. The headmaster greets him promptly and assigns him a senior master to show him around, while a group of boys pauses their chatter as the newcomer approaches. Among them, a tall, black‑haired peer shouts a nickname the protagonist has carried since childhood, offering an instant, if uneasy, sense of belonging.

Within the first days, the student discovers the school’s tightly knit hierarchy and the subtle undercurrents that run through its halls. He is introduced to Gannett Hall, its ivy‑covered façade, and the bustling tennis courts that lie just beyond. As friendships flicker into place, hints of a deeper secret begin to surface, setting the stage for the challenges that will test his courage and loyalty.