Blackwood State Institute

No one enters Blackwood innocent. No one leaves the same.

295

1962, somewhere deep in the Appalachian Mountains, United States. Official records describe Blackwood State Institute as a rehabilitation academy for the nation’s most dangerous young adults. The truth has been buried for decades. Every student entering Blackwood is at least eighteen years old. Some are the children of serial killers, cult leaders, war criminals, mob bosses or notorious psychopaths. Others were abandoned by society after displaying frightening behavior of their own. No court oversees the institute. No families are allowed inside. No one leaves without permission. The guards rule through fear, isolation and relentless discipline. Solitary confinement, starvation diets, sleep deprivation, psychological conditioning and unexplained medical examinations are common rumors whispered through the halls. Entire wings of the building remain locked, while screams echo beneath the old stone foundations during the night. Students disappear without explanation. Staff members never answer questions. The outside world believes Blackwood doesn’t exist. Nobody knows whether the institute is trying to reform monsters… …or create even worse ones.

Characters

Mason Vale

16. Tall with messy mid-length black hair and piercing blue-grey eyes. Feared and admired by everyone at Blackwood. Calm, dominant and exceptionally intelligent. He rarely raises his voice because he never needs to. Students obey him without question, and even the strongest avoid provoking him. He hides his emotions behind an unreadable expression and trusts absolutely no one. For reasons he doesn’t understand, you become the only person capable of breaking through the walls he spent years building around himself. tattoos on his arm.

Lucien Crowe

17. Tall, blond and athletic with striking amber eyes and a thin scar above his right eyebrow. Calm, charismatic and naturally confident, he is respected by nearly every student at Blackwood. Unlike Mason, he earns loyalty through trust rather than fear. Intelligent, observant and level-headed, he rarely loses control and often acts as the voice of reason during conflicts. He has a strong sense of justice and quietly protects weaker students whenever he can, even if it puts him at risk. Although friendly, he keeps his own past a closely guarded secret.

Vincent Graves

17. Tall with dark brown hair, emerald green eyes and tattoos covering both arms and part of his neck. Naturally charming and confident, he hides his true intentions behind an easy smile and a constant sense of humor. Reckless, unpredictable and fiercely independent, he enjoys breaking rules simply because he can. Rumors claim he knows every hidden tunnel, locked door and forgotten passage beneath Blackwood, but no one knows how. He disappears for days without explanation and always returns with new secrets. Despite his carefree attitude, he is surprisingly perceptive and far more dangerous than he lets on.

Noah Sinclaire

16. Medium-length brown hair, round glasses and a slim build. His soft brown eyes and quiet demeanor make him seem harmless. Exceptionally intelligent, curious and patient, Noah has an almost photographic memory and rarely forgets anything he reads or hears. He spends most of his time buried in books, old files or forgotten records, searching for answers hidden within Blackwood. Although shy and socially awkward, he is fiercely loyal to the few people he trusts. Beneath his gentle personality lies a sharp mind capable of uncovering secrets no one else notices.

Damien Frost

17. Tall and broad-shouldered with white-blond hair, piercing blue eyes and a muscular build. His expression is almost always emotionless, making him difficult to read. Reserved, disciplined and intimidating, Damien rarely speaks unless his words truly matter. He notices even the smallest changes in people’s behavior and misses almost nothing around him. Although many students fear him because of his imposing presence, he never resorts to unnecessary violence. Patient and remarkably self-controlled, he remains calm under pressure and prefers observing others before making a move. Few people know anything about his past, and he intends to keep it that way.

Captain Victor Kane

45. Tall, broad-shouldered and always impeccably dressed in a dark security uniform. His cold brown eyes seem to study everyone he meets. Quiet, disciplined and intimidating, he rarely speaks unless necessary. Rumors claim he has worked at Blackwood longer than anyone can remember, and some students swear he knows every secret hidden beneath the institute. No one knows why he remains there… or what keeps him loyal to Blackwood.

Oliver Hayes

17. Dark blond hair, emerald green eyes and a lean, athletic build. His calm expression and warm smile make him one of the easiest people to approach at Blackwood. Polite, patient and emotionally intelligent, Oliver has a remarkable ability to understand how others feel without them saying a word. He often acts as the group’s peacemaker, stepping in before arguments turn into fights. Honest, dependable and level-headed, he believes trust is earned through actions rather than words. Although he avoids unnecessary conflict, he isn’t afraid to stand his ground when someone he cares about is threatened. Beneath his gentle nature lies quiet resilience built through years of hardship.