SHADOWS MOVE IN DAYLIGHT
I hadn't even been here a full week,and Dresden Heights felt like a storm just waiting to explode
Last night, I got a message
Now I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching. That every step I took, every breath was being recorded. Judged. Filed away for something worse
I was making my way across the quad towards the cafeteria. Alex said to meet him there. I hadn't told him yet but he had to know
I was so lost in my thoughts that I did not see the girl rushing straight towards me
We collided-not hard, but enough to jolt me
She said quietly, breathless. Her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail, dark hoodie, fast steps. She didn't stop walking
I turned to apologize too, but she had already vanished into the crowd
I took it off and pushed through the cafe doors. Students clustered at tables, laughing, talking, scrolling their phones
The world moved on like nothing happened. But it had
Alex was in the far corner, laptop open, fingers tapping absently on a cold drink. He looked up when I sat down
Maya/FL
I got a message last night. And I'm sure it came from Virus
His eyes narrowed slightly, face unreasonable
I told him. All of it. The threat, the blackout, the vanishing message
Alex
Yep, that was Virus. Many of his marks have given the same testimony
He exhaled slowly, like he'd been expecting it
Alex
So, do you wanna back out?
He must've thought that I would be frightened after last night, but he knew me better than to just give up
Maya/FL
I said I'd help you. That hasn't changed
A flicker of something passed through his expression. Respect maybe, or regret
He didn't say anything more-just pushed his chair back and stood
Maya/FL
Since when do you actually go to class?
Alex smirked,grabbing his bag
Alex
Sometimes I feel like learning
He turned to leave,then looked back
Alex
Meet me in my dorm tonight. It's the only safe place we can talk
And just like that he was gone
I stared at the empty chair, heart still heavy from the message. The air felt thicker somehow
Ari's voice snapped me back
She stumbled towards me gasping like she'd just sprinted across campus
She dropped into the seat across from me, hands on the table trying to catch her breath
Maya/FL
What's wrong?... Ari?
But before she could answer, the cafe's double doors flew open with a gust of wind and whispers
Heads turned, conversations dropped. It was like someone flipped the switch on the room's energy
They walked in like they owned the campus. A group of students dressed in designer clothes, perfectly tousled and carefree
Everyone knew who they were, even if you didn't know their names
Because they were all following 𝘩𝘪𝘮
He walked like he didn't want to be watched, but people watched him anyway
Raven black hair, piercing blue eyes, sharp jawline and a cold presence
Everyone knew 𝘰𝘧 him,but no one really 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 him. Except me
Ari was still catching her breath but I barely noticed
People swarmed Lucien, talking to him, laughing, clinging to his every word-but he wasn't really listening
One of the students approached him with a cup in hand
Lucien/ML
Right. Sorry Tim
His eyes drifted, slightly narrowed. There was a storm brewing behind his expression. I could see it
And then, his phone buzzed
Lucien looked down at his screen
And everything about his expression changed
His fingers clenched his phone tighter. He glanced around the cafe, scanning the corwd
I ducked instantly behind a my notebook, heart hammering
It's good he didn't see me
But I knew he wasn't looking for me. He was looking for whoever sent that message
I knew that look too well, that stillness
No one else noticed it but I could
It was just like mine last night
Frozen for minutes before powering back on
Lucien received a message from Virus
A chill ran down my spine
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