EIRA'S POV
Oh God, what a dull day! With no college, I had nothing to do. My mind screamed for something to occupy me. Novels! Yes—my one true love.
I hurried to the library and wandered through the shelves, scanning for the perfect escape. My eyes landed on Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. A romantic story, tender yet heartbreaking—exactly what I was craving.
Clutching the book against my chest, I suddenly froze. A strange sensation prickled along my spine, as though unseen eyes were fixed on me. I glanced around. Nothing. The library was empty. You're imagining things, Eira. Shaking off the unease, I headed out.
The sun had dipped low by the time I walked toward the hostel. The street was unnervingly still—no birds, no voices, nothing but my own footsteps echoing. That's when I noticed it. A shadow. Someone was trailing me.
Panic surged. My pace quickened; his did too. My breath came in shallow gasps. Please, God, save me. The moment I felt his hand reaching for my shoulder, a fist flew out of nowhere and struck him across the face.
I spun around, heart hammering—and my breath caught. Adrian.
His jaw was clenched, his eyes burning with fury. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, voice sharp as steel.
"I… I could ask you the same," I stammered, though my voice trembled with fear.
"I'll ask again. What are you doing here?" His tone rose, so forceful that I flinched.
Despite the fear knotting my stomach, my traitorous mind noticed how striking he looked—dark eyes blazing, shoulders taut with restrained power. Did I just think he was handsome? Focus, Eira!
"I… went to the library," I whispered.
For a moment, silence stretched between us. Then, in a sudden shift, his voice softened. "I'll walk you back to the hostel."
I hesitated, wanting to protest, but his lingering anger silenced me. Wordlessly, I nodded.
The walk back was quiet, too quiet. I longed to speak, to break the tension, but my courage faltered. By the time I found the words, we were already at the hostel gates. Without so much as a glance, Adrian turned and walked away.
I stood frozen, a storm raging inside me. Why was he so harsh? So arrogant? And yet… why did he always appear when I needed saving most?
That night, sleep eluded me. I tossed and turned, questions circling endlessly until exhaustion finally pulled me under.
Crash!
The sound ripped me awake. My pulse spiked as I sat upright, ears straining. Silence. Then—a faint noise.
I slipped out of bed, bare feet padding softly against the floor. The hostel seemed still, yet a strange unease guided me toward Andy's room.
Pressing my ear to her door, I caught muffled movement inside. A chill ran down my spine. Slowly, I leaned closer—then spotted a small hole in the wood. Heart hammering, I peeked through.
The room was a mess. A hooded man moved quickly, rifling through Andy's things. My breath caught as he pulled out his phone.
"Work done," he muttered before vaulting out of the window.
That voice.
My heart nearly stopped. I knew that voice. It was Adrian.
Cold dread seeped through me. What was he doing in Andy's room? Where was Andy? And why… why him?
I pressed a trembling hand against my lips. One thing was certain—I needed answers. And I would confront him.