Three days passed.
Lucien's warning never left Stacy's mind.
Stay away from the old science building.
It should have made her avoid it.
Instead...
It made her wonder why.
Blackwood University slowly settled back into its normal rhythm.
Assignments piled up.
Classes became more demanding.
Emma complained every morning.
"I swear the professors are trying to kill us."
Stacy laughed.
"It's only the second week."
"Exactly."
"I already need another vacation."
That afternoon...
Professor Carter entered the lecture hall carrying several folders.
"I'll be assigning your first research project."
A collective groan spread across the classroom.
"You'll work in pairs."
Students immediately began whispering to one another.
Professor Carter smiled.
"I've already chosen your partners."
More groans.
He began reading names.
"Emma Collins..."
"...Daniel Brooks."
Emma sighed dramatically.
"I wanted Stacy."
The professor continued.
"Stacy Bennett..."
He glanced down at the list.
"...Lucien Ashford."
The classroom fell silent.
Every head slowly turned.
Stacy blinked.
"...Seriously?"
Across the room...
Lucien looked just as surprised.
Whispers immediately erupted.
"They're paired together?"
"How unfair."
"I've never even seen Lucien do group work."
Emma leaned over.
"I think someone up there likes you."
Stacy nudged her.
"Stop."
Professor Carter ignored the reactions.
"Your project will focus on the history of Blackwood University."
"You'll present your findings in two weeks."
He closed the folder.
"The university archives contain everything you'll need."
After class...
Students hurried toward the exits.
Lucien waited outside the lecture hall.
Stacy approached cautiously.
"I guess..."
"...we're partners."
"So it seems."
An awkward silence followed.
Finally...
Lucien spoke.
"The archives are usually empty after four."
"We can meet there."
She nodded.
"Sounds good."
Later that afternoon...
The university archive was far quieter than the main library.
Dust floated lazily through beams of sunlight.
Rows of old shelves stretched endlessly into the distance.
An elderly librarian greeted them warmly.
"Research project?"
Lucien nodded.
"The history of Blackwood."
The librarian smiled.
"Second floor."
"You'll find the oldest records there."
Hours passed.
Books piled across the table.
Most contained ordinary information.
The university's founding.
Former principals.
Graduation ceremonies.
Nothing unusual.
Stacy stretched.
"I think my eyes are going to fall out."
Lucien quietly slid another book toward her.
"One more."
She smiled.
"You really don't know how to relax."
As Stacy reached for the book...
A loose piece of paper slipped from between its pages.
It fluttered gently onto the floor.
She picked it up.
It wasn't part of the book.
It looked much older.
Yellowed with age.
At the top was a faded black-and-white photograph.
A group of students stood outside Blackwood University's main gate.
The date beneath the picture read:
October 17th, 1986
Stacy smiled.
"Looks like someone's old class photo."
Then...
Her smile faded.
Standing in the back row...
Wearing the exact same expression...
The exact same face...
Was Lucien.
Not someone who looked like him.
Lucien.
Exactly as he appeared today.
No older.
No younger.
No different.
Her hands began to tremble.
Slowly...
She looked up.
Lucien had gone completely still.
His eyes were fixed on the photograph.
For the first time...
She saw genuine shock on his face.
Neither of them spoke.
The silence between them was louder than any words.
Lucien quietly reached for the photograph.
Before he could touch it...
The elderly librarian appeared beside them.
His calm smile disappeared the moment he saw the picture.
Without a word...
He took it from Stacy's hands.
"This section is closed."
Stacy frowned.
"But"
"The archive is closing early today."
His voice was polite.
But firm.
Very firm.
Lucien stood.
"We should go."
Stacy looked between the photograph...
The librarian...
And Lucien.
She knew one thing.
The photograph had been real.
And everyone in this room...
Was pretending it wasn't.
As they walked outside...
Neither spoke.
The evening sky had begun turning orange.
Finally...
Stacy stopped walking.
She looked directly at Lucien.
"I've given you time."
"I've respected your silence."
She took a slow breath.
"But I'm asking you now..."
"...How are you in a photograph from forty years ago?"
Lucien didn't answer immediately.
His gaze lingered on the old archive building behind them.
Then he looked back at Stacy.
For the first time since they met...
He didn't deny it.
He simply whispered...
"...This is exactly what I was trying to protect you from."