The library always felt safe—a fortress of old wood and silence, the sharp scent of paper and history wrapping itself around me. But today, shadows spill across the aisles, and the quiet is heavy, suffocating. I sit tracing the edge of Noah's surveillance book with my thumb, eyes scanning a paragraph about covert operations. The words seem to pulse: Beware those who hide in plain sight.
Noah lingers nearby, reorganizing books, his movements careful, deliberate. When he glances at me, there's something urgent behind his polite reserve. "You shouldn't be here after dark," he whispers, stacking a volume with shaking hands.
"What happened?" I ask, voice low.
He holds my gaze for a moment—brown eyes flickering with worry. "Somebody's searching for information they shouldn't have. The staff found documents missing in the restricted section." He glances at his hands. "They think it's just a prank."
I feel a chill worm its way up my spine. "But you don't?"
Noah hesitates, then shrugs, as if shrugging off fear. "Just—be careful, Illiana."
I step out into the corridor, heart thudding a nervous rhythm. The university feels changed—the laughter thinner, the spaces between students edged in suspicion. I walk toward the exit and catch the echo of footsteps trailing mine, loud in the hush. Turning, I glimpse a figure lingering at the far end—tall, coat collar pulled high, face lost in shadow. My breath catches. I walk faster.
Adrian waits outside, leaning against the black sedan. "Are you alright?" he asks, attention sharp. His green eyes cut through me, searching for weakness.
I nod, trying to smile. "Just tired."
He opens the car door, closing off the world. "Someone followed you," he says, voice flat.
"What?"
"Not a student. I'll look into it," Adrian promises, his expression unreadable.
Later that night, my phone vibrates—a message from a number I've never seen.
**Careful, Miss Rose. Libraries can be dangerous this semester.**
No signature. No clue.
Sleep is elusive. I lie awake, staring at the ceiling, listening to the quiet hum of security patrolling Rose Manor. My thoughts unravel: who knows what, and who is coming for me?
Jay sends me an innocuous meme, Kai texts something about stock prices, and Father wishes me sweet dreams. None of them sense the changing air. But something is coming, and I know I can't pretend it away.
Morning will come, full of new routines, new roles. But tonight, the world feels cracked open, threatening to spill everything I've worked to keep hidden.
And for once, I am afraid.