He crouched beside the unconscious man, lifting the edge of the sleeve. A mark — faint, red, shaped like an eye — burned against the skin.
Emily's expression sharpened. That symbol again. It had appeared once before — long ago, in a place far darker than this world.
"Looks like our city isn't as quiet as it pretends," Perry said.
Their eyes met, understanding flickering between them like a spark between stones.
Outside, the clock struck midnight. Somewhere in the old building, a mirror shattered with a sound like laughter.
The morning after the attack, sunlight poured through the dorm windows, soft but sharp against Emily's pale skin. She hadn't slept. The crimson mark she'd seen on the attacker's arm kept replaying in her mind — the same symbol that once burned on the gates of hell.
Now, it had found her again.
She sat at her desk, tracing the faint outline of her bracelet. The metal was cool, humming with something alive beneath it — as if it were listening.
> "Don't look in mirrors."
The note's warning echoed faintly in her head. She hadn't told anyone about it, not even Perry. Trust was a luxury she couldn't afford.
---
At the academy courtyard, whispers chased her like shadows.
Clara was already there, smiling like she owned the sun. Her soft curls shimmered under the light, her expression sweet and innocent.
"Emily!" she called out brightly, waving. "Over here!"
Emily approached, her face unreadable. "You seem in a good mood."
"Of course," Clara replied, looping her arm through Emily's. "Adrian's picking me up for lunch. You don't mind, do you?"
The name tightened something deep in Emily's chest. Adrian—her fiancé. The one who'd sworn he'd never betray her. The one now smiling at Clara like she was the only girl in the world.
She forced a faint smile. "Why would I?"
Clara tilted her head, pretending to pout. "You're always so cold, Emily. You used to be much softer."
Emily's lips curved. "People change."
As they walked toward the entrance, Adrian's car pulled up — sleek, black, and expensive. He stepped out, tall and confident, dressed in a white shirt that caught the sunlight. His gaze landed on Clara first, softening instantly.
Then his eyes shifted to Emily — and something flickered. Confusion? Guilt? Maybe both.
"Emily," he said finally. "It's been a while."
"It has," she replied evenly.
For a moment, the world held its breath. The perfect couple, the impostor sister, and the girl who'd lost everything — standing in one frame.
Clara laughed, breaking the silence. "Come on, Adrian. We'll be late."
As they drove away, Perry's voice cut through the quiet behind her.
"You handled that well," he said.
She turned. He was leaning against a stone pillar, the wind teasing his dark hair. His gray eyes held that same knowing calm, the kind that made people nervous.
"Were you watching?" she asked softly.
"Observing." A faint smile touched his lips. "You're interesting when you're angry."
"I wasn't angry."
"Sure you weren't."
He pushed off the pillar, walking beside her. "You've seen the mark before, haven't you?"
Her steps faltered for half a second — just enough for him to notice.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said.
He chuckled, low and quiet. "You're lying. But that's fine. Everyone here is."