"Emma."
I jumped, nearly dropping my phone. Kai stood in front of me, concern etched across his face. The classroom had emptied while I'd been reading the messages.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." He shifted his backpack. "Listen, about dinner tonight"
"I can't," I blurted out. "Something came up. Rain check?"
Disappointment flashed in his green eyes. "Oh. Yeah, sure. Everything okay?"
"Just tired. First day and all." I forced a smile. "Maybe tomorrow?"
He studied my face, and I could see him trying to decide whether to push. "Emma, if something's wrong"
"I'm fine, Kai. Really." I started gathering my things. "I should go. Need to get my dorm room set up."
"Let me help you"
"No!" It came out sharper than I intended. His expression hurt, and guilt twisted in my chest. "I'm sorry. I just… I need some time alone. To process everything. It's been a lot, you know?"
He nodded slowly. "Yeah. I get it. But Emma?" He touched my arm gently. "I meant what I said earlier. I'm not going anywhere this time. Whatever you're dealing with, whenever you're ready to talk, I'm here."
After he left, I sat there for a moment, staring at the messages. This was insane. I should tell someone. Call the police. Tell Kai or even Adrian.
But what would I say? That someone was sending me cryptic messages about my sister's death? The police had closed Sarah's case. There was no evidence of foul play. They'd think I was crazy, a grieving sister unable to accept that sometimes accidents just happen.
Except now I had proof they weren't just random messages. Whoever was sending them knew about the necklace. That wasn't public information. That meant they either knew Sarah before she died, or they'd been involved in her death.
I had to go tonight. I had to know the truth.
Even if it killed me.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. I went through the motions attending my other classes, getting my student ID, setting up my dorm room. My roommate wouldn't arrive until tomorrow, so I had the double room to myself for now.
At six PM, Adrian texted me: "Are you alright? You seemed distracted after class."
How did he get my number?
"I'm fine. How did you get my number?"
"Student directory. Are you avoiding me?"
"Should I be?"
"That depends. Are you afraid of me, or afraid of what you feel when you're near me?"
My heart skipped. That was bold.
Presumptuous. And unfortunately accurate.
"Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?"
"I'm sure of chemistry. And ours is undeniable. But I'll back off if you want me to. Do you want me to, Emma?"
I stared at the message for a full minute. Did I want him to back off? The smart answer was yes. He was dangerous. His family was dangerous. Everything about Adrian Blake screamed "stay away."
But there was something about the way he looked at me. The way he'd understood my grief without me having to explain it. The way he challenged me intellectually in class.
"I don't know what I want."
"That's honest. I appreciate honesty." A pause, then: "I couldn't make it to the family dinner. Told them I was sick. They didn't believe me, but they can't force me to show up."
"You skipped a family dinner? For what?"
"To text you. To make sure you're okay. Is that such a crime?"
I didn't know how to respond to that, so I didn't. Instead, I pulled out the necklace from my jewelry box.
The silver locket was tarnished now, the chain slightly tangled. I opened it, revealing the two tiny photos inside one of Mom, one of Dad.
Sarah used to wear it every day after Grandma died. She said it made her feel like Grandma was still watching over us.
"I'm so sorry, Sarah," I whispered. "I'm going to find out what happened to you. I promise."
At 11:45 PM, I slipped out of my dorm building.
The campus was different at night shadows seemed deeper, sounds more ominous. The old library was on the far edge of campus, a Gothic structure that had been replaced by the new library five years ago. It was supposed to be locked, but when I tried the side door, it opened easily.
Someone had been here before me.
The interior was dark, musty, full of shadows and creaking floorboards. My phone flashlight cut through the darkness as I made my way to the stairs. The third floor was supposedly closed off for renovations that never happened.
Each step seemed to echo through the empty building. My heart pounded so hard I was sure whoever was waiting could hear it.
The third floor was a maze of bookshelves covered in dust sheets, old study carrels, and forgotten furniture. Moonlight streamed through the tall windows, creating patterns of light and shadow across the wooden floor.
"Hello?" My voice sounded small, swallowed by the darkness.
"You came."
I spun around. A figure emerged from behind a bookshelf a girl, maybe a year or two older than me, with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail and sharp, intelligent eyes. She wore all black and moved with careful precision.
"Who are you?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Someone who wants to help you. Someone who knows the truth about what happened to Sarah." She stepped into the moonlight, and I could see her face clearly now. Pretty, but with hard edges, like life had worn away any softness. "My name is Rachel Kim. I was Sarah's roommate her first year at Riverside."
The words hit me like a physical blow. "What?
Sarah never went to Riverside. She was going to State"
"That's what your parents think. That's what she told everyone." Rachel pulled out her phone, showing me a photo. Sarah stood in front of the Riverside welcome sign, smiling, vibrant, alive. "She transferred here secretly sophomore year. Full scholarship, just like you. She was trying to investigate Blake Enterprises."
The room spun. "That's impossible. I would have known"
"Would you? You said yourself you were wrapped up in your own drama back then. Sarah didn't want to worry your family. She said she'd tell you everything once she had proof." Rachel's expression softened. "She talked about you all the time. Her brilliant little sister who would change the world someday."