The morning sun spilled over Castria with a reluctant warmth, brushing the streets with gold and bronze. Aldric Benedict stepped outside his apartment, careful to glance at the small alleyway where the first envelope had appeared the night before. Nothing. Silence.
Good. For now, his family was safe.
He carried himself briskly, the weight of yesterday's revelations pressing against his chest like armor he hadn't removed. He'd slept poorly, every creak of the apartment, every flutter of a curtain outside, had reminded him that someone, somewhere, was watching.
By the time he arrived at the law school, his mind was a whirl of possible conspiracies, connections, and silent threats. Students milled about in the courtyard, chatting, laughing, the mundane rhythm of campus life mocking the storm of danger that circled him like a hawk.
Then Aldric noticed her.
She was seated on the steps near the side of the building—a student he had seen countless times before. Leora Vance, usually the embodiment of chatter and curiosity, the first to raise her hand in class, the first to laugh at jokes, the first to corner anyone with a story she wanted to share—now she was frozen, shivering in her coat as if a wind from nowhere had reached inside her. Her shoulders shook ever so slightly, her eyes wide, darting over every passerby.
Something was wrong.
Aldric approached, his instincts whispering louder than his thoughts. "Leora?" he called softly.
She flinched at his voice, and he realized she had been so tense she hadn't noticed him.
"I—uh, I just… bathroom break," she murmured, but her voice was clipped, nervous.
Aldric crouched slightly and touched her shoulder gently. The movement startled her; she flinched violently, as if expecting a threat.
"It's okay," he said calmly, lowering his voice. "I'm not going to hurt you. You're safe."
Her gaze met his briefly, uncertain, before flicking away. The tremor in her fingers was subtle, but it was there.
"Let's… get a drink," Aldric suggested.
He led her to the small café at the edge of campus. He bought two drinks, one for him and one for her. A simple juice box for her—small, unassuming—but he noticed her hands shook even as she held it.
Outside, they found a bench under a tall oak, the shade offering a momentary sense of concealment. Aldric took his own drink, then leaned slightly closer, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Listen," he said, careful to scan the surroundings. "Don't make it obvious that you've seen something you shouldn't have. Not that I know exactly what you saw—but I can tell. Don't speak loud. Cameras could be on us. Someone could be watching."
Leora's eyes widened. Relief slowly replaced fear, her fingers loosening their grip on the juice box. She exhaled quietly and took a small sip. Aldric nodded slightly, feeling the tiniest measure of reassurance. She wasn't alone anymore.
For a moment, the two of them sat in silence, the faint chirping of birds the only sound that dared to fill the space. Aldric's mind worked in the background, scanning, analyzing, calculating. His eyes flicked toward the street just beyond the edge of the courtyard.
A black car was parked. Sleek. Unmarked. The tinted windows reflected sunlight but didn't reveal who was inside.
Aldric felt his pulse quicken ever so slightly, though he kept his composure for Leora's sake. Whoever was in the car was watching. Waiting. Patient. Silent.
He didn't flinch. Not yet. But he made a mental note.
For now, he sipped his juice, keeping his gaze casual, his voice calm, his presence protective. Leora Vance, usually brash and talkative, finally allowed herself a small measure of calm. She didn't speak, but the quiet acknowledgment in her eyes was enough.
And just beyond the oak tree, the black car waited, its occupant hidden, observing, planning.
Aldric's jaw tightened.