he door, her hand still resting on the lock, unsure whether to release it or hold it tighter. Her reflection in the peephole looked slig

not open

not move away fro

t unsettled

his way in. If anything, his calmness had felt more disturbing than aggression

ad known

chest like a small weig

a's name appeared on the screen. This time Isabella answered immed

stepping away fro

rt pause before

you h

he door as if it might open again on its ow

ot silence exactly, but something restrained, like Clar

ou ope

urse not. He just stood there and t

followed, lo

look like?"

ete, like her mind had not fully processed his face. "Tall. Dark coat

thing unusual in it. Not relief. Not reassuranc

" Clara said finally. "All of it. Do no

"this is the second time today you are telling me to stay away from

e silence stretched between them in

y spoke, her vo

supposed to

made Isabe

oes tha

lready shifted

xactly wha

cessing. "He said people are paying attention to

efly, forcing herself to stay composed. That was not supposed to happen yet

e a name?"

N

was w

eant something had already

tomorrow," Clara

la

had already

er apartment no longer felt normal. It felt watched. Not by someone physically p

ecking it twice, then once more after t

building overlooking the university district. Rain traced thin lines across the glass panel

arely

abella's apartment had been sim

was never what

she had chosen caution over curiosity. Most students her age, placed in unfamiliar danger, reacted

with him longer t

one vi

ar

ed withou

er," Clara sai

you asked,"

ask you to

not sca

pa

sharpened slightly.

meone was watching her," Floyd said calmly

nce

toward the university

ded after a moment. "M

t way. Floyd did not give assessments light

bella?" C

ed Floyd's expression

id. "But not in t

grip t

pla

oes not understand," Floyd said. "Not just the

ot respond

was exactly w

ext morning, the atmosp

t the moment she s

ooking at her

attention that came from rumor rather than fact. Phones were raised slig

ately that something

did not k

ance, the difference in her behavior was noticeable. She was speaking less. Listening more. Her postu

ng for something s

not to thi

on a phone screen, then quickly stopped

ssip," the gir

a did no

ce was sharpe

e had alre

im

next to I

h it that refused

their n

ered her more th

e rese

he ru

neck

ad never seen that des

e the feeling that it mean

hoose. She did not understand why people were behaving differently, but she could

hat had already decide

been included

ered in files that had not been opened in years. Floyd's report had bee

had been

la was

wo

preading faster

on the edge of the d

ne rang again. Unknown number. She stared at the screen for a long moment before answering. A voice came through the other end, calm and familiar in a way she had not heard in years. "We should talk," the voice said. Clara's e