The Book of Sin

Chapter 3: Sin Nightingale

Chapter 3: Sin Nightingale

It had been three years since I finished my military service and returned home. The salty ocean breeze greeted me as I stepped onto the sand, surfboard in hand. Surfing had always been my escape, a proud Nightingale tradition. Every son in the family joined the army at twenty-one—it was the rite of passage that marked us as men. When my time came, I did the family proud.

Now, I had the freedom to choose my path. My older brother had chosen adventure, traveling the world and writing books about his experiences. He became a renowned author, his name known far and wide. But I had always known my destiny lay with the family business. It was the path I had envisioned for myself since I was a boy. Returning to university after three years away, I was ready to continue my studies as a business major.

Divland was built on the legacy of nine founding families: the Nightingales, the Greys, the Stones, the Forbes, the Argents, the Grahams, the Snows, the Trevinos, and the Winters. Each family had established major businesses here, some expanding globally—especially ours. My seven closest friends, all members of these founding families, were known around town as the “Deadly Sins.” The name started as a joke, but over time, it became a reputation we carried with ease. Trouble rarely found us.

It was the end of my first day back at university, and we were debating where to spend the evening. Most students and even some professors had already left. Ace was still arguing with Aziz when a girl rushed past us, catching my attention. The scent of peonies, peaches, and vanilla lingered in the air, pulling me into a fleeting moment of déjà vu. Her cascading dark hair and hurried steps ignited a memory—a face I hadn’t seen in three years, one etched with fear and silver eyes that haunted my dreams.

I didn’t see her face, but as she opened the front door, a gust of wind carried that intoxicating scent. It was familiar and yet unplaceable. I turned toward the door, catching only the back of her head.

“Sin, are you even listening?” Ace’s voice snapped me back to the conversation.

“Guys, why don’t we just head home and chill? It’s been a long day for me, and I’m exhausted. Besides, Aziz, we can always go surfing tomorrow,” I said, glancing at the group.

Avarice chimed in, “Sin has a point, guys. I still need to finish my essay—I really want that A.”

In the end, we all agreed to head back to the Lockwood dorms. We lived on the 10th floor, occupying the last two dorms—9 and 10. My roommates were Eulises, Aziz, and Ace, while Gulliver, Avarice, Livianus, and Enzo shared the other dorm. When we first moved in, our fathers had the two dorms connected into one large space. It was more than just a dorm—it had its own glass-walled swimming pool and gym.

The evening was spent playing games on the PlayStation 5 and devouring pizzas. Gulliver, as usual, ate most of them. We still couldn’t figure out how he stayed so thin. After a while, I grew restless and decided to go for a walk. The night sky was clear, stars scattered across the darkness.

As I walked, my mind wandered to the girl I had saved three years ago. Her silver eyes still haunted me, filled with panic and fear, a memory burned into my mind. I could see her tear-streaked face, her trembling hands. The look of raw terror she wore that night was something I’d never forget. I had called for help and pretended to be a neighbor, staying only long enough to ensure the authorities arrived. The day after, I left for the military. I never learned her name or what happened to her after the incident. Now, three years later, I couldn’t help but wonder—did she heal? Did she survive the nightmares that I knew must have come after that night?

A melody drifted into my mind, one that had always been a bittersweet part of my past. My mother used to play it on the piano after every fight she had with my father. It was her way of speaking through the music when words failed. I hadn’t thought about her in years, and yet the tune brought a strange kind of comfort.

As I walked toward the school building, the night deepened, the moon and stars shining brightly above me. I turned back toward the dorms, ready to call it a night, but then I heard it—the same melody my mother used to play. This time, it wasn’t in my head. It was real. Someone was playing it.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I followed the sound to the university’s music room. There she was, playing the piano with haunting elegance. I watched from the shadows, her presence stirring emotions I couldn’t name. Her silver eyes, though guarded, held a fragility that reminded me of the girl I saved that night. The music ended, and I stepped further into the shadows. She closed the piano lid and turned off the lights. She looks familiar, yet I'm not sure. Could it really be her?

She locked the door and walked away down the pathway. I stayed still, not wanting to alarm her. The darkness was so complete I couldn’t even see my hands in front of me. After a few minutes, I followed in the same direction, toward the dormitory building.