Whispers In The Dark

The Break-In

Ethan tried to stay calm. He tried to pretend everything was normal. But by midnight, normal was impossible.

The dorm was quiet again, Liam asleep on the other side of the room. Ethan lay awake, staring at the faint glow of the watch on his wrist. Every tick of the second hand reminded him: someone wants me.

At some point, exhaustion dragged him under.

He woke to a sound.

A soft click. The door.

Ethan’s eyes flew open. He held his breath. Through the sliver of his lashes, he swore he saw a shadow moving in the room. Quiet. Careful.

His chest tightened, frozen in fear.

The figure leaned over his desk, fingers grazing his books. Then—just as quickly—it was gone. The door clicked shut again, leaving Ethan trembling in the dark.

⸻

The next day, he couldn’t hold it in. He found Noah outside the lecture hall, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him into a quiet corner.

“Someone was in my room last night,” Ethan whispered harshly.

Noah’s eyes widened. “What? Ethan—why didn’t you tell anyone? That’s serious.”

Ethan shook his head. “I don’t know who to trust. But—” His voice faltered. Noah’s hand was still warm around his. Steady. Safe.

For a long moment, neither moved. The world blurred around them—the noise of students passing, the hum of distant chatter. It was just Noah’s eyes, searching his.

Then Noah stepped closer, voice low. “You can trust me. You know that, right?”

Ethan’s pulse hammered. “I don’t know anything anymore.”

But when Noah leaned in, Ethan didn’t pull away.

The kiss was soft. Hesitant at first, as if Noah was afraid Ethan would break. But when Ethan let himself melt into it, a rush of warmth bloomed through his chest—confusion and relief tangled with something deeper, something dangerous.

He pulled back, breathless, his heart racing for reasons that had nothing to do with fear.

Noah smiled faintly. “See? You’re not alone.”

Ethan wanted to believe him. God, he wanted to.

But that night, another letter appeared on his pillow.

“I saw you today.

He kissed you.

Don’t let him do it again.

You belong to me.”

Ethan’s blood ran cold.

Whoever the admirer was… they hadn’t just been watching.

They had seen everything.