TANGLED IN MOONLIGHT

The Eyes Beyond the Glass

Nora’s POV

The pain in my chest became unbearable.

I pressed both hands against it as my knees hit the floor.

Ava screamed my name.

“Nora!”

I could barely hear her.

The library had become a blur of movement and sound. The windows. The shelves. The emergency lights. Xavier’s voice somewhere above me.

Then the pain suddenly disappeared.

I gasped.

The room returned all at once.

Xavier was crouched in front of me.

His hand was hovering near my shoulder, but he wasn’t touching me.

His expression was terrifying.

Not because he looked angry.

Because he looked afraid.

“Are you alright?”

I swallowed.

“Don’t touch me.”

His hand immediately dropped.

I hated the way guilt crossed his face.

I hated even more that I noticed.

“I can stand.”

“Can you?”

“Yes.”

I pushed myself up.

My legs trembled.

Xavier reached for me again.

I glared at him.

He stopped.

“I said I can stand.”

“And I heard you.”

“Then stop looking at me like I’m about to collapse.”

His eyes moved over my face.

“I am trying to determine whether you’re telling the truth.”

“I am.”

“You’re lying.”

My eyes narrowed.

“Do you always speak to people like this?”

“Only you.”

The answer came too quickly.

For a second, neither of us spoke.

Then I looked away.

I could still feel the creature outside.

Even though it had disappeared from view, I knew it was there.

Somewhere.

Watching.

Waiting.

“What was that?” I asked.

Xavier stood.

“What?”

“The thing outside.”

His expression closed.

“I don’t know.”

I stared at him.

“You are a terrible liar.”

His jaw tightened.

“Nora.”

“No. I am tired of everyone acting like I am stupid.”

Ava looked between us.

I continued.

“I have been here for less than two days. I have heard things I cannot explain. I have seen things I cannot explain. Everyone keeps warning me to stay away from the forest, the archives, and apparently now the entire school.”

Xavier said nothing.

“Yet nobody wants to tell me why.”

His gaze remained fixed on mine.

“You don’t want to know.”

“That isn’t your decision.”

“It is when your life is at risk.”

I laughed without humor.

“My life was at risk before I met you.”

His expression changed.

“What does that mean?”

I didn’t know.

That was the problem.

“I don’t know.”

For the first time, Xavier looked as confused as I felt.

Ava suddenly stepped closer.

“We need to leave.”

I turned toward her.

“Why?”

“Because the library is not safe.”

“How do you know?”

She opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

I stared at her.

“You know something too.”

“Nora.”

“No.”

I took a step back.

“You both know something.”

Xavier’s expression became harder.

“Now is not the time.”

“When is the time?”

“Never, apparently.”

I turned toward the exit.

Xavier immediately moved in front of me.

“Where are you going?”

“Out.”

“You can’t.”

I stared at him.

“Move.”

“No.”

The word was quiet.

It was also absolute.

My anger rose.

“You don’t get to decide where I go.”

“I am trying to protect you.”

“I didn’t ask you to.”

“That doesn’t mean I won’t.”

The words silenced me.

For a moment, the only sound was the distant ticking of the library clock.

Xavier seemed to realize what he had said.

His expression changed.

I looked away first.

“Why?”

He didn’t answer.

“Why do you care what happens to me?”

His silence stretched.

Then he said, “I don’t know.”

The honesty surprised me.

I looked back at him.

He seemed almost angry with himself for admitting it.

“I don’t know why I care,” he continued. “I don’t know why I can feel when something is wrong with you. I don’t know why being near you makes me lose control.”

My breath caught.

Xavier looked away.

“But I know something is happening.”

The words sent a strange shiver through me.

I didn’t know what to say.

Neither did he.

Then the library doors opened.

A man stepped inside.

He was dressed in a dark suit.

I had never seen him before.

But the moment Xavier saw him, his entire expression changed.

“Where is my father?” Xavier asked.

The man looked at me.

Then at Ava.

“Waiting.”

“Where?”

“At the estate.”

Xavier’s gaze returned to me.

I knew immediately.

He was going to tell me to follow him.

I crossed my arms.

“Don’t even think about it.”

His eyes narrowed.

“I haven’t said anything.”

“You were about to.”

The man in the suit looked between us.

Xavier’s jaw tightened.

“Go to class.”

I stared at him.

“Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“After everything that just happened?”

“Especially after everything that just happened.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“That is not the first time you’ve said that.”

“Because it keeps being true.”

For a moment, his eyes softened.

Then the moment vanished.

He turned toward the man.

“Take her to the dormitory.”

I immediately stepped forward.

“Excuse me?”

The man looked uncomfortable.

Xavier looked at me.

“You’re going back to Silver Hall.”

“I am not going anywhere with a stranger.”

“Then go with Ava.”

Ava’s eyes widened.

“Me?”

“You are her friend.”

Nora looked at him.

“Since when do you know that?”

“I pay attention.”

The answer was simple.

It shouldn’t have affected me.

But it did.

Xavier walked toward the exit.

I watched him leave.

Something inside me pulled painfully in his direction.

I hated it.

I hated him.

I hated the strange connection that seemed to exist between us.

Most of all, I hated the fact that I wanted to follow him.

“Nora.”

Ava’s voice pulled me back.

I turned toward her.

“What?”

She was looking at the floor.

“What is it?”

She hesitated.

Then she said quietly, “You should listen to him.”

I stared at her.

“Why?”

Ava looked toward the doors Xavier had disappeared through.

“Because Xavier Ashford is the only person in this school who can protect you.”

I frowned.

“Protect me from what?”

She didn’t answer.

“Ava.”

Her face had gone pale.

“From the things that are coming.”

A chill moved down my spine.

“What things?”

She looked at me.

For a moment, I thought she was finally going to tell me the truth.

Then the library doors slammed shut.

Ava flinched.

I turned toward them.

No one was standing there.

The room was empty.

The air suddenly became cold.

A whisper moved through the library.

So faint that I almost thought I imagined it.

But this time, I understood the words.

Nora.

My blood ran cold.

Ava grabbed my arm.

“Did you hear that?”

I looked at her.

She was staring at me.

“You heard it too?”

Her eyes widened.

Before either of us could speak, something scratched against the glass window.

Slowly.

Three times.

I turned.

The window was empty.

Only the reflection of the library stared back at me.

Then the reflection moved.

I froze.

Behind my reflection stood a girl.

She had long dark hair.

Pale skin.

And eyes that looked strangely familiar.

She was standing directly behind me.

I spun around.

There was no one there.

Ava screamed.

I looked back at the window.

The girl was gone.

But something had appeared on the glass.

Written from the inside.

Three words.

FIND ME, NORA.

My breath stopped.

Ava’s grip tightened around my arm.

“Who is Eleanor Bennett?” I whispered.

She stared at the words.

Then her face crumpled with fear.

“I don’t know.”

This time, I believed her.

Because whatever was happening was bigger than Ava.

Bigger than Xavier.

Bigger than the academy.

The words on the glass began to fade.

Before they disappeared completely, one final line appeared beneath them.

BEFORE HE FINDS YOU.