Chapter 11
1096 Words
Hidden Currents
The campus at night had a different heartbeat. During the day, it buzzed with chatter, footsteps, laughter. But once the sun dipped behind the old brick buildings and the lamplights flickered on, the world shrank. Every sound carried further — the rustle of leaves, the faint hum of crickets, the slam of a distant door.
Ethan had never liked walking alone after dark. But with his dorm room stuffy and his essay refusing to take shape, he decided a quick trip to the vending machine wouldn’t hurt. Just a snack, a little walk, and back to bed. Simple.
He tugged his hoodie tighter as he padded down the nearly empty hallway, slippers soft against the linoleum. By the time he stepped outside, the cool night air nipped at his cheeks, and the glow from the vending machine at the end of the path felt like a tiny lighthouse.
He slipped a coin in, pressed the button for a chocolate bar, and waited. It clattered down with a sound that echoed louder than it should have. He bent to pick it up—
And froze.
Because just past the glow of the machine, in the shadow where the lamplight didn’t reach, someone was standing.
A hood pulled low. Still. Silent.
Ethan’s breath caught. “Uh—hello?”
No answer.
The figure shifted just slightly, like weight shifting from one foot to another.
Ethan’s heart thudded. His fingers clenched tighter around the candy wrapper. Without thinking, he grabbed his soda too and backed away. “Right. Okay. I’m, uh, going now.”
He turned fast, his steps uneven, his ears straining for the sound of pursuit. But the night was eerily quiet.
Halfway back to his dorm, a hand clamped on his shoulder.
Ethan yelped, nearly dropping his snack.
“Whoa, easy!” Leo’s familiar voice rang out. “It’s just me!”
Ethan spun, clutching his chest. “Leo! Don’t sneak up on people like that—”
Leo frowned, genuine concern flickering across his features. “You okay? You look like you saw a ghost.”
Ethan opened his mouth to reply when another voice cut through the night.
“What are you two doing out here?”
Adrian. He emerged from the path leading to the library, his tall frame backlit by the lamp glow, making him look even more serious. His eyes flicked between Ethan’s pale face and Leo’s guilty grin.
“I just… wanted a snack,” Ethan muttered.
“Snacks at midnight?” Adrian’s tone was flat, but his gaze softened slightly.
Leo slung an arm around Ethan’s shoulder. “That’s where I come in! Midnight snack buddy. We were just gonna head back.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened at the sight, but before he could reply, a slow clap echoed from the shadows behind them.
“Touching. Really touching.”
Kai stepped out, his usual smirk firmly in place, though his eyes glittered with something sharper. “But maybe midnight isn’t the best time for romantic strolls?”
Ethan blinked. “Romantic—what? No! It was just—”
Kai chuckled, stepping closer, hands in his pockets. “Relax, rookie. I’m kidding.” His gaze slid briefly past Ethan, to where the hooded figure had been. By the time Ethan turned to look, the shadows were empty.
---
Back in the Dorm
By the time they made it back inside, Ethan’s nerves were frayed. He sat on his bed, twisting the unopened soda can between his palms. Adrian lingered near the desk, as though he owned the room, arms crossed. Leo sprawled across the chair, spinning lazily. Kai leaned against the doorframe, blocking any chance of escape.
Ethan groaned. “Why are you all here? This isn’t a group sleepover.”
“Making sure you’re safe,” Adrian said, no hesitation.
“Making sure he’s safe,” Leo corrected, pointing at Ethan. “You looked freaked out, man. Don’t even try to deny it.”
Kai tilted his head, eyes narrowing. “He wasn’t just freaked out. He saw something.”
Ethan’s head snapped up. “W-What makes you say that?”
Kai shrugged, smirk curling. “Your eyes gave you away. You looked behind me like you were expecting someone.” He leaned forward slightly. “So… who was it?”
Ethan swallowed hard. He wanted to tell them. Wanted to dump the strange hooded figure, the weird silence, the unease pooling in his stomach onto someone else’s shoulders. But if the note earlier was real—if someone really was warning him to stay away—what would dragging the others into it do?
He forced a shaky laugh. “Maybe I was just seeing things. Too much sugar today.”
Adrian’s stare sharpened, but he said nothing. Leo frowned, clearly unconvinced. Kai just smirked like he’d caught a secret.
---
Minutes stretched into silence. Adrian picked up Ethan’s pen, turning it over slowly between his fingers. Leo reached into the snack bag he’d brought and chewed loudly just to fill the quiet. Kai hummed under his breath, leaning against the wall.
Ethan rubbed his temples. He was surrounded on all sides, but somehow felt more alone than ever.
Finally, Adrian spoke, voice low: “If something happens again… you call me. Immediately.”
Leo leaned forward. “Call me. I’ll get there faster.”
Kai smirked. “Call neither. I’ll already be there.”
The ridiculousness of it all made Ethan burst out laughing — half nervous, half exasperated. “You guys sound insane. I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong.”
But deep inside, his gut twisted. Something was wrong. And he wasn’t fine.
He just couldn’t say it. Not yet.
---
Midnight
When the two finally left — not without more bickering about who was walking down the hall first — Ethan collapsed back onto his bed, dragging a pillow over his face. His heart still hadn’t calmed.
After a long moment, he sat up and opened the desk drawer. The folded note lay there, waiting, like a secret that would only get heavier the longer he ignored it. Adrian watched him with both guilt and concern.
He smoothed it flat on the desk.
You’re too close to them.
Step away if you know what’s good for you.
His hand trembled as he whispered into the quiet room:
“But… who?”
The lamp flickered once, and Ethan swore — for just a second — he heard footsteps in the hallway outside his door. Adrian was immediately at alert and told him to go to bed.
- Writer
