Chapter 15
828 Words
Shadows Between Us Part 2
Night fell heavy over the dorm.
Ethan lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the note’s words carved into his mind like a brand.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
He told himself it was a prank. A bad joke. But his gut whispered otherwise. Every creak, every shift of the building felt amplified in the dark.
Jamie snored softly. Mark muttered something incoherent in his sleep. Adrian’s bed was quiet across the room, but Ethan could feel his steady presence even without looking.
When the dorm clock ticked past midnight, Ethan gave up on sleep. He slid out of bed, grabbed a hoodie, and crept toward the door.
He needed air.
---
The courtyard was cloaked in silver moonlight, empty and still. Ethan wrapped his arms around himself, shivering as he walked the narrow stone path.
It’s fine. Just a note. Just a stupid note.
But then—
Footsteps.
Soft. Deliberate.
Ethan froze. “...Hello?”
No answer.
The footsteps stopped.
His chest tightened. He turned slowly—
A shadow moved behind the trees.
Ethan’s breath hitched. He stumbled back, heart pounding, when—
“Ethan?”
He spun around. Adrian stood a few feet away, hair tousled, wearing his dorm sweater like he’d just thrown it on. His sharp gaze swept the courtyard, then locked onto Ethan.
“What are you doing out here?”
Ethan’s voice trembled. “I—I thought I heard…” He trailed off, swallowing hard. “Never mind.”
Adrian stepped closer, his expression unreadable. “It’s not safe wandering around alone at night.”
Ethan wanted to argue, but the steady certainty in Adrian’s tone disarmed him. Before he could respond, a faint snap echoed from the trees.
Both of them whipped toward the sound.
Nothing. Just shadows.
Adrian’s jaw tightened. “Let’s go back.”
---
Back in the Room
By the time they returned, Jamie was awake, rubbing his eyes groggily. “What’s with the late-night stroll? Romantic under the moonlight, huh?”
“Shut up,” Ethan snapped, too shaken to blush.
Adrian said nothing, but his gaze lingered on Ethan a beat too long before turning away.
Jamie smirked knowingly. “Mm-hmm. Suspicious.”
Mark, still half-asleep, muttered, “If you all die from lack of sleep, don’t drag me down with you.”
Ethan dropped onto his bed, curling around his pillow. But his hands trembled beneath the covers. He could still feel those eyes on him.
Watching.
---
The Next Day
Morning did nothing to erase the tension. If anything, the rivalry picked up worse than before.
Leo blocked Ethan’s path outside the cafeteria. “Walk with me today. You need protection. Who knows what creeps are lurking at night.”
Ethan froze. Did Leo know about the note?
Before he could ask, Kai slung an arm around his shoulders. “Nah, if anyone’s keeping him safe, it’s me. I’ve got street smarts, unlike you two.”
Adrian appeared beside them, cool and unamused. “Stop bothering him. You’re both ridiculous.”
The three glared at each other. Ethan felt like a chew toy being tugged in three directions.
“Guys,” he pleaded, “please—”
But Leo shoved Kai’s arm off. Kai smirked and leaned closer anyway. Adrian grabbed Ethan’s wrist, pulling him gently but firmly away.
The cafeteria erupted in whispers.
“They’re at it again.”
“Poor Ethan, he looks ready to explode.”
“This is better than Netflix.”
Ethan groaned.
---
That evening, Ethan returned to the dorm alone—Adrian had gone to the library, Jamie to soccer practice, and Mark to meet friends. For once, the room was silent.
He let out a shaky sigh, dropping his bag. “Finally. Peace.”
But then… a faint tap at the window.
Ethan stiffened. Slowly, he turned his head.
The curtains stirred.
His blood ran cold.
He forced himself closer, fingers trembling as he pulled the fabric aside.
Nothing.
Just the courtyard.
He let out a shaky breath, pressing a hand to his chest. “I’m going crazy…”
When he turned back—
A slip of paper lay on his desk.
Ethan froze. He hadn’t left that there.
His hands shook as he picked it up.
The same messy handwriting scrawled across it:
You can’t trust them.
---
The door slammed open suddenly, making Ethan jump.
Leo stumbled in with his usual grin, Adrian right behind him, and Kai swaggering in last as if he owned the place.
“Guess what, Ethan? We’re all hanging out here tonight,” Kai announced.
Leo dumped snacks on the desk, Adrian crossed his arms, and Jamie (arriving last) grinned wide. “Oh boy, round two!”
But Ethan couldn’t focus. His eyes stayed glued to the note crumpled in his hand.
You can’t trust them.
His gaze flicked—Leo laughing, Adrian scowling, Kai smirking.
Which one… did the note mean?
- Writer
