Under His Protection
639 Words
The message changed everything.
Ava stared at Lucas's phone, her hands trembling.
Now she belongs to the game.
The words seemed burned into her mind.
Whoever was sending these messages wasn't joking.
They weren't trying to scare her anymore.
They were making a promise.
Or maybe a threat.
Neither option made her feel better.
For several seconds, neither she nor Lucas spoke.
The hallway suddenly felt too quiet.
Too empty.
Too dangerous.
Finally, Ava looked up.
"Tell me what that means."
Lucas's jaw tightened.
"I don't know."
"Stop."
His eyes met hers.
"I'm serious."
"No, you're not."
Frustration surged through her.
"Every time I ask you a question, you give me half an answer."
"Ava—"
"No."
She stepped closer.
"You knew these messages were serious."
Silence.
"You knew whoever was watching me was connected to you."
More silence.
"And now somebody takes a picture of us together and suddenly you're acting like the world is ending."
Lucas looked away.
That alone was enough.
Because people only avoided eye contact when they were hiding something.
"What aren't you telling me?"
For a moment she thought he wouldn't answer.
Then he ran a hand through his hair.
Looking exhausted.
Older somehow.
"There's something happening."
"What?"
"I can't explain."
"Try."
Lucas laughed bitterly.
"It isn't that simple."
"It never is with you."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Something flickered in his eyes.
Pain.
Gone almost instantly.
But Ava saw it.
And suddenly she realized something.
Whatever Lucas was hiding wasn't just dangerous.
It was hurting him.
---
The rain had started again by the time they left the arena.
The sky hung dark and heavy above campus.
Students rushed between buildings.
Most were laughing.
Talking.
Living normal lives.
Ava envied them.
She wished she could go back to worrying about assignments and classes.
Instead, she was being stalked by an unknown person obsessed with Lucas Knight.
Wonderful.
"You're not walking back alone."
Lucas's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Ava blinked.
"What?"
"I'm taking you to your dorm."
"I can walk myself."
"I know."
"Then why—"
"Because I said so."
She stared at him.
The arrogance.
The confidence.
The complete lack of concern for her opinion.
It should have annoyed her.
Instead, a small part of her felt strangely comforted.
Which was ridiculous.
Lucas wasn't her bodyguard.
He wasn't her boyfriend.
He wasn't anything to her.
At least that's what she kept telling herself.
The problem was that her heart seemed to disagree.
---
The walk back to campus was quiet.
Not awkward.
Just quiet.
The kind of silence that somehow felt comfortable.
Rain drizzled lightly around them.
Students hurried past holding umbrellas.
Ava stole occasional glances at Lucas.
He seemed distracted.
Alert.
As if constantly searching for something.
Or someone.
"You do that a lot."
Lucas glanced sideways.
"Do what?"
"Look over your shoulder."
His expression hardened.
"Old habit."
"Why?"
"No reason."
Ava groaned.
"There you go again."
"What?"
"Being mysterious."
Lucas laughed softly.
"You make it sound intentional."
"Isn't it?"
His smile faded.
"No."
The answer surprised her.
Because it sounded honest.
And sadness lingered behind it.
For the first time, Ava wondered what kind of life Lucas had lived before Blackwood.
What had happened to make him so guarded?
So careful?
So alone?
The question lingered in her mind the entire walk.
---
Campus gossip moved fast.
By the next morning, rumors were everywhere.
Ava discovered that the hard way.
She entered the student café and immediately noticed people staring.
Whispering.
Watching.
Her stomach sank.
"Oh no."
A group of girls near the window fell silent as she passed.
Another table openly stared.
Ava sat down beside Jasmine.
"What happened?"
Jasmine looked uncomfortable.
That was never a good sign.
"What?"
Jasmine winced.
"There are rumors."
"About?"
"You."
Of course there were.
Ava dropp
- Writer
