The Warning
646 Words
Ava barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the figure standing beneath the streetlight.
Watching her.
Waiting.
Then disappearing into the darkness.
By the time morning arrived, her head was pounding.
She sat upright in bed and checked her phone again.
The messages were still there.
Stay away from Lucas Knight if you want to survive Blackwood.
He isn't who you think he is.
No name.
No profile picture.
Nothing.
Just an unknown number.
Ava stared at the screen.
Part of her wanted to laugh it off.
Maybe it was a prank.
College students loved drama.
Maybe someone had sent the message for fun.
But that didn't explain the person outside her dorm.
The memory sent a shiver through her.
"What are you staring at?"
Jasmine's sleepy voice interrupted her thoughts.
Ava quickly locked her phone.
"Nothing."
Jasmine narrowed her eyes.
"You look like you saw a ghost."
"Didn't sleep well."
That wasn't entirely a lie.
Jasmine stretched and yawned.
"Welcome to college."
---
The campus was already buzzing when Ava arrived for her first class.
Students crowded the walkways.
Coffee cups in hand.
Laughter everywhere.
Normal.
Everything looked normal.
Which made last night's events feel even stranger.
Maybe she was overthinking.
Maybe she should simply forget about it.
Her economics lecture was held inside a large auditorium.
Hundreds of students filled the seats.
Ava found an empty spot halfway down the row.
Just as she opened her notebook, someone slid into the seat beside her.
"Good morning."
A familiar voice.
Ava looked up.
And immediately regretted it.
Lucas Knight.
Of course.
Why wouldn't fate torture her?
He wore a black hoodie today.
His dark hair looked slightly messy.
Like he'd rolled out of bed and somehow still looked perfect.
Unfair.
Completely unfair.
"You again," she said.
A grin appeared.
"You sound disappointed."
"I am."
"Ouch."
He placed a hand over his chest.
"That hurts."
Ava rolled her eyes.
"You'll survive."
"Probably."
Probably?
Who answered like that?
Before she could ask, the professor entered.
The lecture began.
For the first twenty minutes, everything was normal.
Then Ava noticed something.
Lucas wasn't taking notes.
At all.
He wasn't even looking at the screen.
Instead, he was staring out the window.
His expression distant.
Almost troubled.
It was such a contrast to the confident guy she'd met yesterday that Ava found herself watching him.
Studying him.
Trying to understand him.
As if sensing her gaze, Lucas turned.
Their eyes met.
Caught.
Ava quickly looked away.
Heat flooded her cheeks.
Great.
Now she looked like a stalker.
"See something interesting?" he whispered.
"No."
"Liar."
Her embarrassment only grew.
To her horror, his smile widened.
The i***t looked pleased.
---
When class ended, students immediately flooded the exits.
Ava packed her bag.
She intended to leave before Lucas could say another word.
Unfortunately, life had other plans.
Someone slammed into her shoulder.
Hard.
Her books fell.
Again.
Seriously?
Was the universe trying to make this a daily event?
She crouched to pick them up.
Another hand reached for the same notebook.
Lucas.
Their fingers touched.
For a brief second neither moved.
Then Lucas handed the notebook back.
Something slipped from between the pages.
A folded piece of paper.
Ava frowned.
She didn't recognize it.
"What's that?" Lucas asked.
"No idea."
She unfolded it.
The color drained from her face.
Three words.
Written in thick black ink.
LAST WARNING, AVA.
The world seemed to stop.
Lucas's expression darkened instantly.
"What is it?"
Ava handed him the note.
The amusement disappeared from his face.
Completely.
For the first time since meeting him, he looked genuinely angry.
"Where did you get this?"
"I don't know."
"Who gave it to you?"
"I said I don't know."
Lucas looked around the crowded hallway.
His jaw tightened.
As though he were searching for someone.
Or expecting someone.
Ava noticed.
And suddenly the me
- Writer
