The morning sun filtered weakly through the curtains of Sophia’s room, casting a soft, diffused light over the space. While the rest of the campus stirred to life with the usual rush of students hurrying to classes, Sophia remained in bed. The events of the previous day—the sharp blow to her abdomen, the coughing of blood, and the lingering ache in her chest—had left her body feeling heavy and drained. She had woken up several times during the night, her sleep restless and filled with fragmented visions: faces she almost recognized, voices speaking in code, and the flash of headlights rushing toward her.
When Adrian had called early, his voice thick with concern, she had assured him she just needed a day of rest, promising she would stay inside and not move a step beyond her door. He had
