CHAPTER 2
1176 Words
Megan barely heard the rest of the class.
The black rose sat hidden inside her bag like a secret that burned through the fabric.
Her fingers brushed against the folded card every few minutes as if she needed to confirm it was real.
Welcome back, survivor.
And the symbol.
The serpent.
She had never seen it before… yet something about it made her uneasy.
It wasn’t just a drawing.
It felt deliberate.
Carefully chosen.
Across the classroom, Jason leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the door instead of the teacher. His jaw had been tight since the moment he saw the message.
Beside him, Axton quietly typed something on his phone beneath the desk.
Probably trying to figure out who sent it.
Evelyn kept glancing at Megan with worried eyes.
Megan forced herself to look at the board.
Focus.
But her mind refused to cooperate.
Because the image of that boy near the staircase kept returning.
Dark hair.
Sharp eyes.
The way he looked at her like he knew something.
The bell rang, ending the period.
Students immediately began talking and packing their bags.
Jason stood before Megan could even close her notebook.
“Show me the card again.”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried the same dangerous edge it had in the hallway earlier.
Megan sighed but handed it to him.
Jason studied the serpent symbol again.
“This isn’t random.”
Axton leaned closer.
“I ran a quick search earlier.”
“And?”
“Nothing online.”
Jason’s eyes narrowed.
“That means it’s private.”
Evelyn looked between them nervously.
“Can someone explain why we’re acting like Megan just received a threat from the mafia?”
Jason didn’t answer.
Because part of him suspected something worse.
Megan grabbed her bag.
“It’s probably just a prank.”
Jason looked at her like she had said something ridiculous.
“Someone leaves you a black rose and a creepy message your first day back after being shot and you think it’s a prank?”
“Well what do you want me to think?”
“That someone is watching you.”
The words hung heavily between them.
Evelyn shivered slightly.
“Okay, I officially hate this conversation.”
Axton stood.
“Let’s just go to lunch before Jason starts interrogating the entire school.”
Jason didn’t deny it.
Because he absolutely would.
---
The cafeteria buzzed with noise.
But the moment Megan walked in, the volume dropped slightly.
Whispers followed her.
She hated it.
Evelyn tried to lighten the mood by talking about random school gossip, but Megan could tell she was forcing it.
Jason sat beside Megan, his arm draped behind her chair.
Not touching her.
But close enough to remind everyone she wasn’t alone.
Axton suddenly paused mid-bite.
Jason noticed instantly.
“What?”
Axton’s eyes shifted toward the cafeteria entrance.
“New student.”
Jason barely glanced.
“Not interesting.”
Axton shook his head slowly.
“No… this one is.”
Megan turned slightly.
And her breath caught.
The same boy from the staircase walked into the cafeteria.
Tall.
Confident.
His dark hair fell slightly over sharp grey eyes.
Unlike most students, he didn’t look around nervously or try to find a table quickly.
He walked calmly.
Like he already knew exactly where he was going.
His gaze slowly moved across the cafeteria.
Then stopped.
On Megan.
Jason noticed immediately.
His posture stiffened.
“Do you know him?”
“No.”
But the way the boy looked at her made it feel like he knew her.
The boy walked toward the lunch line, but his eyes lingered just a second longer than necessary.
Jason leaned closer to Megan.
“Don’t look at him again.”
“Jason—”
“I’m serious.”
Megan frowned.
“You’re acting weird.”
Jason didn’t respond.
Because something about the boy felt wrong.
Dangerously wrong.
---
Ten minutes later the boy walked past their table carrying a tray.
Up close, Megan noticed something strange.
He didn’t look nervous.
He didn’t look curious.
He looked… amused.
As if this entire situation entertained him.
Jason’s eyes followed him like a predator tracking prey.
The boy suddenly stopped beside their table.
For a moment no one spoke.
Then he smiled faintly.
“Jason Carter.”
Jason didn’t respond.
“How do you know my name?”
The boy’s gaze shifted slightly toward Megan.
“It’s a small school.”
Jason slowly stood.
He was slightly taller.
More intimidating.
But the new student didn’t seem bothered.
“Who are you?” Jason asked coldly.
“Adrian.”
A pause.
Then—
“Adrian Voss.”
Evelyn whispered under her breath.
“Of course his name is Adrian.”
Axton studied him carefully.
“Transfer student?”
Adrian nodded casually.
“Just arrived today.”
Jason’s eyes darkened.
“What do you want?”
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
“Nothing.”
His gaze moved back to Megan.
“Just introducing myself.”
Megan suddenly felt the same chill she had near the staircase.
There was something unsettling about the way he watched her.
Not aggressive.
Not friendly.
Observant.
Like she was a puzzle he had already begun solving.
Jason stepped slightly closer.
“You’re done introducing yourself.”
Adrian smiled faintly.
“You’re very protective.”
Jason didn’t answer.
Adrian’s eyes flicked briefly to the black rose stem still sticking out of Megan’s bag.
The smile on his lips deepened almost imperceptibly.
Then he looked back at her.
“Welcome back, Megan Thompson.”
The exact same words from the card.
Jason grabbed his collar instantly.
“Did you send that?”
The cafeteria erupted with whispers.
But Adrian didn’t panic.
Didn’t struggle.
He simply looked down at Jason’s fist gripping his shirt.
Then back at Megan.
“Relax,” he said calmly.
“I didn’t threaten her.”
Jason’s grip tightened.
“That wasn’t my question.”
Adrian leaned slightly closer.
His voice dropped.
Low enough that only Jason and Megan could hear.
“But you’re asking the wrong question.”
Jason’s eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean?”
Adrian’s gaze returned to Megan one last time.
“You should be asking…”
“Who wanted her dead in the first place.”
Jason’s grip loosened for a fraction of a second.
And in that moment—
Adrian stepped back smoothly.
Picking up his tray again.
As if nothing had happened.
He walked away calmly toward another table.
Leaving behind a silence so thick it made Megan’s chest tighten.
Jason stared after him.
Axton muttered quietly.
“That guy’s trouble.”
Evelyn whispered,
“I really don’t like him.”
But Megan wasn’t looking at Adrian anymore.
She was looking at Jason.
Because the expression on his face wasn’t just anger.
It was something else.
Fear.
And suddenly Megan realized something terrifying.
Jason didn’t look surprised by what Adrian said.
He looked like someone who had just heard a secret he hoped would never be spoken aloud.
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