CHAPTER 4
1188 Words
Megan stared at the card for so long the words began to blur.
Maria is free.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she lowered the note.
“That… that’s not possible.”
Jason didn’t answer.
Which scared her more than the message itself.
He was staring at the card like it had confirmed a nightmare he had been expecting.
“Jason,” Megan whispered, “tell me this is some sick joke.”
Jason slowly took the card from her hand.
His eyes scanned the message again.
The handwriting looked rushed. Uneven. Almost like whoever wrote it didn’t have much time.
Axton suddenly appeared at the end of the hallway.
“I heard you two sprinting down the hall like someone set the building on fire.”
He stopped when he saw Jason’s expression.
“…What happened?”
Jason handed him the card silently.
Axton read it once.
Then again.
Then his eyes widened.
“Okay… that’s not funny.”
Evelyn came rushing toward them seconds later.
“Why did you guys just vanish from the cafeteria—”
She stopped mid-sentence.
“What’s going on?”
Megan hesitated before answering.
“Someone left another message.”
Evelyn frowned.
“Another creepy rose?”
“Two messages this time.”
Axton looked at Jason.
“You think he did it?”
Jason didn’t need to ask who he was.
“Adrian.”
Megan shook her head slowly.
“But why would he say Maria is free?”
Evelyn crossed her arms nervously.
“Because he’s trying to scare us?”
Jason looked down the hallway.
His voice lowered.
“No.”
Axton frowned.
“No what?”
Jason’s eyes darkened.
“If Adrian wanted to scare us, he wouldn’t write it like that.”
“Like what?”
Jason tapped the card once.
“Desperate.”
A silence fell between them.
Evelyn hugged herself slightly.
“You’re saying this isn’t a threat?”
Jason’s answer came quietly.
“It’s a warning.”
Megan’s stomach twisted.
“That’s worse.”
---
They spent the rest of the afternoon trying to act normal.
But it didn’t work.
Megan barely paid attention during her classes.
Every time someone walked past the classroom door, her heart jumped.
Every time a phone buzzed, she flinched.
And every few minutes she found herself glancing around the room.
Looking for Adrian.
But he never appeared.
Not once.
It was like he had disappeared after delivering the message.
Jason, on the other hand, had become completely silent.
Which meant his mind was working overtime.
By the time the final bell rang, Megan couldn’t take the tension anymore.
“Jason.”
He looked up from his phone.
“We need to talk.”
“I know.”
They walked outside toward the parking lot.
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the school grounds.
Students laughed and talked as they left for the day.
But Megan barely noticed them.
“Tell me the truth,” she said quietly.
Jason sighed.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because you keep avoiding it.”
Jason stopped walking.
“Megan.”
“If Maria really is free, I deserve to know.”
Jason’s jaw tightened.
“She can’t be.”
“That’s not what the note said.”
Jason ran a hand through his hair.
“You don’t understand how the system works.”
“Then explain it.”
Jason looked around the parking lot.
Then lowered his voice.
“Maria attempted murder.”
“Yes.”
“She was caught at the scene.”
“Yes.”
“And there were witnesses.”
Megan nodded slowly.
“Then she wouldn’t be released this quickly,” Jason said.
“Not without outside influence.”
Megan blinked.
“…Outside influence?”
Jason looked like he regretted saying the words the moment they left his mouth.
“Jason.”
He hesitated.
Then said quietly—
“Powerful people.”
Megan felt a chill crawl up her spine.
“Are you saying someone helped Maria get out?”
“I’m saying it’s possible.”
“But why?”
Jason didn’t answer immediately.
Because the truth forming in his mind was worse than Megan could imagine.
What if Maria wasn’t acting alone that night?
What if someone else had been pulling the strings?
Jason’s phone suddenly buzzed in his hand.
He looked down.
Unknown number.
Jason frowned.
“Who is it?” Megan asked.
“I don’t know.”
He answered cautiously.
“Hello?”
For a moment, only silence came from the other side.
Then a calm, familiar voice spoke.
“Good evening, Jason Carter.”
Jason’s expression hardened instantly.
“Adrian.”
Megan looked at him.
“It’s him?”
Jason nodded slightly.
“Why are you calling me?”
Adrian’s voice remained calm.
“Because you’re running out of time.”
Jason’s grip tightened on the phone.
“For what?”
“To stop what’s coming.”
Jason’s patience snapped.
“Stop talking in riddles.”
Adrian chuckled softly.
“You still think this is about Maria, don’t you?”
Jason froze.
Megan’s heart started racing.
“What are you talking about?” Jason asked.
Adrian’s tone turned serious.
“The girl you’re protecting is standing in the middle of something much bigger than a jealous ex-girlfriend.”
Jason felt a cold weight settle in his chest.
“Explain.”
Adrian ignored the demand.
Instead he asked a question.
“Has Megan told you about the dreams yet?”
Jason frowned.
“What dreams?”
Megan’s eyes widened.
“How do you know about that?”
Jason turned to her sharply.
“…What dreams?”
Megan hesitated.
She hadn’t told anyone.
Not even Evelyn.
“Answer him,” Adrian said softly through the phone.
Jason’s voice dropped dangerously low.
“Adrian.”
Adrian ignored him again.
“Megan,” he continued, “tell him about the snake.”
Jason’s blood ran cold.
He slowly looked at Megan.
“…Snake?”
Megan’s hands trembled slightly.
“I thought it was just nightmares.”
Jason stepped closer.
“What nightmares?”
Megan swallowed.
“For the past few weeks… I’ve been dreaming about the same thing.”
Jason felt dread building inside him.
“What thing?”
Megan whispered the answer.
“A serpent.”
Jason’s phone slipped slightly in his grip.
Adrian spoke again.
Quiet.
Certain.
“Now you understand why I’m here.”
Jason’s voice turned deadly calm.
“You’re not here to help.”
Adrian didn’t deny it.
“No.”
A pause.
Then he said the words that made Jason’s heart stop.
“I’m here because Megan belongs to the Shadow now.”
Jason’s rage exploded.
“If you come anywhere near her—”
But the call ended.
Jason stared at the phone.
His breathing slow.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Megan whispered nervously,
“What did he mean by that?”
Jason looked up at the school building.
Toward the upper windows.
Because standing on the rooftop balcony—
Watching them—
Was Adrian Voss.
And even from a distance…
Jason could see the faint smile on his face.
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