Chapter 3_ The Stranger Who Watches
1282 Words
Caroline could not stop looking over her shoulder.
Even as she walked beside Crystal toward their morning lecture hall, her eyes kept scanning the crowd.
The stranger had vanished again.
One second he was there.
The next second he was gone.
Crystal noticed her distraction almost immediately.
“Okay,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Something is wrong.”
Caroline forced a small laugh.
“What? Nothing’s wrong.”
Crystal stopped walking.
“Yes, something is very wrong.”
Students flowed around them across the busy campus path, but Crystal crossed her arms and stared directly at her.
“You look like you didn’t sleep,” she said. “You left the dorm before sunrise, and now you keep looking around like someone is chasing you.”
Caroline hesitated.
She wanted to tell Crystal everything.
But the moment she imagined saying the word vampire, she could already hear Crystal laughing.
Or worse.
Thinking she had completely lost her mind.
“I just needed some air,” Caroline said finally.
Crystal didn’t move.
“You hate mornings.”
“That’s not true.”
“You literally told me last week that 8 a.m. classes should be illegal.”
Caroline sighed.
“Okay, maybe I didn’t sleep well.”
Crystal studied her for a moment longer before letting out a small breath.
“Fine. But if this is about that creepy crowd near the woods this morning, I already heard about it.”
Caroline’s heart jumped.
“You did?”
“Of course. The whole campus is talking about it.”
They resumed walking.
Crystal lowered her voice slightly.
“They say someone died in the woods last night.”
Caroline felt the familiar knot form in her stomach.
“Yes,” she said quietly.
Crystal shrugged.
“Probably just some random attack.”
“It wasn’t random.”
Crystal raised an eyebrow.
“And how would you know that?”
Caroline opened her mouth.
Then closed it again.
She couldn’t say it.
Not yet.
“Just a feeling,” she muttered.
Crystal gave her a look that clearly said you’re being weird, but she didn’t push further.
They reached the large lecture hall building and climbed the wide stone steps.
Students were already filling the classroom inside.
Caroline’s eyes instinctively searched the room.
Rows of desks.
Groups of chatting students.
But no sign of the mysterious stranger.
For a moment, she wondered if she imagined that encounter too.
Maybe the stress of last night had finally gotten to her.
Maybe
“Earth to Caroline.”
Crystal waved a hand in front of her face.
“You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Spacing out.”
Caroline quickly sat down beside her.
“Sorry.”
Crystal leaned closer.
“If something’s bothering you, you know you can tell me, right?”
Caroline nodded slowly.
“I know.”
But before the conversation could continue, the professor walked in.
“Good morning, everyone,” he announced.
The room gradually quieted.
Caroline tried to focus as the lecture began.
But her thoughts kept drifting back to the forest.
The vampire.
And the stranger who somehow knew everything.
Her pen hovered over her notebook as the professor spoke about historical civilizations.
None of the words registered.
Instead, her mind replayed the stranger’s warning.
The creature from last night now knows you exist.
A cold chill ran through her again.
What if the vampire came back?
What if it remembered her face?
What if
The classroom door suddenly opened.
Every head turned.
A tall young man stepped inside.
He had dark hair, pale skin, and a calm expression that somehow drew attention immediately.
The professor paused mid-sentence.
“You must be the transfer student,” he said.
The young man nodded once.
“Yes, sir.”
“Come in.”
Caroline froze.
Her breath caught in her throat.
It was him.
The stranger from the woods.
He looked completely different in daylight.
Less mysterious.
More human.
But those eyes were unmistakable.
Sharp.
Observant.
The professor gestured toward the class.
“Everyone, this is our new student. Would you like to introduce yourself?”
The young man stepped forward slightly.
“My name is Lorenzo Lewis,” he said calmly.
His voice was smooth and controlled.
A few girls near the front whispered excitedly.
Caroline barely heard them.
Because Lorenzo’s gaze slowly moved across the room.
And stopped on her.
For just a moment.
Their eyes met.
Caroline’s heart skipped.
There was no doubt now.
He remembered her.
But his expression didn’t change.
He simply looked away and scanned the rest of the class.
The professor nodded.
“Alright, Mr. Lewis. You can take the empty seat in the back.”
Lorenzo walked down the aisle.
Every step seemed quiet and deliberate.
Caroline tried not to stare.
But it was impossible.
He passed her row without looking again and sat at the last desk.
Crystal leaned toward Caroline immediately.
“Did you see that?”
Caroline blinked.
“See what?”
“The new guy!”
“What about him?”
Crystal grinned.
“He’s hot.”
Caroline almost choked.
“Crystal!”
“What? I’m just saying!”
Caroline forced herself to face forward again.
But she could feel Lorenzo’s presence behind her.
Like a silent shadow.
The rest of the lecture dragged painfully slowly.
When the class finally ended, students immediately stood and began gathering their things.
Crystal stretched her arms.
“I’m starving,” she said. “Let’s go get lunch.”
Caroline nodded absentmindedly.
But as she stood, a strange feeling returned.
Like someone watching her again.
She turned slightly.
Lorenzo was still sitting at his desk.
Looking directly at her.
Her heart started racing.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then he stood.
And began walking toward her.
Caroline’s pulse quickened.
Crystal noticed immediately.
“Why is the hot transfer student walking toward us?”
Caroline whispered quickly, “Just act normal.”
Crystal raised an eyebrow.
“Why wouldn’t I”
Lorenzo stopped beside them.
Up close, his presence felt even more intense.
His dark eyes flicked briefly toward Crystal.
Then settled on Caroline.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
The words were quiet.
But firm.
Crystal blinked in confusion.
“Uh… excuse me?”
Caroline swallowed.
“What do you mean?”
Lorenzo ignored Crystal completely.
“You should go home,” he said.
Caroline frowned.
“Why?”
His voice dropped lower.
“Because the longer you stay here…”
He paused.
“…the more dangerous it becomes.”
Crystal stared between them.
“Okay, what is happening right now?”
Caroline stepped slightly closer to Lorenzo.
“Are you threatening me?”
His expression remained calm.
“No.”
“Then what?”
For the first time, a hint of urgency appeared in his eyes.
“I’m trying to protect you.”
Caroline stared at him.
“From what?”
Lorenzo hesitated.
Just long enough to make her more nervous.
“From them.”
A cold chill crawled down her spine.
“Them?” she whispered.
But before he could answer
A loud crash echoed from the hallway outside.
Students gasped.
Someone screamed.
The classroom fell silent.
Crystal grabbed Caroline’s arm.
“What was that?”
Lorenzo’s eyes immediately shifted toward the door.
His entire posture changed.
Alert.
Dangerous.
Caroline felt her heartbeat quicken.
“Lorenzo,” she whispered, “what’s going on?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he said something that made her blood run cold.
“They found you sooner than I expected.”
Caroline’s breath caught.
“Who did?”
Lorenzo looked back at her.
And said one word.
“Vampires.”
- Writer
