HANNA HAD to stay in the hospital for a few more days.
"I was looking for you," Ezra said, closing the door of his classroom. The words hung in the air, charged with an urgency that seemed out of place in the quiet, deserted hallway. The echo of his footsteps grew fainter as the door clicked shut behind him.
Brooklyn looked up from her desk, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. "Noel Khan knows about us" she mumbled, her voice barely carrying over the sound of distant chatter from the hall. Her hand hovered over her notebook, the tip of her pen tapping a staccato rhythm against the wooden surface.
Ezra's heart skipped a beat. Noel was the last person they needed in their business. He took a deep breath and nodded. "I will figure it out,we will.Can we meet later?"
"Yeah, see you at 7," she said, her voice a touch softer now. She gave his hand a fleeting touch, the warmth of her skin sending a jolt through his veins. It was a small gesture, but it conveyed a world of reassurance and solidarity. He watched as she gathered her books and turned to leave, her backpack slung over one shoulder.
౨ৎ
BROOKLYN'S eyes darted nervously across the dense foliage of the abandoned forest, a stark contrast to the vibrant hues of her hometown's bustling streets. Her friends Aria and Spencer flanked her, their faces a mix of curiosity and unease as they approached the infamous tree.
"It's right there," Spencer murmured, pointing to a towering oak in the distance. Its ancient limbs stretched out like the fingers of a creature frozen in time, beckoning them closer.
Brooklyn squinted, her heart racing. "Um, Spenc, are you sure?" she questioned, her voice laced with a hint of doubt.
"Positive," Spencer replied, her voice trembling slightly. "I-it must been A or Ian"
Aria spoke up, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves. "Or Ian and A are the same person, maybe?"
Brooklyn couldn't shake the eerie feeling that the trees themselves were watching them, whispering their secrets to the wind. "Let's get out of here," she said, her voice cracking. She took a step back, her sneakers sinking into the damp earth.
Aria and Spencer exchanged a look, then nodded in silent agreement. They turned on their heels, their footsteps quickening as they retraced their path.
౨ৎ
IAN'S footsteps echoed through the hallway, a rhythmic pattern of anticipation woven into the very fabric of the air. His eyes searched the room, finally landing on the trio huddled by the kitchen counter. "Oh, you found it," he exclaimed, his voice a warm, inviting bass that filled the space.
