CREATURE OF THE SHADOWS

the eyes

Jin scanned the classroom as his students chattered and shuffled into their seats. His eyes landed on a student in the back row, a feeling of familiarity washing over him. Namjoon returned the gaze, his werewolf instincts recognizing Jin's scent even in human form. A low growl rumbled in his chest, but he quickly masked it with a forced smile. The professor cleared his throat, trying to shake off the strange sensation tugging at his memory. "Good morning, class. Today, we'll be discussing -" Jin's words faltered as Namjoon's gaze bore into him, the intensity of it sending shivers down his spine. Namjoon fought to keep his werewolf side at bay, knowing that revealing his true identity could have dire consequences. RM, his vampire twin, sat beside him, feeling the tension in the air but unsure of its source. Jin's mind raced as he struggled to place where he had seen those eyes before. The memory teased him, just out of reach, like a whisper on the wind. The classroom hummed with anticipation as the professor and student locked eyes, each unknowingly connected by a shared secret.
  Jin woke up...all was dream!!

In the university _

The classroom was abuzz with the usual pre-lecture chatter. Papers rustled, pens tapped a nervous rhythm against desks, and the scent of stale coffee hung heavy in the air. As Jin surveyed his students, his gaze fell upon Namjoon, seated in the back row, a familiar wave of unease washing over him.

Namjoon, a bright and eager student, always sat in that spot, his head bent over his notes, a quiet intensity in his eyes. But today, something was different. A small, white bandage adorned his left hand, drawn neatly across the back of his knuckles. It was a simple enough detail, yet it sent a shiver down Jin's spine.

He remembered the night before, a full moon casting an eerie glow over the city. He had been searching forest for his research, his silver knife tucked securely in his pocket, when he had encountered a creature unlike any he had ever seen. It had been a werewolf, a magnificent and terrifying beast, its eyes gleaming with a feral intelligence. He had been forced to defend himself, the silver blade singing through the air as he struck, leaving a deep gash across the creature's left hand.

His initial shock had given way to a horrified fascination. He knew the stories, the legends about the creatures of the night, the shifters who walked among humans, cloaked in the shadows. But he had never believed them. Until now.

The bandage on Namjoon's hand held a terrifying truth: the werewolf he had confronted was a student in his class. The realization struck him with the force of a tidal wave, leaving him breathless and disoriented.

He needed to know. He needed to confirm his suspicions, but how? He couldn't just blurt out his knowledge, not without risking a panic, a potential confrontation. He had to be careful, discreet. He had to choose his words carefully.

'Alright class, settle down,' he announced, clapping his hands together. 'We're going to begin with a review .'

The classroom quieted, the murmur of voices fading into silence as he began his lecture. He focused on the intricacies of the period, on the specificity of genes. His voice was steady, his words measured, but his mind was racing a mile a minute.

He couldn't let Namjoon know that he knew. Yet, he needed to know more. He needed to understand what had happened, why Namjoon, his student, had been a werewolf.

He tried to make eye contact with Namjoon, hoping to find a flicker of fear, a hint of guilt, but Namjoon stared back with his usual focused intensity, his eyes clear and unreadable.

'Namjoon,' he called out, his voice betraying a slight tremor. 'Could you please come to the front of the class for a moment.'

Namjoon looked up, surprised, but he complied without hesitation, his face stoic as he moved towards the front of the room.

'There's a question about your recent research paper,' Jin said, trying to maintain a neutral expression. 'I wanted to go over it with you.'

He gestured towards the whiteboard, his heart hammering in his chest. He noticed the faintest tremor in Namjoon's hand as he took the marker, a fleeting movement that only Jin saw.

'I found your analysis of the sonnet particularly insightful,' he said, trying to sound conversational. 'But I have a few questions about your interpretation of the final line.'

Namjoon looked at the whiteboard, his eyes scanning the words. 'Oh, yes, professor,' he said, his voice low and even. 'It's a complex line, full of ambiguity, and I think it...'

He stopped mid-sentence, his gaze drifting to Jin's hand, the silver knife still nestled in his pocket. A flicker of fear, almost imperceptible, crossed his face. He quickly looked away, his voice regaining its composure. 'I think it reflects the tension between the individual and the societal constraints of the time.'

He had seen it. He had seen the fear in Namjoon's eyes, the confirmation that he wasn't wrong.

He had to be careful. He had to tread lightly.

'Yes, indeed,' Jin said, forcing a smile. 'A very insightful observation. Thank you.'

He dismissed Namjoon back to his seat, his mind consumed by a storm of questions. He had learned a devastating truth that night, a truth that changed everything. But now he found himself at a crossroads.

.

But for the first time, Jin felt a spark of hope, a glimmer of possibility, that perhaps, within the confines of his classroom, something extraordinary could begin to blossom.

💕