Suspicious New Professor

Unseen Shadows

8

Jenissa sat in the bustling lab room of Lille National Institute of Advanced Technologies, the hum of computers and the sound of fingers tapping on keyboards surrounding her. The day’s Digital Techniques (DTE) lab was underway, and she was focused on decoding a particularly complex circuit analysis, her mind busy with logic gates and binary codes. But lurking in the back of her mind, never too far, were the mysteries surrounding her new CGR professor, Elias Noir.

Her friend Emile sat beside her, his expression one of intense concentration as he worked through his own assignments. Despite his usual reminders for her to focus on their studies, she had noticed him casting occasional glances her way, a silent expression of support in light of the strange preoccupations they both had with Elias.

As the students in the lab focused on their work, a sudden chill seemed to sweep through the room. The door creaked open, and in walked Professor Elias Noir. His appearance was out of place in the DTE lab; he had no reason to be here, given his usual role in the Computer Graphics (CGR) classes. Yet there he stood, smiling his usual clumsy, disarming smile that somehow seemed more forced than usual.

Jenissa's attention snapped to him immediately. She noticed something unsettling in his demeanor—an unusual rigidity in his stance, as if he were trying too hard to appear relaxed. His eyes flickered around the room before landing briefly on her. The fleeting eye contact felt like a silent message, a warning, or perhaps even a threat. Her heart skipped a beat, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, trying to refocus on her work.

Emile noticed her sudden tension. Leaning closer, he whispered, “Why is he here? He’s got no reason to be in the DTE lab.”

Jenissa glanced sideways at Emile, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know, but he doesn’t look… normal.” She caught herself, realizing how absurd it sounded to voice what she felt. Elias’s behavior wasn’t something she could explain logically—yet everything about his presence felt like an intrusion into her space.

Professor Noir strolled down the rows of workstations, nodding and offering vague words of encouragement to students. But as he moved, he seemed increasingly out of place, his eyes constantly darting around, as though he were searching for something or someone. Each time he spoke, his voice carried a strange edge, an unusual tone that made her uneasy.

The lab instructor, Professor Muller, had been assisting students at the other end of the room. When he noticed Elias, his eyebrows knitted in confusion. He approached Elias and asked in a low voice, “Professor Noir, is everything all right? This is the Digital Techniques lab.”

Elias’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second, and Jenissa caught it, her suspicion deepening. But he recovered quickly, laughing awkwardly. “Oh, I apologize, Professor Muller. I… just got lost on my way to the faculty room.” He glanced around, flashing his trademark clumsy grin that seemed intended to put everyone at ease.

Professor Muller gave a polite smile but raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Well, let me know if you need any help finding your way. This is, after all, a different department,” he said, his tone hinting at a mild suspicion of his own.

Elias nodded and made his way toward the exit, but not before casting one final, lingering look at Jenissa. She felt the weight of his gaze, and it left a prickling sensation on the back of her neck. Even after he had left, the chill he brought with him lingered in the room, and the usual hum of activity resumed with a slightly uneasy undertone.

Emile nudged her with his elbow. “That was strange, even for him. Are you sure you’re not imagining things about him? He’s giving off some major red flags.”