Suspicious New Professor

Encounters in the Hallway

9

The corridors of Lille National Institute of Advanced Technologies were alive with the typical rhythm of students hustling between classes, snippets of conversations and laughter blending with the occasional clatter of shoes on the polished floors. Jenissa blended into this hum, keeping her head down as she navigated her way to her Database Management Systems (DBMS) lecture. Yet, despite her attempts at focus, she could feel the weight of something she couldn’t see—a presence that gnawed at her nerves.

Over the past few days, Jenissa had become acutely aware of Professor Elias Noir’s gaze following her more frequently. It was subtle, never lingering too long, but noticeable enough to unsettle her. In class, he was careful to maintain a professional distance, yet every now and then, her glance would catch his eyes trained on her, a piercing look that vanished the instant he saw her noticing. It wasn’t just her imagination. She was sure of it. There was something about him, something far darker than the absent-minded clumsiness he displayed to the rest of the university.

As she entered the DBMS classroom, Emile was already there, seated at his usual spot by the window. He looked up as she approached, offering a reassuring smile that eased some of her tension. “Hey, everything okay?” he asked, noticing the hint of unease on her face.

She hesitated, not wanting to burden him further with her suspicions, yet unable to hide the weight of what she was feeling. “It’s nothing... just the usual,” she said, sliding into the chair beside him. “I keep catching him watching me. It’s like he knows I’m suspicious.”

Emile sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Jenissa, you’re letting this take over your life. Look, I know you’re uneasy about Professor Noir, but we’ve got exams and projects coming up. Don’t let this distract you completely.”

“I know,” she replied, her gaze flickering to the door as a few more students trickled in. “But there’s something about him, Emile. I can’t shake it. He’s not just strange—there’s something... deliberate in the way he acts. I can feel it.”

Emile didn’t respond, but his silence spoke volumes. Despite his skepticism, he knew her well enough to realize that her instincts were rarely wrong. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Just be careful, alright? And remember, you’re not alone in this. If you need anything, I’m here.”

The class soon began, and Jenissa forced herself to focus, her thoughts reluctantly shifting to the lecture as Professor Denby discussed normalization in database structures. But even as she took notes, her mind drifted back to Elias and the increasingly tense atmosphere surrounding him.

The next few hours passed in a blur of lectures and lab sessions. By the time her classes ended, Jenissa felt exhausted, both mentally and physically. She decided to take the long way back to her locker, hoping the extra walk might help clear her mind. She navigated the nearly empty hallways, her steps echoing in the stillness.

As she reached a quiet corridor, a figure appeared at the far end. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized Professor Noir, his tall figure unmistakable against the backdrop of lockers and white walls. He seemed to be waiting, as if deliberately lingering in the empty hallway. She slowed her pace, debating whether to turn back, but something in her refused to retreat.

Taking a deep breath, she continued forward, her footsteps cautious. As she approached, Elias’s gaze locked onto her, his eyes dark and unreadable. His usual clumsy smile was absent, replaced by an expression that sent a shiver down her spine. There was no one else around; the silence was thick, amplifying her heartbeat.

“Jenissa,” he said, his voice low and measured. The tone was different from the one he used in class—a mix of authority and something else she couldn’t quite place. It made her feel as though he could see right through her, as if her every thought was on display.

“Professor Noir,” she responded, her voice steady despite her racing pulse. She forced herself to maintain eye contact, refusing to show the apprehension simmering inside.

He held her gaze for a moment before a small, almost amused smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I’ve noticed you’re quite… attentive in class.” He paused, and she could feel his gaze narrowing, as if gauging her reaction. “It’s refreshing, to have a student who’s so... inquisitive.”

Jenissa felt the prickling unease deepen. “Just trying to do well in my studies, sir,” she replied cautiously, keeping her tone neutral.

Elias’s smile widened slightly. “Yes, of course. But one must be careful, Miss Faras. Sometimes curiosity can lead to… unintended consequences.” His words hung in the air, an unspoken warning cloaked in a seemingly innocuous statement.

The hallway seemed to close in around her, the walls pressing tighter as his words echoed in her mind. Jenissa took a step back, her pulse quickening as she struggled to maintain her composure. “I’ll… keep that in mind, Professor,” she replied, her voice steady but guarded.

Elias gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable. “Good.” With that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing down the corridor until they faded into silence.

Jenissa stood rooted to the spot, her heart pounding. She hadn’t imagined it—the tension in his voice, the deliberate choice of words. He knew. Somehow, he knew that she was suspicious, that she was watching him just as closely as he was watching her. It was no longer a simple case of curiosity; there was a game at play, a silent battle of wits, and Elias had just made the first move.

She turned and quickly made her way back to her locker, her mind racing with thoughts. She had no concrete evidence, nothing that could validate her suspicions beyond the unsettling encounters and her own instincts. But now, more than ever, she was determined to uncover the truth about Elias Noir, to expose whatever secrets he was hiding.

Later that evening, she found herself at home, her mind replaying the encounter in the hallway. The memory of his voice, the subtle edge in his tone, made her skin crawl. She texted Emile, recounting the details, and his reply was immediate: Be careful, Jen. Don’t provoke him any further until you have more to go on.

Her aunt, Thereza, noticed her distracted demeanor over dinner. She reached out, placing a gentle hand on Jenissa’s. “Honey, is everything okay? You seem… preoccupied.”

Jenissa hesitated before giving a small nod. “It’s just… university stuff. A lot going on with exams and assignments.” She wasn’t ready to share the details of her encounter with Elias, not yet. But Thereza’s steady presence was a comfort, a reminder that she wasn’t alone in this strange, unfolding mystery.

As the evening wore on, Jenissa found herself sitting at her desk, poring over her notes for the DSU and DBMS classes, but her thoughts kept drifting. She opened her laptop and hesitated, fingers hovering over the keys, before searching Elias’s name again, scrolling through articles, faculty records, anything that might provide answers.

One article mentioned his prior teaching position, and she scanned it for any details she might have missed in her initial search. Most of it was routine—educational background, brief mentions of his expertise in computer graphics. But then she noticed something odd: a fleeting reference to his sudden departure from his previous position.

It was an innocuous sentence, tucked away in a paragraph about faculty changes, but it raised questions. According to the article, Elias had left “abruptly” with “little explanation provided by the administration.” She frowned, her mind racing. It mirrored the vague reasons behind Professor Bergman’s departure—quick, with no clear explanation. Was it coincidence? Or was there a connection?

Jenissa’s fingers typed out a new search, digging deeper into news archives and university reports. The deeper she went, the murkier Elias’s past seemed, with fragments that didn’t quite add up. She knew she was on the verge of something, a hidden thread linking Elias’s enigmatic presence with something much darker.

But the weight of the hallway encounter still lingered. She closed her laptop and took a deep breath, determined to keep her resolve steady. Whatever secrets Elias held, she would uncover them. For now, she’d play his game, appearing as the quiet, attentive student. But in the shadows, she’d be watching, gathering each piece of the puzzle until the truth could no longer remain hidden.

In the silent embrace of her room, Jenissa made a silent vow: she wouldn’t rest until she uncovered Elias Noir’s true intentions.