Suspicious New Professor

A Deadly Game

19

Jenissa sat in the campus library, her fingers nervously drumming on the table as she glanced around, ensuring no one was listening. She had arranged to meet Emile here, away from Elias’s prying eyes, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that every shadow in the room held his presence.

Moments later, Emile slipped into the seat across from her, glancing over his shoulder. “Did you make sure you weren’t followed?” he whispered.

She nodded. “But I don’t think it matters. He’s watching us somehow, Emile. I can feel it.”

Emile looked down, his lips pressed into a thin line. “This is getting more dangerous than I thought,” he murmured. “We’re dealing with someone who’s not only manipulative but highly intelligent. If we don’t plan carefully, we could end up like those other students on his list.”

Jenissa felt a chill at his words, but she forced herself to stay calm. “That’s exactly why we have to act now. He’s threatened me already, and if we wait any longer, he’ll find a way to silence us permanently.”

They both paused, absorbing the reality of their situation. Jenissa’s mind raced, reviewing every piece of evidence they had uncovered. The lists of names, the encrypted files, the unsettling records of students labeled as “assets.” It was all chillingly meticulous, and it pointed to a network of manipulation and control that reached further than they could have imagined.

“We need a plan,” she said finally, her voice steady. “One that forces him into the open.”

Emile nodded, his brow furrowed. “We’ll have to gather everything we have on him—the files, the messages, every note and piece of evidence—and find a way to expose him publicly. Somewhere he can’t manipulate or delete records.”

“But how do we do that without him catching on?” Jenissa’s mind whirred, considering the logistics. “We’d need to be smart about it. One mistake, and he’ll retaliate.”

Emile leaned forward, his eyes alight with determination. “What if we hold a public meeting? We could invite students who knew some of the missing students or anyone who’s noticed strange behavior from him. If enough people speak up, it’ll draw attention from the administration.”

Jenissa considered the idea, her pulse quickening. “That’s a good start. But we’d also need to have solid evidence on display. We can’t rely solely on testimonies. We’ll have to be strategic in how we release what we know—just enough to show the administration that Elias is a danger, without tipping him off.”

They spent the next hour in tense discussion, refining their plan. Emile would secure a room under the guise of a student-led discussion on campus safety, something innocuous enough to avoid Elias’s suspicion. Meanwhile, Jenissa would work on compiling the evidence into a format that would be undeniable. With a clear plan in place, they finally parted ways, each acutely aware of the risks they were taking.

---

The following day, Jenissa was on edge. Elias was in class, his demeanor as unsettling as ever, but this time, there was a new intensity in his gaze. His eyes locked onto hers more than once, a dark gleam in them that made her heart race. She forced herself to stay calm, acting as if nothing was amiss, but she could sense that Elias was more vigilant than ever.

After class, as Jenissa gathered her things, Elias approached her. “Jenissa,” he said smoothly, his voice soft but laced with an underlying threat. “You seem… distracted lately. Everything alright?”

She swallowed, willing her voice to remain steady. “Just focused on studies, Professor,” she replied, forcing a casual tone. “There’s a lot to keep up with.”