Hellbound Hearts

8. Nice to Meet You

I spot him immediately in the hallway and quicken my pace to catch up.

"Thanks for not taking off like a whirlwind," I blurt out, the first thing that comes to mind.

Mentally, I groan. Damn. That was lame. Nathaniel Kwon usually does not make rookie mistakes like this. The mysterious boy flinches and pauses.

"What?" he mutters, then adds quietly, "I already apologized, so why are you following me?"

"I'm not following you," I say, frowning. "I'm just walking in the same direction."

"Yeah, sure."

I can't tell if he's annoyed or if that's just his usual tone. I suspect it's the former.

"You're Cody, right?" I ask, persisting.

"So what?" he mumbles.

"I just wanted to introduce myself properly." I chuckle, then quicken my pace and step in front of him, blocking his path. I smile and extend my hand. "I'm Nathaniel."

He almost bumps into me but stops just in time. He glances at my hand, then at me. Without shaking it, he steps aside and keeps walking.

"No one asked," he mutters as he leaves.

I stifle a laugh. He's a tough nut to crack.

"Nice to meet you, Cody! See you around!" I call after him.

There's no reason to keep pressing him. Meeting him was enough to realize I'm not getting anything easily. But other approaches are always more effective. When I got close, I noticed a name tag on his worn leather bag: Return to Cody Evert.

This clue is enough for now. At least I know I can find him again. I let out a sigh of relief. Only one unanswered question remains: Why is this necessary?

Though I've only made partial progress, I decide I've earned a short break for my efforts and don't rush back to the bookstore. My colleagues can manage fine without me.

Thanks to my perfected internet sleuthing, I quickly learn that Cody is a fourth-year architecture student. I even dig up his class schedule, which feels like my win for the day. I treat myself to a coffee and chocolate muffin from the university cafeteria.

I'm halfway through my late breakfast when my phone vibrates in my pocket. Wiping crumbs from my fingers, I answer the call.

"Listening," I say, holding the phone to my ear.

"Nate, second-category. On the university grounds. We're on our way," Eleonora's voice says on the other end.

"You mean here?" I almost choke on my coffee.

"Yes," she confirms. "If you notice anything, report immediately."

"Understood." I hang up without waiting for a reply.

This news sends a chill down my spine. Second-category demons aren't the most powerful, but they've already tasted blood. At first, they kill by instinct, but they soon realize that consuming souls makes them stronger. Then they start killing more frequently, eventually taking over the victim's body completely.

Taking down a fourth-category demon is insanely difficult, with no hope of saving the possessed soul. Fortunately, I haven't faced one yet.

Leaving my half-empty coffee, I hurry to the exit.

A thought strikes me suddenly. Could this be the help Baltazar mentioned? The idea brings more questions than answers, but a wrong theory is better than missing the truth. I have to find Cody, no matter what.

I return to the main building. I have no idea where Cody might be right now, so I decide tracking the demon is the easier option. My tracking ability isn't as sharp as Kaja's—more instinctual than precise—but if I concentrate hard enough, I might pick up something.

It's a challenge. The demon's faint energy flickers, then vanishes. My intuition leads me to the fifth floor, where the trail fades completely. I glance around. The corridor is eerily quiet, undergoing renovations.

Tools are scattered about, and there's no one in sight—or so it seems. I hear a door creak somewhere nearby. Silently, I approach the source of the sound, confident I'll find something in the room at the end of the hall.

The door is slightly ajar. I push it gently, and it swings open. The room is cluttered with sculptures draped in plastic, furniture pushed against the walls, and paint cans abandoned on the floor.

"Don't even think about moving," a voice suddenly commands behind me.

I turn swiftly.

"Damn it, I said don't move!" Cody's voice is louder, almost aggressive.

He's holding a small folding knife, but his trembling hands betray his fear.

"Calm down," I say, raising my hands. "It's just me."

Cody tightens his grip on the knife.

"Shut up. You're one of them, right? You look different, but you're with them." his voice shakes, but he keeps the knife right in front of him.

"Cody, I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm not here to hurt you," I say, trying to calm him down.

For a moment, it seems he believes me, but fear flickers in his eyes, refusing to let him lower his guard. I don't want to scare him more, so I stay still. I notice his eyes fixed on something behind me.

"There," he barely whispers.

Without hesitation, I turn. The demon I'd been tracking has found us first. This one resembles its kind. Large patches of gray, snake-like scales stand out on its skin. Without thinking, I launch forward, hoping to distract it. But the demon isn't fazed by my fists.

"Pretty weak, huh?" the demon sneers, breathing heavily.

I curse. The fact that he's toying with me might mean he's playing mind games—or that I truly have no advantage. I throw myself into pushing him back into the depths of the room, but I take more blows than I give.

As I hit the floor, I realize I've completely forgotten about Cody. I glance toward the door. He's still there, frozen in place, his face pale as a sheet.

"Run!" I shout, my voice strained as the demon chokes me. "Can you hear me?!"

It snaps him out of his trance. He disappears from the doorway, and I feel a surge of relief. But the creature attacking me isn't stopping, and I have to refocus.

"Worry about your own ass," the demon sneers, baring crooked yellow teeth.

His fist flies toward my cheek.