Whispered Shadows

Chapter Twelve

Shadows on Campus

Noa

The lecture hall is almost empty now, the murmurs of students filing out fading into the echo of the door closing behind them. I gather my books slowly, my fingers fumbling slightly as the professor's voice stops me.

I can't help but feel as if I am in trouble. I know I wasn't paying attention as much as I should, but the days are getting long as the Shadow business grows. My plate is full and keeping up with classes is not as easy as I thought it would be.

"Noa, can you stay back for a moment?" Professor Whitaker's voice is calm but carries an edge of something I can't quite place—concern, maybe?

I glance up at him, my heart skipping a beat. His weathered face, framed by a short beard peppered with gray, is creased with a frown. He's one of those professors who doesn't miss a detail, and it seems I've caught his attention.

"Of course, Professor," I say, standing awkwardly at my desk as the last few students shuffle out.

He waits until the room is empty, then leans back against his desk, arms crossed. "I wanted to talk to you about your sister."

The air leaves my lungs in a rush, my grip tightening on the notebook I'm holding. Gia's name is like a trigger—it always catches me off guard, no matter how many times it's mentioned.

"You knew her?" I manage to ask, my voice is soft but steady.

Whitaker nods, his expression shifting to something gentler, almost wistful. "She was one of my best students. Bright, creative, but..." He hesitates, searching for the right words. "She carried a lot on her shoulders. A weight I didn't fully understand until after she was gone."

I swallow hard, the familiar ache of guilt settling in my chest. "What do you mean?"

"She had a way of masking her struggles," he says, his voice quiet but heavy. "Always smiling, always polite. But there were times she seemed... distracted. Like she was looking over her shoulder, even when no one was there."

The words send a chill down my spine. "Did she ever tell you why?"

He shakes his head, his frown deepening. "No, but I suspected something was wrong. I encouraged her to talk to someone, to get help if she needed it. She said she was fine, but..." He sighs, running a hand through his graying hair. "Noa, I don't know what you're dealing with, but be careful. There's a lot about this campus that stays hidden in the shadows."

I blink, caught off guard by the warning. "What do you mean?"

Whitaker straightens, his expression hardening slightly. "Just... watch your back. Gia was smart, and even she couldn't escape whatever was haunting her. I'd hate to see history repeat itself."

I nod, though my mind is racing. "Thank you, Professor. I'll be careful."

As I leave the lecture hall, his words cling to me like a shadow. Something is unnerving about the way he said it like he knows more than he's letting on.

I'm so lost in thought that I don't notice Lila until she's right in front of me, her warm smile snapping me out of my haze.

"Noa! Hey!" she says, her voice light and cheerful. Her long, curly black hair bounces as she moves, her bronze skin glowing in the midday light streaming through the hallway windows. "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I force a smile, trying to shake off the unease. "Yeah, just... one of those days, you know?"

Lila tilts her head, studying me with those soft brown eyes that always seem to see too much. "Coffee? My treat. You look like you could use it."