Shadows and Fractures

Chapter 26:

Emily sat in her dorm room with the lights off, staring at the glowing screen of her phone. Her heart raced as she replayed the events of the night over and over in her mind. The greenhouse. Max's revelation. Oliver's sudden appearance. And the shadowy figure she'd felt watching her as she walked back across campus.

The knot of emotions in her chest tightened. Anger, fear, and confusion churned together, refusing to settle. She thought about texting Sarah but hesitated. How could she explain any of this without sounding completely unhinged?

Finally, she tossed her phone aside and buried her face in her hands.

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The Morning After

When Emily woke the next morning, the events of the previous night felt like a bad dream. But the tension in her chest reminded her it had all been real.

Sarah was waiting for her outside their first lecture, a concerned look on her face.

"You're late," Sarah said. Then, noting Emily's pale complexion, her tone softened. "What happened?"

Emily sighed and pulled her aside. "I went to the greenhouse last night."

"You what?" Sarah's eyes widened. "Emily, are you insane? What if it was a trap?"

"I had to know," Emily said, her voice quiet. "And Max was there. He told me everything."

Sarah listened intently as Emily recounted the night's events, her expression shifting from shock to anger to worry.

"This is way too much," Sarah said when Emily finished. "We need to tell someone. Campus security, maybe?"

"And say what?" Emily said. "That I'm getting cryptic notes and someone might have a weird connection to my past? They'll think I'm crazy."

Sarah crossed her arms, her jaw tight. "Then we figure this out ourselves. But no more going places alone, okay? I mean it."

Emily nodded, grateful for her friend's support.

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A Sudden Invitation

Later that day, Emily was on her way to the library when her phone buzzed with a new message.

Unknown Number: Meet me at the quad tonight at 8. No one else. I'll explain everything.

Her stomach dropped. It was the same number as before.

She stared at the message, debating whether to reply. Before she could make up her mind, another text came through.

Unknown Number: I know about the greenhouse. I know about Ethan. You need to hear the truth.

Her fingers trembled as she typed back: Who is this? Why should I trust you?

The response came almost immediately: Because you don't have a choice.

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The Truth Unfolds

Emily spent the rest of the day in a state of anxious anticipation. She didn't tell Sarah about the message—partly because she didn't want to worry her and partly because she wasn't sure Sarah would let her go.

At 8 p.m., she stood in the middle of the quad, her breath visible in the crisp night air. The campus was quiet, most students holed up in their dorms or the library.

"Emily."

The voice came from behind her. She turned to see Oliver emerging from the shadows.

"You," she said, her voice tight. "You've been sending the messages."

He nodded, his expression unreadable.

"Why?" she demanded. "Why all the secrecy? Why not just talk to me?"

"Because I didn't know how," he admitted, his voice low. "And because I wasn't sure you'd believe me."

"Believe what?" she pressed, her frustration mounting.

Oliver hesitated, then said, "The fight with Ethan wasn't just about protecting you. It was about stopping him."

Emily frowned. "Stopping him from what?"

"From hurting you," Oliver said. "Ethan wasn't just obsessed with you—he was planning something. Something dangerous."

Emily's blood ran cold. "What are you talking about?"

"He had pictures of you," Oliver said, his voice strained. "Notes about your routines, your habits. He talked about making you 'his.' When I confronted him, he snapped. That's why the fight happened."

Emily took a step back, her mind reeling. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"I didn't want you to feel scared," he said. "And after everything that happened, I thought it was over. But now…"

"Now what?"

Oliver looked around, as if checking for eavesdroppers. "I think someone else knows about Ethan. And they're trying to use it against us."

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A Fractured Trust

Emily's mind was spinning. She didn't know whether to believe Oliver or not. Everything he was saying felt too big, too dark, to be real.

"Why should I trust you?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Oliver's expression softened. "Because I've been protecting you since the day we met. And I'll keep protecting you, no matter what."

Before she could respond, a voice called out from the darkness.

"Emily?"

She turned to see Max approaching, his expression a mix of concern and suspicion.

"What's going on here?" Max asked, his eyes narrowing as they landed on Oliver.

"This isn't your business," Oliver said coldly.

"It is if it involves Emily," Max shot back.

Emily stepped between them, her patience wearing thin. "Stop it, both of you. I'm not some prize to be fought over."

Max looked at her, his expression softening. "I just want to make sure you're okay."

"I'm fine," she said, though her voice wavered.

Max turned to Oliver, his jaw tight. "If you're hiding something, I'll find out."

Oliver didn't respond, his gaze locked on Emily.

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A Shocking Revelation

After Max left, Emily turned back to Oliver. "This isn't over. I need the whole truth, Oliver. No more half-answers, no more secrets."

He nodded, his expression somber. "You'll get it. Soon."

But as she walked back to her dorm that night, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.

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