Chapter 21 - Unseen Strings

Lucien stepped into his apartment, locking the door behind him with a quiet click. The room was dimly lit, just as he had left it. He tossed his bag onto the couch and pulled off his hoodie, revealing faint scratches along his arms. He didn't bother tending to them—they weren't deep enough to matter.

His mind replayed the events from the night before. The attack, the stranger's cryptic warning, and the implication that someone—maybe multiple factions—were watching him. He didn't know their exact motives yet, but he knew one thing: staying under the radar was no longer an option.

With a sigh, Lucien ran a hand through his hair. This was nothing new. He had always been hunted, always had eyes on him. But something about this… felt different.

He took a deep breath, pushing the thoughts aside. Tomorrow was another school day.

---

Lucien arrived at school, walking through the halls as if everything was normal. But it wasn't.

Evelyn noticed immediately.

She had been watching him closely, ever since she first started suspecting something was off about him. The way he moved, the way he reacted to things normal people wouldn't. It wasn't just her imagination—Lucien Falkner was hiding something.

And today, he looked different.

He wasn't physically injured—at least, not in any way that was visible—but there was something about the way he carried himself. Something more guarded, more distant.

Evelyn wasn't going to ignore it.

The moment she saw him by the lockers, she walked straight up to him.

"Something's wrong with you."

Lucien stopped mid-motion, shutting his locker door with a soft click. His gaze shifted to her, unreadable. Cool. Unbothered.

"And?" His voice was as neutral as ever.

"And I want the truth."

Lucien didn't blink. He simply stared at her, as if contemplating something. Then, with a small exhale, he turned away.

"It's none of your business."

Evelyn clenched her jaw. That answer wasn't good enough. It had never been good enough.

She watched as Lucien walked away, blending back into the crowd like he always did. And that's when she made a decision.

If he wasn't going to talk, she was going to find out herself.

---

There was one place she had in mind—the old abandoned building near the school.

She had never paid much attention to it before, but now that she thought about it… it was the perfect place for someone to observe from a distance.

Evelyn made her way there after school, slipping past the rusted fence and into the decayed structure. Dust floated in the air as she stepped cautiously through the ruined corridors.

At first, it seemed empty. But then she started noticing things.

A table covered in documents. Marks on the walls, as if someone had been practicing knife throws. A strange emblem carved into the desk.

She frowned, running her fingers over the symbol. It wasn't familiar… but it felt important.

Then she heard voices.

Evelyn's breath caught in her throat. She quickly crouched behind a pillar, peeking through the cracks in the old walls.

Below her, in the open atrium, a group of figures stood in a loose circle.

They weren't normal.

Dressed in dark, tactical gear with weapons strapped to their belts, they looked like something out of a thriller movie. Assassins. Mercenaries. Something else entirely.

Her stomach tightened. What the hell was this?

She strained to hear their conversation, but the words were muffled. One of them gestured toward a piece of paper—a photo.

Evelyn's eyes widened. Lucien's photo.

Why did they have a picture of him?

Her fingers instinctively reached for the emblem on the desk. Maybe this was a clue. If she could take it and investigate later, she might find some answers.

Carefully, she slid the emblem off the table and into her pocket.

Then the floor creaked beneath her.

Shit.

---

She turned, but it was too late.

A shadow moved behind her. A tall figure, masked and watching.

"You shouldn't be here."

Her heart pounded. Run.

She bolted, sprinting down the hall as the sound of footsteps erupted behind her. They were fast. Too fast.

She burst through the exit, her lungs burning. She just had to get back to the school. Get to safety.

But as soon as she reached the street—

More figures appeared.

They emerged from the alleys, stepping into the dim light. Their faces hidden, their stance predatory.

Evelyn skidded to a halt, breathing hard. They had surrounded her.

One of them tilted their head slightly. "You've seen too much."

Evelyn's pulse roared in her ears.

She was trapped.

---

End of Chapter 21.