CHAPTER FOUR

NOAH’S POV

The morning sun stretched lazily across the sky, casting golden streaks over Siege University’s vast campus. Students milled about, lost in their own worlds, laughter and conversations blending into a distant hum.

Penny and Nathan walked on either side of me, their energy contagious. It had been a few days since I’d met them, and strangely, I felt comfortable with them. Too comfortable, maybe.

Penny crunched on a chip, her green eyes twinkling mischievously. “So, tell me, pretty boy, what’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?”

I arched a brow. “What?”

She grinned. “Come on, spill. Everyone has one.”

Nathan snorted. “She just wants material to tease you with. What a sneaky witch."

“Not really, but that would be fun” Penny winked.

I licked my chocolate lollipop, making a pop sound. “Sorry to disappoint, but I’m flawless. No embarrassing moments here.”

Penny gasped dramatically. “Liar! That’s impossible. I demand a story.”

“Nope.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“Just a tiny one?”

“Still no.”

Nathan laughed. “Give it up, Penny. You are so pushy

"Penny groaned dramatically. “Gosh..,You both are no fun,”

I smirked, enjoying her frustrated pout. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted someone.

Professor Rex.

The moment I saw him, it was like the world tilted.

He strode across the courtyard, his white button-down crisp against his tan skin, sleeves pushed up to his elbows. His dark brown hair was slightly tousled, like he’d been running his fingers through it too often. His sharp, chiseled jaw tensed, his expression unreadable, golden eyes locked straight ahead.

Everywhere he went, people noticed. It was impossible not to.

But unlike me, they weren’t drawn to him.

My legs moved before I could stop them. I didn't know what was wrong with me

Maybe it was the way he had looked at me that day, like he was searching for something in me. Or maybe I was just being reckless. But one thing was certain: professor Rex Lutz, was like a haunted house, one my curiosity kept daring me to step into, despite the obvious danger. A part of me wanted to be trapped inside, just to understand the mystery of him, even if it meant learning my lesson the hard way.

“I’ll catch up with you guys,” I muttered to Penny and Nathan before stepping away.

Penny called out behind me, but I ignored her.

“Rex…” I called, then quickly corrected, “Professor Lutz

No response.

“Professor Lutz”

Still nothing.

Frowning, I quickened my pace. “Professor Rex.”

That made him stop.

Slowly, he turned his head, his golden eyes pinning me in place.

I sucked in a quiet breath.

Something about his gaze sent a shiver down my spine. It wasn’t just intense, it was searching, like he was trying to find something in me, something I didn’t even understand myself.

For the first time, I realized I had no idea what I was going to say.

Crap.

Think, Noah!

My brain scrambled for an excuse. “Uh… I wanted to ask if you needed an assistant.”

His brow furrowed. “An assistant?”

I nodded too quickly. “Yeah. Like, you know, helping with grading papers, organizing things, uh… carrying books?”

He stared at me like I had just suggested we fight to the death.

Then, with an air of finality, he said, “No.”

I blinked. “No?”

“No.”

His voice was sharp. Firm. No hesitation.

Before I could say anything else, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, stunned.

Then, a grin tugged at my lips.

Interesting.

I was still grinning when I returned to Penny and Nathan.

Penny smirked, arms crossed. “So… you wanna tell me why you were chasing Professor McSexy?”

I rolled my eyes. “I wasn’t chasing.”

“Looked like chasing to me.”

Nathan leaned in, his voice casual but full of something unreadable. “Are you gay?”

I choked on my lollipop. “What?”

Penny shrugged. “I mean, if you’re into hot professors, we need to know these things.”

“I...what? No!” I groaned.

Nathan grinned. “Your reaction isn’t very convincing.”

“I’m not gay!”

Penny squinted at me. “You sure?”

“Yes!” I huffed. “I just… he gives off this weird vibe, and I wanted to figure it out.”

Nathan hummed. “Uh-huh.”

I shot him a glare. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Deeply”

I sighed heavily. “Can we go to class now?”

Penny paused. “Fine. But honestly Noah, I think you should be careful around professor Lutz. If you are getting a weird aura from him, then you should keep off. He doesn't look like someone you would want to get close to.” she explained sounding so serious.

“She's right dude. I get weird aura from him too, so please be careful” Nathan added.

“Okay guys. Thanks for the advice, but please can we go to class now?”

“Off course pretty boy. And before I forget, we're having a sleepover at my place tomorrow”Penny chirped.

“What!”

She looped her arm through mine, pulling me forward. “Yep! You’re my new best friend, and we require bonding time. So, sleepover it is.”

“I thought sleepover was girls stuff?”Nathan requested.

Penny rolled her eyes dramatically”who cares, you guys are my only friends, so deal with it!"

I opened my mouth to protest, but she cut me off with a knowing look. “Unless, of course, you would rather spend the night dreaming about professor McSexy”

I groaned. “Fine. Sleepover.”

Nathan chuckled. “Gosh, penny, you're so sassy. I wonder how your fiance put up with that.”

Penny suddenly tilted her head. “By the way, why are you not living in the dorms like us?”

I stiffened.

Shit.

I forced a casual shrug. “Uh… personal reasons.”

Penny narrowed her eyes. “Suspicious.”

Nathan smirked. “Very suspicious.”

I rolled my eyes and pushed ahead. “You guys are exhausting.”

Penny giggled. “Too bad you are stuck with us pretty boy ”

I sighed, I just hope I don't blow off my cover with this two.

~~~

The rest of the day passed in a blur, lectures, assignments, Penny’s endless chatter about the upcoming sleepover. She was already listing snacks and horror movies, practically dragging me into her plans before I even agreed. Nathan, as usual, just went along with whatever she wanted, occasionally throwing in sarcastic remarks that made her swat at him.

I should have been paying attention, but my mind was elsewhere.

I exhaled sharply, trying to focus on Penny and Nathan instead.

By the time classes ended, the sky had faded into hues of pink and orange. We walked toward the campus gates, Penny and Nathan still debating whether classic horror or psychological thrillers were scarier.

That was when I felt it.

A chill.

Not from the wind.

Not from the fading warmth of the sun.

But from something else.

Something...or someone… watching me.

My steps faltered. My skin prickled.

The world around me seemed to slow, every rustling leaf, every distant voice, every shifting shadow sharpening in my awareness.

I turned my head slightly, scanning my surroundings.

Students milled about, heading out, laughing in groups, completely unaware.

But I knew.

There was something, someone, watching me.

The sensation clung to me, suffocating, pressing against my chest like unseen hands.

“Noah?”

Nathan’s voice pulled me back.

I forced my body to relax, stretching my lips into what I hoped was a normal smile. “Yeah?”

“You okay?”

Should I tell them?

No.

I didn’t want to sound paranoid.

So I just nodded. “Yeah, just spaced out.”

Penny flung an arm around my shoulder, grinning. “Come on, pretty boy. Let’s get snacks for the sleepover!”

I let them drag me along, trying to shake the feeling.

But it never left 

"You guys should go without me. I need to use the restroom,” I said, waving my friends off with a casual smile before turning toward the empty hallway.

The moment I stepped away, a deep voice caught my attention.

Professor Rex.

He was standing near the stairwell, phone pressed to his ear, his golden eyes dark with focus.

I slowed my steps, ears straining.

“Make sure you keep an eye on him. I am on my way”

That's all I heard before he ended the call and walked away, his tall frame disappearing around the corner.

Hump. I huffed and hurried to the restroom.

Thankfully, it was empty.

I quickly did my business, washed my hands, and reached for the door handle,

It didn’t budge.

My fingers tightened. I jiggled the handle again.

Nothing.

The air in my lungs stilled.

I tried again, pulling harder this time, my pulse thrumming against my ribs.

Still nothing.

A sick, icy dread slithered up my spine.

No. No, no, no.

I knocked once. “Hey! Someone open the door!”

Silence.

I knocked harder, my palms sweating. “Hello? Anyone out there?”

Nothing.

Breathe, Noah. It’s just a door. Someone will come. 

But my hands wouldn’t stop trembling.

My breath came faster, shallower.

The walls suddenly felt too close.

The air too thin.

The shadows stretched toward me, pressing in, wrapping around my throat like invisible hands.

I wasn’t here. I was there.

A child again. Alone. Trapped.

Thunder crashed outside the small house, shaking the windows. I sat curled up in the corner, hugging my knees, my tiny body trembling. The lights flickered. The darkness swallowed everything. They promised they’d be back. They promised.

Lightning flashed, illuminating the empty room for a split second,just long enough to see the monstrous shadows stretching across the walls.

I screamed. But no one came.

Another crack of thunder. Another scream.

No one came.

A choked gasp tore from my throat as I stumbled back, my body colliding with the cold tile wall.

I gripped my chest, trying to force air into my lungs, but I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t breathe.

A faint sound echoed from the other side of the door.

My eyes snapped open, bringing me back from my past.

A groan. Low. Pained.

Then,

A heavy thud.

My breath hitched.

I pressed myself deeper into the wall, my body rigid.

Silence.

An unbearable silence that stretc

hed long enough to make my skin crawl.

Then…

BOOM!

The door exploded open.

The pieces and metal blasted into the restroom, the force sending a gust of air past me, whipping my hair around my face.

I stood frozen, my heart slamming against my ribs.

And standing in the doorway was the last person I ever expected.