The morning came with soft light spilling through the blinds.
Evelyn stirred against the warmth at her side. For a moment, she forgot where she was—forgot the fear, the knives, the man in the shadows. There was only the faint brush of Silas's arm against hers, the steady sound of his breathing, the way the blanket had tangled between them.
He was still asleep. His brow was furrowed even in rest, like peace didn't come easily to him either.
Evelyn lay there for a moment longer, letting herself memorize it. The quiet. The safety. Then she slid carefully from the bed, not wanting to wake him.
Her routine carried her through the morning like muscle memory: shower, toast, tea she barely touched. She left Silas a scribbled note on the kitchen counter—Back later. Don't disappear. A smiley face beside it, because she didn't know how else to soften the words.
Then she grabbed her bag and headed for the university.
--- ✦ ---
Campus was alive in that chaotic, comforting way it always was—students spilling across the quad, papers clutched in hands, coffee cups balanced dangerously. The chatter, the rush, the shuffle of lives bigger than her own—it almost drowned out the echo of knives. Almost.
Amara waved the moment she spotted Evelyn. She looked effortlessly put together as always, her dark curls pulled into a messy bun that still looked perfect, her denim jacket slung casually over her shoulder.
"You look less haunted today," Amara teased as Evelyn caught up.
"Thanks," Evelyn said dryly, but she smiled. It felt good to smile.
Classes blurred by in their usual haze—lectures half-heard, notes half-written. Evelyn clung to the illusion of normalcy, repeating silently to herself: I'm just another student. Nothing's wrong. Everything's fine.
But as the day slipped toward evening, unease stirred in her chest. The light outside the lecture hall had gone gold, long shadows stretching across the campus lawn. Evelyn gathered her things slowly, delaying, though she didn't know what she was waiting for.
The moment she stepped outside, she saw him.
Edgar.
He stood near the far edge of the parking lot, too still to be mistaken for just another passerby. His hair was streaked with gray, his frame broad but worn, his eyes locked directly on her. And on his face was that same devious smile.
Her breath caught sharp in her throat.
Her bag slipped from her shoulder, hitting the pavement with a dull thud. Then she turned and ran.
Her heart pounded in her ears. She didn't dare look back. Every footstep felt like it was chasing her, every breath like it was closing in.
"Evelyn!"
Amara's voice cut through the panic. Evelyn's arm was seized mid-stride, yanking her off the main path and into the shadow of a stairwell. She nearly collapsed, gasping for air, but Amara steadied her with strong hands.
"What's wrong?" Amara demanded, her eyes sharp.
Evelyn could barely form words. "He—he's—Edgar—"
And then he was there.
Edgar rounded the corner, his steps unhurried, almost leisurely. The axe wasn't in his hands this time, but the menace clung to him like smoke. His smile widened when he saw them.
Amara shoved Evelyn behind her.
"Stay back," she said, her voice cold steel.
Edgar chuckled, a low, rasping sound that made Evelyn's skin crawl. "And who might you be?"
Amara didn't answer. She shifted her weight, planting her feet. Evelyn realized with shock that she wasn't just standing her ground—she was preparing.
Edgar stepped closer. Amara struck first.
Her fist connected with his jaw, sharp and fast. He stumbled, more out of surprise than pain. Evelyn's eyes went wide.
"Run, Evelyn!" Amara barked.
Evelyn's legs refused to move. She couldn't leave Amara—not when she was standing toe to toe with a killer. But her chest was tight, her lungs burning with panic.
Edgar's laugh rumbled again, and he swung at Amara, but she ducked, her movements quick, practiced. She jabbed him in the ribs, enough to make him grunt.
But Edgar wasn't an ordinary man. He caught her wrist mid-swing, twisting hard until she gasped. Evelyn's scream tore from her throat.
Without thinking, she grabbed the closest thing she could—a broken branch from the ground—and hurled it at Edgar. It wasn't much, but it was enough. He flinched, loosening his grip, and Amara wrenched free.
"Move!" Amara shouted, shoving Evelyn ahead.
Together they ran, darting across campus, weaving between buildings until their lungs burned and their legs screamed. Behind them, Edgar's footsteps echoed, steady, unhurried, as if he already knew he would catch them eventually.
Only when they finally ducked into a side alley and pressed against the wall did Evelyn's body give out. She collapsed to her knees, clutching her chest.
Her vision blurred. Panic roared through her, too big, too sharp. She couldn't breathe—her throat had locked shut.
"Evelyn, look at me!" Amara crouched, gripping her shoulders. "You're okay. We're safe right now. Just breathe with me."
Evelyn shook her head, gasping.
Amara pressed her forehead against Evelyn's, forcing her eyes to meet hers. "In," she whispered, breathing slow and exaggerated. "Out. Do it with me. In. Out."
It took everything Evelyn had, but she followed. Her lungs fought her at first, but eventually, the rhythm caught. Air slipped in. Out. In. Out.
Amara didn't let go until Evelyn's shaking eased. Then, gently, she brushed the tears from her cheeks. "Good girl. You're stronger than you think."
Evelyn clung to her, burying her face against Amara's shoulder. "I can't do this," she whispered, broken.
"Yes, you can," Amara said fiercely. "And you're not alone. Not anymore."
--- ✦ ---
The alley smelled of damp stone and smoke. Evelyn's breathing had finally steadied thanks to Amara, though her body still trembled with the aftershock of terror.
"Come on," Amara whispered, gripping Evelyn's hand tightly. "We can't stay out here. We need Silas."
The thought of home, of Silas's steady presence, gave Evelyn just enough strength to move. They stuck to the shadows, darting down side streets until the campus was far behind. Every step felt heavier, like Edgar's gaze was still pressing down on them.
By the time they reached Evelyn's house, the sky was bruised with twilight. She fumbled with the keys, her hands shaking, before the door finally creaked open.
Silas was there in the living room, a book in hand, but his head snapped up the instant he saw them. The book fell forgotten to the couch.
"Evelyn?" His voice was sharp, tense. His eyes flicked from her pale face to Amara's scraped knuckles. In two strides, he was in front of them. "What happened?"
Evelyn's throat closed. Words tangled on her tongue. She looked at Amara helplessly.
Amara didn't flinch. "Your boogeyman," she said flatly. "Edgar. He was at the university. He came after her."
Silas's expression hardened instantly, the calm in his eyes darkening to something colder. "Where?"
"Parking lot first," Amara said. "Then he chased us across campus. I fought him off long enough for us to get away."
Silas turned back to Evelyn, his hands hovering near her shoulders but not quite touching. "Did he hurt you?"
Evelyn shook her head quickly, though her eyes burned. "N-no. He—he tried, but—Amara—"
Silas's gaze finally settled on Amara. For the first time, something like respect flickered there. "You fought him?"
"I wasn't about to let him touch her," Amara replied, jaw tight.
Silas nodded once, curt but sincere. "You did good."
The weight in the room thickened. Silas dragged a hand through his hair, pacing once before stopping with his back to them. His voice was low, dangerous. "He's getting bolder. Watching. Following. Now he's hunting her in broad daylight."
Evelyn's chest squeezed at the word hunting.
Silas turned back, his gaze locking with hers. "From now on, you don't walk anywhere alone. Not to class, not to the store, not even to check the mail. He's circling, waiting. And I won't let him get to you."
Amara crossed her arms. "Then I'll help too. She's my friend. And Edgar already knows my face."
For a long moment, Silas studied her. Evelyn held her breath, waiting for him to refuse. But finally, he gave a slow nod.
"Fine," he said. "Then we stand together. Three against the dark."