I was still standing in the hallway, trying not to have a panic attack, when I heard something.
A noise.
Not too loud. Not dramatic. Just… off.
It came from down the hall. Not footsteps, not a voice. It sounded more like a thud. Followed by something dragging. I couldn't even tell if it was real or if my imagination was just playing tricks on me because this house gave off "secrets in the basement" energy.
Cassien didn't seem to notice. He was flipping through his notebook like the textbook had personally offended him. I should've stayed focused. I really should've stayed focused.
But I couldn't stop looking at the door.
Then—
Ping.
My backpack vibrated. Once. Sharp. I froze.
Only one thing I owned could ping like that.
I reached in, pretending to grab a pen or something, and pulled out my laptop just enough to crack it open behind my notebook. RedHalo's secure interface was glowing on the screen.
A message blinked across the top.
FROM: RH Control
SUBJECT: URGENT
MESSAGE: IGNORE THE NOISE. DO NOT INVESTIGATE. LEAVE THE HOUSE IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
My body went cold.
Wait, what?
I looked up at Cassien. He didn't say anything. Didn't even glance at me. He was still sitting in that chair like he had no clue the universe had just thrown a warning sign at my face.
Another sound. Louder this time. Like something heavy falling upstairs. I flinched, and so did he.
His eyes flicked toward the ceiling, then at me.
"What was that?" I asked before I could stop myself.
He stood up. "Stay here."
Of course I didn't.
The second he stepped out of the room, I slammed my laptop shut, threw it in my bag, and grabbed my stuff. RedHalo had never told me to abandon a mission like that. Not once. Whatever was happening in this house, I was not sticking around to be spy toast.
I ran down the stairs like I was being chased, even though no one was behind me. The front door felt way farther away than it had earlier. My hands were shaking when I grabbed the knob and pulled it open.
And then I was outside.
Air.
Real, cool, fresh oxygen.
I didn't stop until I reached the sidewalk. Then I grabbed my bag firmly and kept walking like I hadn't just escaped a haunted millionaire mansion with murder vibes.
I didn't even call a ride.
I walked. Fast. Almost ran.
My dorm never looked more beautiful in my life. Bright paint? Gorgeous. Ugly elevator? I wanted to kiss it. I hit the third floor and sprinted down the hall to our room, hoping no one was inside. I needed five minutes to sit down and breathe.
The door creaked open. No lights. The dorm was empty.
Perfect.
I dropped my bag and collapsed on my bed.
What was that?
Why would RedHalo pull me out like that? Why the sudden warning? They sent me here. They told me to get close. What changed?
I didn't even have time to think before my laptop pinged again.
I hesitated.
Then opened it.
FROM: RH Control
SUBJECT: REVIEW REQUIRED
MESSAGE: You were warned. Next time, we won't interfere.
I stared at the screen.
Wait… next time?
So they had stepped in. Something must've happened in that house. Something bad. Something I wasn't supposed to see.
I thought about that noise again. The dragging. The thud.
And Matteo.
He was there.
What if it was connected?
I didn't know what scared me more that RedHalo was protecting me… or that they almost didn't.
I was about to close my laptop when I noticed something.
A new file.
Unmarked.
No subject. No sender.
Just sitting there.
It wasn't there a second ago.
I clicked on it.
And what I saw made me stop breathing.
A single blurry photo.
Of me.
Standing outside the Vanelli mansion.
Time-stamped: 17 minutes ago.
Taken from behind a tree.
I turned around slowly, eyes darting to the window.
Outside, through the blinds… I thought I saw something move.
Something or someone.
Watching.
Now I don't think I'm the only one spying.