Adrian's hands still shook a few moments after what happened in the south garden. The image of Lucien Vale kneeling beside Isabella's lifeless body burned in his mind, sharp and vivid.
The garden was silent now, except for the faint rustle of leaves in the evening breeze. The spot where Isabella had laughed and confessed her feelings just minutes ago now cradled her limp, fragile body as her golden curls fanned out on the grass. Her lips were parted, her eyes wide and empty, staring at nothing.
Lucien had killed her with such precision that it looked like a ritual. He didn't look rushed... Just as Adrian had watched from behind the tangled vines.
Even now, Adrian could hear his tender voice that bid Bella goodbye before she died.
He sank to his knees on the cold floor, his gloved hand brushing the faint imprint of Lucien's shoes in his memory.
"Lucien's size eleven. It's obvious his steps were calm and his breathing was steady."
Adrian pulled out his small black notebook, its edges worn from use, and began to write with sharp, neat strokes.
Lucien Vale
Left-handed, but favours the right hand for control.
Kills with elegance. Like art.
Expression shifts in an instant.
Whispered to her after death.
Noticed me.
He paused, pen hovering over the page. His chest felt tight, warm, like something alive was clawing inside. He added one more line, his handwriting unsteady.
He noticed me.
That thought sent a shiver through him... half of it was fear, the other half was thrill. He didn't know why it mattered so much, but it did.
He snapped the notebook shut, tucking it inside his hoodie as voices broke the silence.
"Isabella! Oh God, someone call the president!"
Adrian froze, pressing himself deeper into the shadows of his tree as he made his way out of the garden. He reached the entrance of the garden, watching students flood the garden. Their screams were loud enough to alert the other students. Flashlights swept the area, and within minutes, the Student Organisation arrived, their dark jackets stark against the chaos.
The president himself stepped forward... Darius Crowne, tall and sharp-eyed. His black hair was swept back, and his voice carried a cold authority that silenced the crowd.
"No one leaves campus!" Darius barked. "Until we find who did this, everyone's a suspect."
Students whispered, their faces pale.
"Who found the body first?"
"I... I did,"
"Tell me..." he asked the student and she started explaining.
Adrian stood at the edge of the group, his dark glasses hiding his expression. To them, he was just the quiet blind boy with the weird gloves and no friends. No one saw the tremor in his fingers or the spark of excitement beneath his calm mask.
He took mental notes on Darius.
Darius Crowne
He's cold and loves to command attention.
His eyes miss nothing... except me.
His steps are always heavy, like he owns the ground.
Obsessed with control since he's the president of the student organisation.
Adrian slipped away as the crowd grew thicker. It was easy for him to pass through the thick crowd until he reached his dormitory. He didn't let go of his stick until he fully got in.
Inside his room, he locked the door and dropped his cane against the wall with a soft clatter. He sank onto his bed, the springs creaking under his weight. It felt quiet in his room especially since he had no roommate since his first year.
His mind replayed the scene over and over again... the way Lucien's lips curved into a faint smile after the kill, the glint of those golden eyes.
He never cared about Lucien Vale since his life was like that of the regular students who wanted attention, but he was shocked to see this part of Lucien that no one else knew.
Adrian's heart pounded hard enough to ache. He shouldn't be thinking about that smile. He shouldn't want to see it again.
He bit his lip, his gaze flicking to the notebook on his desk.
'Why did he look at me like that even if he knew I was blind? Why didn't he panic when he saw me? He didn't see me as a threat,'
He pressed a hand to his chest, trying to slow the rush of heat spreading through him.
"Stop it," he whispered to himself. "You're not supposed to feel this."
But he did and couldn't stop thinking about it.
.
.
The next morning, the campus was alive with chaos. The south garden was sealed off with yellow tape, and classes were cancelled for the day. Students huddled in the courtyard, their voices low and nervous.
"I heard she was strangled," one girl whispered, clutching her friend's arm. "Is it true?"
"No, someone said it was a knife," a boy argued, shaking his head. "The president didn't let us see the body,"
"I bet it's someone from outside. No one here could do that. Sadly, the school belle is gone,"
Adrian stood near a stone pillar, pretending he wasn't listening to them. His cane tapped softly against the ground, keeping up his act. He heard every word, every theory, every assumption of her death and it thrilled him to know the truth they didn't.
Since there was no class, Adrian walked back to his room. The school had ordered the students to stay locked in their rooms since the culprit could still be hanging around somewhere. He wanted to ignore the rules but there was punishment if anyone was caught lingering around. He sighed when he reached the door but froze when he noticed someone was there.
Lucien Vale.
His outfit was crisp, his dark hair catching the sunlight streaming through the hall window. He looked holy, untouchable... except Adrian knew what those hands could do.
"Adrian, right?" Lucien said, his voice smooth and warm, like he was greeting an old friend. "You dropped this."
He held up a pen... Adrian's pen, the one he'd used to write in his notebook last night. He didn't realise it fell off while he shoved his notebook into his hoodie.
Adrian's heart nearly stopped. His mouth went dry.
"Who... Who are you?" he asked softly, tilting his head like he couldn't see. "What did I drop?"
Lucien stepped closer, his shoes clicking on the floor.
"It's Lucien Vale," he said gently. "And you dropped your pen near the garden last night."
Adrian reached out slowly, his fingers trembling just enough to sell the act. Their hands brushed as Lucien passed him the pen, and the warmth of that touch shot through Adrian like a spark.
Lucien didn't step back. His golden eyes studied Adrian's dark glasses, searching for something. "You really can't see anything?" he asked, his voice soft, almost curious.
Adrian's shoulders tensed. "No," he said flatly, turning his head slightly away.
But Lucien wasn't convinced. He leaned closer, close enough that Adrian could smell the faint scent of soap and something sharp... maybe metal, blood. Lucien's fingers reached up, grazing the edge of Adrian's glasses.
Adrian slapped his hand away, sharper than he meant to. "Don't."
Lucien froze, then let out a soft laugh.
"Sorry, Adrian. I didn't mean to startle you."
Adrian's heart thundered in his ears. "It's fine," he muttered, forcing his breath to steady.
Lucien's smile widened.
"You should be careful, you know. Wandering alone at night... It's dangerous for someone who can't see."
That calm voice sounded more like a tease. It felt like an edge that made Adrian's throat dry. He nodded, murmuring a quiet "Thanks," but his mind was spinning. Lucien stood so close, his shadow falling over Adrian like a warm blanket.
Adrian's eyes flicked to the curve of Lucien's jaw, remembering how it looked with the blood stains last night. His eyes lowered and he wondered what scars or marks hid under that perfect collar. Does he have tattoos?
He wanted to know. He wanted to strip Lucien bare and study him like a course.
Lucien tilted his head, breaking Adrian's thoughts. "Are you okay?"
Adrian blinked and nodded quickly. "Yeah. I was... just... thinking."
Lucien's smile was perfect, practised, but something wild flickered beneath it.
"I see. See you around then... Adrian."
He turned and walked away, his steps echoing down the hall. Adrian stood frozen, the pen still warm in his hand.
When he finally shut the dorm door behind him, he slid down against it, sitting on the cold floor. His fingers brushed his lips, where Lucien's gaze had lingered too long.
'Why do I feel this way? I never do when I'm with other people. When Lucien's close, my heart skips a beat,'
He sucked his lower lip and released it almost immediately as a grin was plastered on his face.
'I want to see him kill again.'
He immediately took out his notebook to search for Lucien's schedule. If he has it, he'll be able to follow him around and know when he is going to strike his next victim.
'If he kills again... I want to watch every. Single. Scene.'