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My phone beeps. It’s a message from Mom, asking how I am and telling me briefly about her work. I decide to reply later and turn my attention back to Kate and my homework.
“Still no word from Noah?” she asks.
I shake my head. “I’m really worried about him. He hasn’t replied and never answers his phone. Something’s not right.” I can’t keep postponing this problem. “I need to go back to the Odyss as soon as possible and look for him. I don’t know what else to do.”
Kate nods. “Want me to come?”
“I figure it’s better if I go alone. I can’t afford to attract attention in there.”
“Okay,” says Kate. “But at least tell me and Ayden when you’re going so we can help you if something goes wrong.”
We both know there’s not much they could do. They can’t just run to the Odyss and search for me. I try not to let these thoughts get to me. It’s not like I have a choice. I have to find Noah.
“By the way, you should be wary of Max,” Kate continues. “She hates the fact that you’re living with the Fabricis. She also heard about the parties you’ve been invited to. Says you have no business being there. She’s jealous. But you know what she’s like. So be careful.”
I roll my eyes. “Just what I need …”
“You don’t need to do anything. Just keep your eyes peeled and be careful.”
I nod. “Yeah, you’re right. Still, I can kind of understand …
I’m interrupted by a low growl, and I look around in surprise. I know that sound, and it sets off alarm bells. Yoru was lying under our table, but now he comes out, hackles up, and walks toward the bookshelves, growling.
“Yoru,” I say without taking my eyes off the shelves, “what is it?”
Obviously, he doesn’t answer. I jump up and go to him, putting my hand on his back.
“Did you see something?” I whisper.
Suddenly, there’s a change in the air. I can’t tell what it is. It feels like the temperature just dropped a few degrees. I feel a prickle on the back of my neck and a vague sense of fear. It hangs in the air, spreading out in the room and creeping through my skin to my core. My pulse speeds up as the chill seeps into my bones. We’re in danger.
I stand up and pluck up the courage to take a look behind the first row of shelves. Yoru follows hot on my heels, and I send him odeon so that we’re ready for anything. When I peer behind the shelves, I think I see a shadow. Then I hear a strange sound – a dragging noise. I run to where the shadow disappeared, raising my hand and preparing to attack, but there’s nothing there.
I stop, speechless, and lower my hand. Yoru’s beside me, his fur still on end. But his muscles relax, and he stops growling.
What was that? Are we being watched? And if so, by whom? And why? Why didn’t they attack? I have a thousand questions in my head, and I suspect I won’t like the answers.
Kate steps up beside me and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Everything okay?”
“I think so,” I say, shaking my head. “I have no idea what just happened. I thought there was someone here. Yoru was growling, and I … I don’t know. I keep getting this uneasy feeling.”
“Come on,” she says. “Let’s take a break. We can hang in my room until next period. Give yourself a chance to calm your nerves.”
I follow her, glancing back over my shoulder again. “You think I just imagined it?”
“I think you’re on edge, which is totally understandable. Yoru’s picking up on your stress, and he’s doing a great job of looking out for you. You both just need a moment to chill.”
“So you think I overreacted,” I conclude.
She shakes her head. “No, but we’re in school. You know how secure these buildings are. Alfredo wouldn’t dare do anything to you here.”
I know Kate’s right but … I glance around the library again. Was I really overreacting?
We’re on our way down the corridor to Kate’s room when she says, “You need to get away from the Fabricis. Nobody should have to live like that, with this constant threat hanging over you.”
“Maybe that’s just it,” I say. “Alfredo’s trying to drive me insane. And he’s doing a great job.”
We turn a corner and pass several classrooms. These rooms are only used for film screenings or chemistry experiments, and there’s almost no one around. So I’m all the more surprised when we cross paths with Max and Lucia. They look just as surprised to see us.
