And then her knees dipped.
Ash caught her instantly, hands careful, reverent, not really touching but bracing along her arms.
Dev stepped closer. “She’s exhausted.”
I forced myself to take a breath. “We need to get her inside. Now.”
She looked up at me for the first time.
Not angry.
Not frightened.
Just… distant. Guarded. Like there was something between us now that hadn’t been there before.
“Yeah,” she whispered. “Okay.”
Ash guided her in, slow and steady.
And I followed them—
too aware of the fact that whatever happened out there in the woods…
She hadn’t told us all of it.
She hadn’t told me any of it.
We walked her back toward Night Block. Ash kept hovering so close he nearly tripped over her heels. Dev flanked the other side. I followed behind, unable to stop staring at the dirt on her legs, the leaves in her hair, the exhaustion weighing down every step.
When we reached her dorm, the four of us stopped.
Because banging — loud, frantic,desperatebanging — rattled the walls from inside her room.
Jess was planted in front of the door gripping a metal bat like she meant to fight a demon.
The moment she saw Seph, she sagged in relief.
“Thankfuck.Do you know you have a goddamn poltergeist?!”
As if on cue, something slammed into the door again —hard.
Seph froze.
Not with fear.
With guilt.
“Is that… normal?” Dev asked slowly.
Jess pointed the bat at the door. “This has been happening for the last hour. It wants out.”
Seph winced.
“I… didn’t think she’d react this badly.”
“She?” Jess screeched. “She?Seph, what the hell is living in your room?!”
“Nothing dangerous,” Seph said quickly. Too quickly. “I think she’s just… upset.”
