Chapter Twenty - The Confession

Myles hesitated. Then he nodded. "Lead the way."

I didn't go back to the dorm. I couldn't. Not with Earl's face still burned into my memory, not with the note still crumpled in my pocket, not with the feeling that someone was watching every move I made.

Instead, I led him to the library. It was closed, but I knew a side door that stuck if you didn't pull hard enough. I'd found it my first week, back when I was still learning the campus, still learning who to trust.

Turns out, I was still learning.

The library was dark, the only light coming from the emergency exit signs and the faint glow of the moon through the tall windows. Shelves stretched into shadows. The air smelled like old paper and dust and secrets.

I found a table in the back corner, away from the windows, away from doors. Myles sat across from me, his brown eyes steady, waiting.

"So," he said. "You're going to tell me why you're sneaking around the BioMed building at midnight? Or should I guess?"

"It's complicated."

"It always is." He leaned back in his chair. "Try me."

I pulled out the photograph. The one from under my pillow. The one of me sleeping, taken from the doorway. I slid it across the table.

Myles picked it up. His face went pale.

"Someone took this last night," I said. "While I was sleeping. While Ashley was sleeping. They stood in our doorway and took a picture and neither of us woke up."

He turned it over. Read the words on the back. Sweet dreams.

"Why would someone do that and who did this?"

"I don't know. But it's not the first thing they've left."

I pulled out the napkin. The lake. Tonight. Then my phone, showing him the photograph of the black sedan. Then the warning from the greenhouse. You're too late.

“Nova!” Makes eyes widened in disbelief. “Okay I need to know what is actually going on.”

I looked around the empty library and leaned closer to Myles.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” I whispered under my breath. “My name is Alexa…Alexa Lean.” I stared into his eyes for a reaction.

“Alexa who ? Wait, that's Alice’s last name. I’m confused.”

“I know it sounds crazy, I’ll explain everything tomorrow to all of you, You, Madden, Ashely. I can’t do this alone anymore.”

“I must be dreaming, are you messing with me?”

“Myles I’m not, this is real and serious.”

Myles stared at the phone on the table as if seeing it for the first time. He took the phone again and with one move removed the black bare pouch covering it.

“Thi…this is Alice’s phone, you are not lying."

“I know it’s hard to believe, but I can’t lie about this, we can’t talk about this tonight. Tomorrow we will meet at this library again…all of us.”

Myles nodded in agreement. “We have to head back to the dorm.”

“I can’t, what if they take more than a picture this time?”

Myles sighed..a very deep one. “You can stay in my room, Dereck won’t mind.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Well it’s either that or staying up all night waiting for God knows who to come and take another picture.” Myles stood up and walked to where I was and sat down on the table in front of me. “As much as I find this hard to believe, we still can’t take any chances.”

I stared at him. His dorm room. Derek's room. A room full of boy smell and video game posters and probably dirty laundry.

"That's a terrible idea," I said.

"Probably. But it's better than you getting murdered." He said it so casually, like he was talking about the weather. "Grab your stuff."

"I don't have stuff. Just my jacket."

"Then let's go."

He stood up and offered me his hand. I didn't take it. I stood up on my own.

But I followed him out of the library.

---

The walk across campus felt longer than usual.

Every shadow looked like a person. Every rustle of leaves sounded like footsteps. Myles walked close enough that our shoulders almost touched. Close enough that I could smell his cologne,something woodsy, something warm.

"Stop looking around," he murmured.

"I can't help it."

"Then look at me." He glanced sideways. "If someone's watching, let them see you with me. Let them wonder."

I looked at him. His profile was sharp in the moonlight. Jaw clenched. Eyes focused.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked. "You just found out I've been lying to you for weeks. My name isn't even Nova. I'm a complete stranger."

"Funny," he said. "You don't feel like a stranger."

We reached his dorm. He held the door open, and I slipped inside.

---

Posters of old bands. A gaming chair with a tear in the armrest. Clothes draped over the desk chair. Derek's side was neater,a single bookshelf, a plant that looked half-dead, a bed made with military precision. I have been here before but I didn’t really take a good glance at the room and its features.

Myles pointed to his bed. "You take the bed. I'll take the floor."

"I'm not taking your bed."

"You're the guest."

"I'm the one who lied to you."

He shrugged. "Then consider it a penance." He grabbed a pillow and a blanket from his closet and spread them on the floor. "Lights off?"

I nodded.

He clicked off the lamp, and the room went dark.

---

I lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The mattress smelled like him. The sheets were soft. I felt guilty for noticing.

"Hey, Myles?"

"Yeah?"

"Why aren't you freaking out? I just told you I'm Alice's sister. I've been pretending to be someone else. I've been lying to everyone."

Silence. Then: "I don’t know.”

I stared at the ceiling. There wasn’t any water stain like the one in my room.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"For what?"

"For not running."

"I'm not going anywhere, Alexa."

My real name on his lips sounded different. Softer. Like it belonged somewhere safe.

---

I must have fallen asleep, because when I opened my eyes, sunlight was streaming through the window.

Myles was still on the floor, one arm thrown over his face, his chest rising and falling slowly. Derek's bed was empty,already gone to class, probably.

I sat up quietly, pulled out my phone.

A text from Ashley: Where are you??? Your bed is empty.

I typed back: Couldn't sleep. Went for a walk. I'm fine.

A lie. But what else was new?

Myles stirred. He blinked up at me, his hair a mess, his eyes still half-closed, his succulent lips parted a little.

No, Alexa!

"Morning," he mumbled.

"Morning."

"You okay?"

"No. But I will be."

He sat up, ran a hand through his hair. "Today's the day, isn't it? You're telling them."

"Today's the day."

He nodded. Stood up. Walked to the window and looked out at the campus.

"Then we'd better get breakfast," he said. "You're going to need your strength."

I almost smiled.

Then my phone buzzed again.

Not Ashley.

Unknown number. One word: Rise and shine..

I stared at the screen.

Myles turned around. "What is it?"

I showed him the message.

His jaw tightened. "They always do that?”

"Not often enough" I stood up, slipped the phone into my pocket. "Let's go."

We walked out of the room together.

And neither of us noticed the figure standing at the end of the hallway, watching.

Phone raised.

Camera ready.