Chapter 24: The Price Of Safety

The morning felt different thinner, almost brittle

As Ryan stepped out of Daniel’s apartment and into the pale dawn. The city still slept, but for Ryan, every footstep echoed like a warning.

He glanced at the locks on the door behind him new, unmarked, unbreachable by anyone but him and the locksmith and felt a fleeting sense of pride. He was taking back the rules of his life. Yet Adrien’s last message still burned in his mind:

You think they can protect you? Let’s see how long they last.

Chris met him at the corner, umbrella in one hand, thermos of coffee in the other. His expression was tight; lines of worry etched deep into his brow.

“How’d you sleep?” Chris asked, offering the thermos.

“Like a watchtower,” Ryan replied, bitterness lacing his voice. “Alert, but unrested.”

Chris let out a soft sigh. “We’ll keep at it. I’ve talked to security again. They’ve doubled patrols near your dorm, and they’ll escort you to class if you want.”

Ryan shook his head and took a sip of coffee. “No. I need to see the world isn’t hostage,” he said. “I need to walk through it, with you or Daniel or whoever, but on my terms.”

Chris nodded. “Whatever you need.”

They walked in silence toward the student center. The streets glistened with last night’s rain, and the city felt clean almost forgiving. Ryan tried to believe it would stay that way.

Inside the student center, the digital bulletin board scrolled news of upcoming events. Ryan watched for a flicker of Adrien’s face, but saw only announcements for volunteer drives and club meetings. For a moment, relief settled in his chest. Then Chris’s phone buzzed.

He checked the screen and his face drained color. “They’re looking for you in security,” he said, voice low.

Ryan’s heart lurched. “Why?”

Chris scrolled through a message chain. “Someone turned in a complaint: someone saw you break into the dorm’s common room last night, tampering with doors and alarms.”

Ryan’s mind reeled. “I… I didn’t. I was at Daniel’s all night.”

Chris’s jaw clenched. “It fits Adrien’s MO. He’s framing you.”

“I can’t be here,” Ryan whispered.

Chris grabbed his arm. “Come with me.”

They didn’t stop until they reached Campus Security’s main office, tucked in a nondescript building behind the parking garage. The fluorescent lights inside buzzed, the air thick with paperwork.

A lone officer Sergeant Moreno looked up at them from behind the desk.

“Mr. Carter,” he said without preamble. “We need your statement.”

Ryan swallowed. “I was at a friend’s last night. I didn’t”

Moreno raised a hand. “Security cameras caught someone matching your description. If you can’t explain it, we’ll have to treat it as forced entry.”

The words hit Ryan like a fist. He glanced at Chris. “They have footage?”

“They said…” Chris hesitated. “They only said ‘footage.’ I couldn’t see it.”

Ryan’s world tilted. Adrien had the money, the access, the leverage to bend cameras and records. He was a phantom.

“Please,” Ryan said to Moreno. “Call my friend Daniel Hayes. He can confirm I stayed there. I’ll give you his number.”

The sergeant nodded and picked up the phone. Chris watched Ryan as he explained, urgency rising in his tone. After a tense hold, Moreno lowered the phone.

“He confirms it,” Moreno said. “We’ll review the footage again. If there’s any doubt, we’ll clear you.”

Ryan exhaled shakily. “Thank you.”

As they left, Chris whispered, “He’s ratcheting up. Trying to break you publicly.”

Ryan’s breath came in shallow bursts. Adrien was no longer content with intimidation he was destroying Ryan’s defenses, one by one.

By late afternoon, Ryan and Chris rendezvoused with Daniel in the quad. Daniel wore a crisp shirt and a face of hard determination.

“He got security to doubt you,” Daniel said. “This is next level.”

Chris slammed his palm into his open hand. “He’s leveraging every system.”

Daniel ran a hand through his hair. “We need a new strategy.”

Ryan looked between them. “What if we go to the dean? Make a formal complaint against Adrien for harassment

provide every text, every photo, the locksmith’s log showing our locks changed, Daniel’s witness statement…”

Chris nodded. “That’s the next step. Force the university to choose sides.”

Daniel took Ryan’s hand. “We’ll do it together.”

That evening, in the quiet safety of Daniel’s living room, they prepared their case. Daniel printed out text threads and photos, Chris organized timestamps and the locksmith’s invoice, Ryan crafted a careful timeline.

Words materialized on paper evidence of Adrien’s stalking, intrusion, and sabotage.

Afterwards, Ryan closed his eyes. “I feel like I’m betraying him.”

Chris and Daniel exchanged glances.

“He stopped being a boy who liked you,” Daniel said softly. “He became someone who thinks you owe him control.”

Ryan opened his eyes. “I know.”

Daniel leaned forward. “This is us taking that control back.”

Two days later, Ryan sat before the dean’s office, flanked by Chris and Daniel. The dean an austere woman named Dr. Price sat behind a polished oak desk.

“Mr. Carter,” she said, her tone businesslike. “I understand you’ve filed a counter complaint against Mr. Fairchild.”

Ryan met her gaze. “Yes, ma’am. He’s been harassing me stalking, breaking in, tampering with security. I have evidence.”

He felt Chris and Daniel’s support behind him as he laid out the documents. Dr. Price listened, flipping through pages.

When Ryan finished, he held his breath.

The dean set the last sheet down. “This is substantial. I will convene a disciplinary panel immediately. In the meantime, Mr. Fairchild is suspended from campus pending review.”

Ryan’s chest loosened, and Chris exhaled. Daniel’s grip on his shoulder was firm and reassuring.

That night, back in his own dorm now under official watch Ryan lay on his bed, the moonlight soft across his sheets.

Chris slept on the couch; Daniel had walked him to the door and promised to check in.

Ryan picked up his phone and opened his blog. He typed a final line for the day:

“When they try to erase you, you write yourself back into the record. I’m here. I’m still standing.”

He published it, then set the phone aside. For the first time in weeks, sleep came without nightmares.