THE STRANGER IN THE DARK

The stranger's shape blocked the door like a shadow that had come to life. The dim light in the office reflected off the metal clasp of a badge that was clipped to his belt, but it was turned just enough that Elena couldn't read it. He went inside and quietly closed the door behind him.

"Miss Torres, you've been very busy."

His voice was calm and measured, but there was something about it that made her skin crawl. Elena moved back until the edge of the dean's desk hit her thighs. Her phone shook in her hand.

"Who are you?"

she asked. The man gave a weak smile.

"That's not important right now."

The important thing is that you've been talking to someone you shouldn't have. You are in a very difficult situation.

"I want to see Dean Crawford,"

she said, her voice sharper than she felt. "Right now." He said,

"Dean Crawford isn't here."

"He is... sick. Instead, you'll be talking to me.”

Her thumb was hovering over the emergency call button on her phone.

"I'm calling security if you don't move."

He laughed softly.

"Safety? I am the security.”

He showed the campus security badge for half a second before putting it back in his belt. Her stomach dropped.

"Then why did you lock the door?"

He said in a calm voice,

"To protect you."

"There are people on this campus who want to hurt you."

Her heart raced.

"Then why am I the one who is locked in?"

He stepped closer and spoke more quietly.

"Miss Torres, the danger is already here."

You have been talking to Adrian Wells, right? Her mouth got dry.

"I—no. I don't— "Don't lie."

He got angry.

"We've gotten the messages. You think he's a nice guy on a dating app, but he's been getting you ready for something. It's in the book. A weak student, a charming professor, and secret messages. We have been looking into him for months. Elena's knees shook. She held on to the desk to keep her balance.

"Why are you telling me and not the police if that's true?"

"Because we're putting together a case. We need you to help us.”

He took a small recorder out of his pocket.

"Please help us, Miss Torres."

Please give us your phone. Send us everything he has sent you. We can make sure your name stays clear. Her head was spinning. It sounded like it could be true, maybe even too true. She remembered the hooded man in the hallway and the strange things he said. She remembered Adrian Wells' messages and how he had looked at her in class. Was he really lying? She felt her phone buzz in her hand. She looked down.

A.W. has sent a new message: “Don't give them anything.”

They're not telling the truth. She looked up at him. He was still looking at her, with calm and cool eyes.

"Well?"

he asked. She licked her lips.

"How can I be sure you're telling the truth?"

He smiled a little.

"You don't. But you don't have any other choices. Give me the phone.”

He reached out his hand, palm up. Elena's heart raced. She could give it to him and be done with the whole thing. But there was something in his face that made her hesitate. The small smile of victory at the corner of his mouth. Again, her phone buzzed. Another note:

A.W.: “Don't believe him.”

Get under the desk. There is a vent. She blinked. Under the desk? Her eyes moved quickly to the wooden panel under the dean's desk. A narrow metal grate was flush against the wall, but it was only half-loose at the corner. The man saw her look and took another step forward.

"Now, Miss Torres."

Elena took a shaky breath.

"Okay,"

she said as she handed him the phone. When he reached for it, she let it fall to the floor.

"I'm sorry,"

she said softly as she bent down to pick it up. She ducked under the desk and reached for the vent with her fingers. There was a metallic click when the grate came loose.

"What's going on?"

The man barked and crouched down. Elena pushed the grate aside, put her phone in her waistband, and wriggled into the dark hole before he could grab her arm. The cold air rushed over her skin. She heard him curse and lunge, but she was already crawling, her elbows scraping against the metal. "Stop!" He yelled. Her heart raced against her ribs. The vent shook under her weight as she crawled faster. A fist hit the grate behind her. He yelled,

"There has been a security breach!"

"She is in the ducts!"

Elena didn't turn around. She crawled through the metal passage that twisted and turned, scraping her knees raw with each turn. Again, her phone buzzed against her hip. She turned enough to see the message.

A.W.: “Keep going. At the first fork, go left. I'll meet you.”

Her chest rose and fell. Her palms were sweaty. She followed the vent as it turned left. Voices echoed faintly behind her, this time from more than one man. They had heard. She crawled until the vent sloped down towards a faint light. She pushed her face against the mesh and looked out. The hallway leading to the east exit was empty. She kicked the grate free and fell to the floor, gasping for air.

"Elena!"

She turned around. Professor Wells was standing a few feet away with messy dark hair and burning eyes. He gently held her arms to steady her.

"Are you hurt?"

Her body shook a lot.

"Who—who was that?"

she stammered. His jaw got tighter.

"Security on campus. Or at least someone who acts like one. Come on. We need to get going. He pulled her towards the door, but she pulled her arm back.

"No. Not until you tell me what's going on. Are you A.W.?”

His face changed.

"Elena—" "Answer me!"

she yelled, her eyes filling with tears. He looked down the hall and ran a hand through his hair.

"I'm A.W. Yes. But it's not what you think it is.”

Her stomach dropped.

"You lied to me."

He quickly said,

"I didn't know you were my student."

"I tried to back away when I realised, but then..."

He stopped talking, and his eyes got dark.

"There are people on this campus who have been trying to set me up. That guy is one of them. Now they're after both of us.”

She shook her head and stepped back.

"Why would someone frame you?"

"Because I know too much."

He started to whisper.

"And now, you do too."

There was a shout down the hall before she could answer. Footsteps made a loud noise.

"Get out of the way!"

Wells hissed and grabbed her hand.

"We don't have any time!"

He ripped open a door on the side and pulled her into a stairwell. They ran down the steps together, and her shoes slipped on the concrete. He pushed open another door at the bottom, which led to a dark maintenance tunnel. The ceiling was lined with pipes, and the air smelt like wet concrete.

"Where are we going?"

she asked.

"Somewhere safe,"

he said. She pulled her hand away.

"No." I won't leave until you tell me everything. Right now."

He stopped, his chest heaving, and turned to look at her.

"If I tell you everything, Elena, you'll be in even more trouble."

But we have to go now, or you might not live to hear it. There was a metallic clang above them. People yelled orders. Footsteps filled the tunnel. Wells' eyes were locked on hers.

"Do you believe me?"

She looked at him with her heart racing. He had lied. He had hidden things. But he had also just saved her from the man in the office. Another clang rang out. The steps were getting closer.

"Do you trust me?"

he asked again. Elena swallowed hard.

"I don't know."

He put his hand out.

"Then have faith in me long enough to get out of here."

She thought about it for a moment before putting her shaking hand in his. He squeezed lightly, and his eyes went up to the sound of footsteps behind him. He whispered,

"This way,"

and pulled her deeper into the tunnel. The echoes behind them got louder boots on concrete and a chorus of voices. They were no longer alone.