CHAPTER 3

I basically crashed into Marti at the entrance of the Cafeteria. She’d arrived a few minutes before.

“Hey, babes. What’s the hurry” she said steadying me.

“Let’s grab a something cold first” I said offering her a pleading smile. She nodded.

We walked in and ordered two cups of carbonated slushy, while we went through the menu.

“You look flustered” Marti said to me. I grabbed a wet wipe from my bag and dabbed my forehead and cheeks.

“One would think with how large this campus is, I’d be able to avoid Adrian” i huffed.

“But he was at my second lecture today! At the same time I had to handle this invasive guy.” I said thinking back to what he had said.

“Woah! Tough luck,” said Marti, her eyes widening. “You seem really affected. Did this other guy say anything to you, or is it just Adrian?” She said scanning my face. “I’m genuinely worried, I hope this doesn’t become dangerous for you.”

I shook my head. I hoped so too.

“Do you know a Sebastian?” I asked looking at Marti. Her brows scrunched together for a moment. “Seb?” She enquired, her eye darkened like she remembered something.”what’s up with him?” She asked.

“He was the guy sitting beside me today,” I murmured. “He and Adrian seem to know each other.”

“Seb has a reputation here too, he gives me the creeps..” Marti said lowering her voice . “He’s related to Adrian. Although there seems to be a rift between them.”

I paused from slurping my slushy. Something struck me. Old memories. I remembered where I had heard the name. It was 5 years back.

“Oh my Gawwd.” I muttered.

“What?” Marti asked, looking around.

I quickly shook my head. “I need to ask you something Marti.” I said leaning into the table so my voice was hushed. “There’s this silver ring I keep seeing on a number of students with the emblem of a curved cat…” Martin’s eyes widened like she already knew what I was speaking about. “I saw that same symbol of Professor Pint’s cane. I’ve seen it crested on certain restricted doors around campus…I saw Sebastian wearing the ring too.” I continued.

Marti’s lips were pursed, she hesitated a small moment, her eyes searching to make so no one stood too close to us.

“The Obsidian Circle.” She mumbled. “Blackthorn has this creepy secret society thing. Rich heirs, secret meetings, weird traditions. I guess they may just be rumors–the things I hear about them. But basically those you see with those rings and symbols are part of it.” She narrated.

I think about it for a moment. Secret society? Maybe it was just some super exclusive elite club.

My stomach growled, Marti chuckled, we got up to go grab something solid.

On our way back to the dorm, Marti mentioned driving out of campus to get a dress for a welcome back party we’d be attending tonight, she’d asked I accompany her, but I felt a slight headache coming. She offered to drop me off at the dorm before leaving.

I waved as she drove away and trudged my way to our room. Opening the door, an exquisite perfume hit me. It didn’t smell like anything Marti or I used, I carefully looked around, no one.

I noticed it though. At first, I thought Marti had left something on my bed. A folded piece of paper sat neatly on my pillow, right in the center like it belonged there.

My steps slowed. “Marti?” I called, even though I had just seen her drive away.

No answer.

The bathroom door was open. Empty. A strange feeling crept up my spine. I was sure I had locked the door when I left.

I dropped my tote bag slowly, my eyes never leaving the paper. It wasn’t crumpled. Not rushed. Whoever left it had taken their time. I picked it up. My fingers hesitated for a second before unfolding it. There were only a few words written inside.

“You’re looking in the wrong place.”

My stomach tightened. A chill ran through me, sharp and sudden. I read it again. Then again. My eyes scanned the room like I’d catch someone watching me, hiding in plain sight. Nothing, just silence.

My grip tightened on the paper. This wasn’t a mistake, this wasn’t meant for someone else, it was for me. My pulse began to quicken. Who knew I was looking for anything? I hadn’t told Marti. I hadn’t told anyone.

A thought hit me so fast it made my chest tighten.

Was it Sebastian? There was something unsettling about what he said to me today, and he had been watching Adrian and I the other day. Was it someone else? I turned the paper over. Nothing, no name, no signature, just those words.

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry.

“Okay…” I whispered to myself, though I wasn’t sure what I was responding to.

Then, just as I was about to fold it back, I noticed something I hadn’t seen before. Faint, almost like it had been pressed in harder than the ink.

Numbers.

“4283”

I moved closer to the window, tilting the paper toward the light.

“The library-Locker 17. Saturday.”

My breath caught. This wasn’t just a warning, it was an instruction.