Little Whispers

Chapter 3

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Lina

A lump formed in my throat as I checked the contents of the letter.

“We have been expecting you.”

It was boldly written in red ink. Expecting me? Was this some kind of prank for new students? Or did I already start off with an enemy?

“This isn't funny,” I muttered under my breath, turning the paper again.

“Hey you okay?” Janna said softly, catching the look on my face.

I nodded even though I wasn't sure.

I took in a few deep breaths and a sweet scent flooded into my nostrils. It came from the paper I was holding.

It was even perfumed? How ridiculous.

Before I could process more, Janna cut through my thoughts.

“So weird,” Janna mumbled. “I asked to room with my best friend this semester, but they said the space was reserved for someone important.”

“Important?” I raised a brow.

“Their word, not mine.” She smiled. “But I think it's you, since you came in mid semester.”

Me? Does the school know something about this letter? And more importantly, why was I in the middle of all this?

I stared again at the words like they might change. They didn't.

Who the hell put this under my pillow?

I shoved the letter into my drawer and continued unpacking.

I turned towards Janna's side of the room. She was gone– probably went back to training.

I peeked into the hallway and headed to the room across from ours. A girl with short black hair opened with a crack when I knocked.

“Hey… uh, weird question,” I said. “Did you see anyone near our room earlier?”

She blinked. “No?”

Her tone made it sound more like a question than an answer.

“Are you sure? Like nobody walked in or stood around–”

“I said no,” she cut in, looking behind her like she was in a rush. Then she closed the door.

Okay.

That was weird.

I went back to my room and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Why now?” I blurted, rubbing my forehead.

The knock at the door made me jolt. I stood and cracked it open. No one.

Just an empty hallway.

I checked both ends. Not even a soul.

When I closed the door again, my heart was racing.

*******

Later in the evening, I headed to shared bathrooms to clear my head. The showers were quiet – a couple of girls talking at a far end, steam curling around the mirror. I brushed my teeth slowly, keeping my eyes on the reflection.

Nothing behind me. Nothing close up.

But I heard it.

Little whispers.

It was too faint to catch a word but one thing I knew for sure? I wasn't hallucinating.

I turned sharply and found no one.

Just one running shower someone forgot to turn off.

I sighed. Could my day get any worse?

I backed out of the bathroom and walked straight back to the dorm without looking behind me.

I got back to the dorm and I noticed that Janna wasn't still back from her training. She was probably a senior because no way we were in same class.

I got into bed and had a quick call from my mom.

The rest of the night dragged. I tried to sleep, but I was paying attention to the tiniest details which made me sit up. Eventually, I gave up and got ready early.

The halls were dim when I left the room. Janna was coming in as I was leaving, yawning and waving lazily.

“You are up early.”

“Yeah, I couldn't sleep.”

“Tell me about it.” She flopped onto her bed, face first. “Training is killing me.”

“Well that sucks.”

“Yeah, yeah. It was probably a first night thing. You will get used to it sooner or later.” She said.

I almost asked her about the note – if she had seen someone come in earlier or something weird – but something stopped me. The way she looked so normal, unbothered.

I didn't want to sound crazy. So I let go.

The hallway buzzed as I walked down towards my first class. Everyone looked relaxed. People talking about schedules, who got paired with who. While some were laughing loudly.

I tried to clear my head and focus but I couldn't.

As I reached the door, voices drifted out. I could already hear Brienna's laugh.

I hesitated.

Then I stepped in.