Pov Josiane....
Night came quietly.
Too quietly.
Josie lay on her bed staring at the ceiling, the dim yellow light painting soft shadows across her room.
Sleep wouldn't come.
Every time I tried, My mind replayed the day—
Cain' s serious voice.
Kaela's tense expression.
Linux standing between truth and silence.
And that symbol inside the locker.
E.V.E
She turned to her side with a sigh.
"Ineed air,"she whispered.
The campus pathways looked different at night.
Streetlights cast long shadows.
Trees swayed gently in the cool breeze.
Distant sounds echoed louder than they should.
Josie walked slowly, arms folded.
The quiet helped me think.
Maybe I'm just overreacting.
Maybe this is normal college drama.
Crunch.
She stopped.
A faint sound behind her.
Like a footstep on gravel.
Josie turned.
Empty path.
Just a flickering light and silent benches.
She exhaled. "Relax."
And kept walking.
Step. Step. Step.
Crunch.
There it was again.
Closer this time.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She turned faster.
"Hello?"
No answer.
But the air felt heavier.
Like someone had just moved out of sight.
Josie's fingers tightened around her sleeves.
You're imagining things.
She started walking again, a little faster now.
The academic block appeared ahead.
Windows dark. Corridors silent.
Crunch.
Anotherstepbehind her.
Not an echo.
Not imagination.
A real step.
Josie spun around.
"I know someone's there!"
Silence.
Then—
A shadow slipped past the far cornerofthe pathway.
Too quick to recognize.
Too real to deny.
My pulse raced.
"Who is it?!"
No reply.
Only wind
She backed toward the building entrance slowly.
Mind running faster than her feet.
Suddenly—
Her phone buzzed.
She gasped and nearly dropped it.
A message.
Unknown Number
Go back to your dorm.
My breath caught.
Another message appeared.
Don't walk alone at night.
Josie's hands trembled slightly.
You're not ready.
"Not ready for what…?" she whispered.
Footsteps approached from the side corridor.
Steady. Familiar.
"Josie?"
She looked up.
Linux
Relief washed over her so quickly it almost hurt.
"You scared me," she breathed.
"You shouldn't be out this late,"he said gently.
She showed him the messages.
His expression hardened.
"Did you see anyone?"
"A shadow. Someone was following me."
Linux looked down the dark pathway.
Jaw tight.
"Come on. I'll walk you back."
They began walking together.
Close. Quiet.
"Is this part of what you were hiding?" she asked softly.
Hedidn't answer right away.
Then—
"Yes."
Her steps slowed.
"Josie… there are things moving behind the scenes here."
"Conflicts. Old decisions. People who don't like interference."
"And me?" she asked.
"You're curious," he said. "Curious people get noticed."
They reached the dorm entrance.
Warm light spilled onto the steps.
Safe.
Almost.
Linux stopped.
"Imeant what I said."
"I'll try to keep you away from this."
Josie searched his face.
"And if I'm already in it?
Apause.
Then quietly—
"Then stay close to people who care about you."
He gave a small reassuring nod.
And walked away into the dim pathway.
Josie watched until he disappeared.
Her phone buzzed again.
Unknown Number.
This is only the beginning.
The screen dimmed in my trembling hands.
The night felt colder.
Longer.
And far from over.
Tobe continued…