The following morning, the campus felt different.
Every familiar path, every corridor, every corner seemed heavier with eyes that weren't hers. The rumors Hale had sparked lingered, whispered from phone screens, social media posts, and idle chatter that carried just enough truth to unsettle her.
Anabeth walked carefully between buildings, Rafael and Cassian flanking her without drawing attention. She could feel the tension in Rafael's shoulders, the way his eyes constantly scanned, every instinct sharpened. Cassian, as always, seemed calm, but she knew his mind was working a hundred steps ahead, calculating, anticipating, predicting threats.
Her stomach twisted as she approached her first lecture of the day. Normally, she would stride with confidence, but now every glance from classmates felt loaded. Every smile, every sideways look was a question: Who is she? What is she involved in?
Rafael leaned in slightly. "Keep your head down," he murmured, voice low. "No unnecessary attention."
"I'm not hiding," she whispered back. "I'm just… aware."
Cassian's gaze swept over the quad. "Awareness isn't enough. You need control."
Anabeth glanced at him, catching the seriousness behind his calm words. She nodded, adjusting the strap of her bag over her shoulder.
The lecture hall was crowded. Hale's absence didn't change the atmosphere; his influence lingered like a shadow over the students. She took her usual seat near the middle, hoping to blend in. But blending was impossible now.
It began with a flicker on her phone. A message from an unknown number:
"You think you're safe. You're not."
Her pulse spiked. She showed it to Rafael, who quickly assessed the situation before crushing the phone gently in his hand.
"Good," he said. "If he wants attention, he'll get it the hard way."
Cassian's eyes narrowed. "It's escalation. Expect more."
The rest of the lecture passed in a blur. Anabeth tried to focus on the professor's words, but every sound, every movement felt amplified. The soft tapping of keyboards, the whispering from rows behind her, even the distant footsteps in the hallways—all were potential threats.
By noon, she had a meeting in the student union for a group project. Normally, she would go alone, but Rafael insisted on accompanying her. "If he wants you publicly exposed, we'll meet it together," he said, his tone both protective and cold.
Walking across the quad, Anabeth noticed a figure lingering near the library. Just standing, observing. Hale's handiwork. She stiffened instinctively.
Rafael's hand brushed hers — light, grounding — and she felt her racing pulse steady slightly.
"You're not alone," he said softly, voice carrying reassurance and unspoken warning.
They passed the figure without incident, but the presence was a constant weight on her shoulders.
Inside the student union, they found the quietest corner they could. Cassian took a seat across from them, eyes darting toward the entrance periodically.
Anabeth opened her bag and pulled out her notebook. "We have to focus," she said, forcing herself to concentrate. "The project is due next week. I can't let him… distract me."
Rafael nodded, resting his hand close to hers on the table. "Focus first. Fight later."
But fight was coming. They both knew it.
It arrived in the form of a campus-wide alert an hour later:
"Anonymous threat reported near administrative offices. All students advised to stay away from certain areas."
Anabeth froze. The language, the timing—it was precise. He was daring them now, taunting.
Rafael's jaw tightened. "He wants a reaction."
Cassian didn't speak immediately, scanning the room. "We give him one anyway, but on our terms. He's testing loyalty, patience, and courage."
"I don't want to be tested," Anabeth admitted quietly, looking down.
Rafael's hand covered hers, squeezing gently. "You're stronger than you realize. I won't let him—"
"—harm you," she finished. Their eyes locked, and in that moment, the noise of the room and the chaos outside faded. The tension between them — raw, unspoken — simmered, dangerous yet grounding.
Cassian cleared his throat. "Focus. We need a plan."
By late afternoon, Rafael, Cassian, and Anabeth had mapped out every route, every campus exit, every potential point of surveillance. They were ready to respond if Hale or his agents appeared again.
The day ended quietly, almost eerily. The campus lights flickered on as twilight descended. Shadows stretched along the pathways, blending with the darkening edges of buildings. Anabeth walked between Rafael and Cassian, aware that every step might be watched, every turn calculated.
Finally, they arrived at the apartment. Anabeth sank onto the sofa, exhausted. "I can't… pretend it's normal anymore," she admitted. "Nothing's normal."
Rafael knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his. "I know. But you're not alone in it. Not ever."
She met his gaze, noticing the strain etched into his features. Behind the protective wall, she saw the man who cared deeply for her, who would go to any lengths to shield her. The thought warmed her, even amid the danger.
"Promise me we'll stay together through this," she whispered.
"Always," he replied. "I'll never leave you."
Cassian, standing nearby, smiled faintly. "And I'll make sure he doesn't have a chance to surprise us again."
But Anabeth could feel it. Hale wasn't finished.
Later that night, as she lay in bed, her phone buzzed once more:
"You think he can protect you? We'll see."
Her fingers tightened around the device. Fear surged, yes—but so did determination. She wasn't going to run. Not now, not ever.
Rafael came into her room, moving silently, a shadow beside her bed. He knelt once more, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Whatever happens," he whispered, "we face it together."
Anabeth felt a shiver — part fear, part anticipation. In this life of threats and whispered danger, moments like these reminded her of the stakes, but also of the bond they shared.
Outside, the city slept—or pretended to. Somewhere in the darkness, Hale's plans were moving forward.
Inside, Anabeth, Rafael, and Cassian prepared themselves, knowing the next move could change everything.
And this time, she wasn't alone.