Armand couldn't shake his words. You've been chosen. They echoed louder than the teacher's lectures, louder than the chatter of his classmates.
That evening, he found himself walking the quiet streets near the academy. The lamps flickered, casting long shadows across the pavement. He wasn't sure if he was following Grace Johnson, or if she had intended for him to find her.
She stood at the corner of an old library, waiting. The knife was nowhere in sight, but her presence carried the same weight.
"You came," she said simply.
Armand hesitated. "What is this about?"
Grace's eyes narrowed. "There's a reason you heard the whisper. Most people don't. It means you're part of something… whether you want to be or not."
Armand's pulse quickened. "Part of what?"
Grace stepped closer, lowering her voice. "A circle. Hidden in plain sight. We meet where silence speaks louder than words. And tonight, you'll see for yourself."
She turned, walking toward the library's side entrance. Armand followed, each step heavier than the last. He didn't know if he was walking into danger or destiny — but he knew the whisper of the knife had already changed everything.