The hall was still buzzing with all those stares, but the moment Alaric took my hand, everything else disappeared.
It wasn't a gentle grasp, but firm—almost too firm—as if he wanted to prevent me from slipping away again like sand between his fingers.
"Come with me," he murmured, barely audible this time, only for me.
I stumbled a step, my heart racing.
The crowd parted as if by an invisible hand.
Fiona's gaze bored into my back; she gave me a barely perceptible nod—go, but be careful.
The floor beneath me felt soft, almost floating, as I moved away from the crowd.
Every movement of his was tense, as if he were fighting against something invisible.
And yet I followed him—not because I wanted to, but because my body had long since decided.
---
We stepped out into the hallway.
The door fell shut, and suddenly it was quiet.
Only our breath echoed against the bare walls, mingling with the distant echo from the classrooms.
