Shadows Between Our Messages
CHAPTER 1 — THE FOLLOW REQUEST
The rain had not stopped for three days.
Luna Hayes sat near the university library window, staring blankly at the droplets sliding down the glass while pretending to study. Around her, students laughed loudly, chairs scraped against the floor, phones rang nonstop.
Noise distracted people from noticing how quiet she was.
Mira
Stop acting depressed and check your notifications right now
Luna frowned slightly before unlocking her phone.
Basketball captain.
Top student.
Rich family.
The guy people talked about like he wasn’t even real.
Girls followed him around campus constantly, but Kai Mercer never looked at anyone long enough to care.
Luna stared at the screen.
There was no way he meant to follow her.
Luna Hayes
Probably an accident
Mira
Men like him don't accidentally follow people
Luna Hayes
Maybe his finger slipped
Mira
Onto your profile specifically??
Luna rolled her eyes slightly, but her chest felt strangely tight.
She clicked on Kai’s profile.
Just a black profile picture.
Another notification appeared.
Kai Mercer sent you a message.
Luna almost dropped her phone.
Slowly, Luna opened the message.
Kai Mercer
You dropped this today.
A picture appeared beneath the message.
The silver crescent moon necklace she had been searching for since morning.
Luna immediately sat up straighter.
Luna Hayes
Where did you find it?
Kai Mercer
Outside the west building.
Luna touched her neck instinctively.
That necklace mattered more than anyone knew.
Luna Hayes
I didn’t even realize where I lost it
Something about that answer felt strange.
Luna stared at the screen for several seconds.
Maybe Mira was right.Maybe guys like Kai Mercer enjoyed confusing people for fun.
She locked her phone and tried returning to her notes.
Five minutes later, another message came.
Kai Mercer
Check the back of the necklace.
She quickly opened her bag, pulling out the small jewelry pouch she always carried. Earlier, a campus worker had returned the necklace to the lost and found desk after “someone” dropped it off.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she turned the silver moon over.
Tiny words were engraved on the back.
“You still remember me, don’t you?”
Luna’s breathing stopped.
Only one person could have written that.
Before university.
Before this city.
Before everything changed.
Her heartbeat grew louder.
Three dots appeared instantly.
Kai Mercer
That hurts a little.
Luna’s stomach tightened.
Outside the library windows, thunder echoed across the city.
This time the reply came immediately.
Kai Mercer
Seven years ago.
The world around Luna suddenly felt distant.
A lonely train station.
Heavy rain.
A boy sitting beside her while she cried quietly into her sleeves.
A stranger who stayed with her until morning without asking questions.
A boy with dark eyes and wet black hair.
A boy who disappeared before sunrise.
Mira
WHY DID YOU GO SILENT
Because at that exact moment
Someone pulled out the chair directly across from her.
Kai Mercer stood there in silence, water dripping from his dark coat after walking through the rain.
More handsome than the rumors.More intimidating too.
The entire library had gone quiet.
He placed the necklace on the table between them.
“I told you we’d meet again someday.”
And for the first time in years Luna felt genuinely afraid of her own heartbeat.
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