CHAPTER 3: Shadows in Quiet Places

The door closed behind Cora with a soft click—far gentler than the one Kate had made earlier.

Outside, the world felt… normal.

Too normal.

The evening air was calm, carrying the faint hum of distant traffic and the quiet rhythm of a city settling into night. Streetlights flickered to life one by one, casting long shadows across the pavement as Cora walked.

Her destination was simple: the public library.

And waiting there— Xyra Silverhart.

Cora slipped her hands into her pockets, walking at an easy pace. For a moment, everything felt steady. Predictable.

Until—

A sound broke through the quiet.

She stopped.

It came again.

Soft. Strange. Echoing faintly from a nearby alley.

Cora turned her head slowly, eyes narrowing.

“…Seriously?”

Curiosity won.

It always did.

She stepped into the alley, her footsteps quieter now, cautious against the cold pavement. The deeper she went, the more the sound seemed to shift—closer, sharper, almost—

Right behind her.

Then—

“MEOW!”

A blur of fur shot past her.

Cora jumped back instinctively. “Haa—!!”

Her heart slammed against her ribs as she stared at the small cat now perched nearby, staring at her like nothing had happened.

Silence.

Then realization.

“…Wow,” she muttered under her breath, pressing a hand to her chest. “If Kate saw that, he’d probably say, ‘Corazelle the serene hunter… defeated by a cat.’”

She exhaled, embarrassed, shaking her head at herself.

“Get it together.”

Straightening, she turned to leave—

And stopped.

Something felt wrong.

Not loud. Not obvious.

Just… off.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze.

A window above.

And behind the glass—

A figure.

Still. Watching.

Cora froze.

Her breath caught.

She blinked—

Gone.

The window was empty.

Her brows furrowed. “…What was that…?”

No movement. No sound.

Nothing.

“…Was it just my imagination?”

But the unease lingered.

Without another word, she turned and left the alley—this time faster.

“Maybe I just need more sleep…” she murmured, though the thought didn’t quite convince her.

The library greeted her with familiar silence.

Warm lights. Rows of books. The quiet comfort of a place untouched by chaos.

It helped.

A little.

Across the room, Xyra spotted her immediately, lifting a hand in greeting.

Cora walked over and dropped into the seat beside her.

“You’re five minutes late,” Xyra said.

Cora smiled sheepishly. “Hehe… sorry. Mr. Albert called me in.”

Xyra’s eyebrow lifted. “That never means anything good.”

“He assigned me another mission.”

That got her attention.

“Really? What is it this time?”

Cora leaned back slightly, sighing. “I’m being transferred. Hillcrest High School.”

Xyra stilled.

“…Wait,” she said slowly, leaning closer. “That Hillcrest?”

“Yeah. The one with perfect uniforms and suspiciously perfect students.”

Xyra’s eyes widened. “Cora… I wanted to go there.”

Cora blinked. “…What?”

“It’s one of the top schools,” Xyra explained. “Great programs, clean campus—everything. But my parents said no the moment they heard it was under NovaTech.”

Cora tilted her head. “So it’s just a normal school with… a shady owner?”

“Exactly,” Xyra said. “Most students are normal. They probably don’t even know anything.”

“‘Probably’ is not a comforting word.”

Xyra leaned in closer, her voice dropping.

“I heard only a few students are actually involved. Four… maybe six.”

Cora raised a brow. “So I just have to find a handful of suspicious people in an entire school?”

“Easy,” Xyra deadpanned. “Totally not stressful at all.”

“Wow,” Cora muttered. “I feel so reassured.”

Still, Xyra crossed her arms, thinking. “Using a school as a cover, though… that’s smart.”

“Yeah,” Cora said quietly. “Which makes it worse.”

“What exactly did Mr. Albert say?”

“Transfer. Act like a normal student. Retrieve a USB.”

Xyra gave her a look. “‘Act normal’? You?”

“Hey—I can be normal.”

“Define ‘normal.’"

Cora hesitated. “…Okay, I can pretend to be normal.”

Xyra smirked—but it faded quickly.

“Cora… if only a few students are involved, that means they’re hiding really well.”

“Or hiding in plain sight.”

“…Which is worse.”

A brief silence settled between them.

Then Cora spoke again, quieter this time.

“Something weird happened earlier.”

Xyra immediately leaned closer. “What?”

“In an alley,” Cora said. “I thought I saw someone. In a window. Just… standing there.”

“Someone?”

“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “It felt off. Then it disappeared.”

Xyra frowned. “You think it’s connected?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I’m just tired.”

“…Or maybe you’re already being watched.”

Cora let out a small laugh. “Can we not jump straight to that?”

“I’m just saying,” Xyra replied, voice low.

“That kind of timing isn’t normal.”

Cora looked away briefly, then shook her head.

“Maybe I just need sleep.”

Xyra studied her—then flicked her forehead.

“Ow—hey!”

“Stay sharp,” Xyra said with a small smile.

Cora rubbed her forehead. “Your methods are questionable.”

“Effective, though.”

Cora smiled faintly.

But her thoughts drifted—

Back to the alley.

To the window.

To that feeling that refused to leave.

An hour later, they parted ways.

A small wave. A quiet goodbye.

Cora stepped out onto the street and raised her hand, calling for a taxi.

The ride was uneventful.

City lights blurred past the window, reflections dancing across the glass as her thoughts wandered. The mission. The school. The figure.

Too many pieces.

Not enough answers.

The taxi slowed to a stop.

“109 Crescent Avenue,” the driver said.

Cora paid, stepped out, and made her way toward the Everhart house.

That’s when she saw him.

Kate sat on a bench outside, leaning back slightly, eyes fixed on the night sky—like he always did when something weighed on his mind.

Cora approached.

“You planning to sleep out here or what?”

“I was waiting,” he replied without looking at her.

“Wow,” she said, sitting beside him. “Didn’t know I had a personal guard now.”

“Someone has to make sure you don’t get yourself killed.”

She laughed lightly. “Relax. It’s just a mission.”

“‘Just a mission,’” he echoed. “Like the last one didn’t almost go wrong.”

“Almost,” she said. “Keyword.”

“And I’d like to keep it that way.”

“You worry too much.”

“And you don’t worry enough,” he shot back.

“See the problem?”

She nudged his shoulder. “I can handle it, Kate.”

“I know you can,” he said quietly. “That’s not the point.”

She glanced at him. “Then what is?”

He finally looked at her.

His expression had softened.

“The point is… you don’t have to act like you’re invincible all the time.”

Cora looked away, her voice quieter now.

“I’m not. Just… doing what needs to be done.”

“Yeah,” he said. “Well… just make sure you come back after doing it.”

She smirked slightly. “What, you’ll miss me?”

“No,” he said flatly. “It’ll just be way too quiet.”

“Liar.”

“Big one.”

Silence followed.

But this time—it was comfortable.

“Just be careful, okay?” he said.

“I will.”

“Promise?”

She glanced at him, then smiled faintly.

“Promise.”

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