Vivian adjusted the strap of her backpack, feeling its comforting weight pressing against her back as she walked along the familiar path toward her dormitory. The gentle afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees, casting long, shifting shadows on the pavement. A few days had passed since Vince’s funeral, and life had begun to settle back into an ordinary rhythm. Despite the occasional moments of lingering emptiness, she felt she was gradually reclaiming the sense of normalcy that Vince and Serena had always wanted for her.

  Lucas had called the other day, sharing that he was tracking Serena’s last known location somewhere near Chicago. It was a bizarre and unexpected lead, but it offered Vivian a sliver of hope—that Serena was alive, perhaps hiding or held captive. She clung to that thought, using it as a shield against the uncertainty that still haunted her.

  Turning a quiet corner, Vivian took in her surroundings—students leaving their late classes, workers heading home, the familiar murmur of conversation, the whispering rustle of leaves. For a moment, she allowed herself to believe Lucas’s words. Maybe this quiet life was where she truly belonged.

  Then, abruptly, a man stepped out onto the pathway in front of her. Vivian inhaled sharply, something instinctual taking over. It wasn't just his sudden appearance—it was in his rigid posture, the deliberate way he positioned himself directly in her path, the calculated absence of casual student-like demeanor. His eyes were sharp, too alert, flicking quickly toward her as if confirming her identity.

  Vivian’s heart rate surged, her thoughts racing in panic as she swiftly scanned her surroundings. The realization hit her coldly: she was alone, completely isolated by the tree-lined path she'd taken to avoid the crowds. As fear twisted sharply in her gut, Vivian quickly turned to retreat, only to spot two more figures advancing rapidly toward her, their expressions grim, eyes fixed intently on her.

  Adrenaline kicked in, and without hesitation, Vivian hurled her heavy textbooks with full force at the nearest attacker, the sharp thud and his startled grunt confirming her aim. Her backpack swung next, knocking the second man off balance just long enough for her to veer away.

  "Fire! Help!" Vivian screamed desperately, her voice echoing sharply through the stillness. Deliberately, she bolted off the paved pathway, plunging straight into the thick cover of trees and bushes, knowing the uneven terrain would slow them down and give her an advantage. Branches snagged at her clothes and scratched her skin, but fear pushed her forward relentlessly.

  Her lungs burned, her breaths coming in sharp, ragged gasps as she sprinted toward the crowded Cesar Chavez Student Center, visible through the trees ahead. The building was always a hub of activity, with students heading in for food throughout the day and right now, she needed to be around people. She didn't dare slow down, didn't risk looking back. Bursting from the trees, Vivian dashed into the bustling center, the sudden shift from silence to noise disorienting her momentarily. Quickly, she merged into the mass of students, slipping unseen into the packed food court.

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  Vivian pressed herself against the pillar, willing her ragged breathing to slow. Her body trembled despite her efforts, her eyes darting nervously around the crowded room. Had they made it inside? Her fingers shakily found her phone in her jeans pocket, fumbling as she considered calling the police—but then she froze. Across the room, just beyond a cluster of oblivious students, one of them stood scanning the crowd, eyes cold and searching. Vivian’s heart seized. Slowly, carefully, she released her grip on the phone, knowing she no longer had time to wait.

  She had to find a safe place. It couldn’t be her dorm, they already knew where she studied, they’d know where she lived. Vince was dead, Serena missing, Lucas was in Chicago, so there was only one option left: Noah’s. But first, she needed to lose them.

  Carefully, Vivian exited the food court, blending smoothly into a group of students exiting the center. She moved cautiously toward a nearby bus stop, deliberately choosing a bus heading in the opposite direction from Noah’s apartment. She boarded, careful to select a seat close the back exit. Her eyes carefully scanned the passengers as she discreetly summoned an Uber, arranging for it to wait several stops ahead.

  Vivian counted each anxious minute, continuously scanning the bus for threats. After fifteen minutes, she stood abruptly, stepping off the bus at the very last second, heart freezing momentarily at the sight of her frustrated pursuers, trapped behind the bus doors.

  Without hesitating, Vivian sprinted toward the waiting Uber, diving inside and urging the driver to move quickly. All the way to Noah’s apartment, anxiety gripped her chest, her eyes constantly checking behind for any sign of pursuit. She desperately hoped Noah was home. His absence from class had left her deeply uneasy, haunted by the fear that he'd left entirely, choosing to pursue the investigation alone.

  As the Uber pulled up in front of Noah’s apartment building, Vivian cast one last anxious look behind, her eyes scanning the street for any sign of being followed. Finding no one suspicious, she quickly exited the car, adrenaline fueling her rush toward the building lobby.

  Inside, Vivian hurriedly pressed the buzzer for Noah’s apartment, her heart racing uncontrollably. "Please please please please," she muttered desperately under her breath, gripping the intercom tightly as the ringing echoed through the quiet lobby.

  The bell rang unanswered, and Vivian’s heart sank sharply. Nervously, she glanced back at the lobby doors, half expecting her pursuers to burst through at any moment. She buzzed Noah’s apartment again, and panic started tightening in her throat as it rang out again.

  The elevator behind her dinged softly, and Vivian spun around sharply, her breath catching in her throat.

  Noah stepped out, surprise painted clearly across his features. "Viv what are you —"

  Before he could finish, Vivian rushed forward, throwing herself into his arms, breathless with relief as she clung tightly to him.