The hallway smelled faintly of fresh paper. The sound of students chatting echoed somewhere far off, fading away the deeper Adrian walked. His cane tapped lightly on the tiled floor. The sound always made him calm.
But today, he wasn't calm.
His thoughts were full of Lucien Vale.
That name had been repeating in his head since the night in the garden. Since the night he'd seen beauty and death blend so perfectly that it made something deep inside him come alive.
He stopped by the library first, pretending to browse the shelves. The faint hum of the air conditioner filled the silence as he moved through the aisles. He didn't need his eyes to find what he wanted... only his ears.
There was no sign of Darius. No one from the council people.
He sighed softly, turning back toward the door.
'The president must be in a classroom... or maybe the office,' he thought.
He had no interest in Darius, not really. But part of him wanted to see if anyone in this academy was smart enough to see through Lucien's mask.
Would anyone ever suspect that the school's golden boy... the one who smiled so gently and got perfect grades... was a murderer?
Adrian doubted it.
No one saw what they didn't want to see.
He walked down the empty hall until he heard a voice... low, steady, and serious. Darius.
Adrian's steps slowed.
He followed the sound carefully until it led him near the open window of the council room. He leaned lightly against the wall, tilting his head to listen.
"...we've had three deaths in two months," Darius was saying. "The teachers are covering it up again. They said Bella's death was suicide."
The voice that answered was a girl's. It sounded soft, high-pitched, filled with obvious affection. The vice president who had always had an obvious crush on Darius.
"You don't believe that, right?" she asked.
"Of course not," Darius replied. "Bella was terrified of dying. Everyone knew that. She fainted just from seeing a small cut once. Suicide? No. Someone killed her. Just like the others."
The girl hesitated.
"But... who would do something like that? We all live under the same roof. We all go to the same classes. It's scary to think..."
"It's someone here," Darius cut in, voice colder now. "And I'll find them."
Adrian's lips curled slightly. He finally got the information they wanted.
'So the council really had no clue. No suspects, no leads.'
He almost laughed under his breath.
They were playing detective in a story where the killer was right in front of them every day. Smiling. Breathing the same air.
He pressed his back against the wall, closing his eyes as he thought of Lucien's face that night... blood streaked across his cheek, eyes glowing faintly under the moonlight. That little smirk when Bella's body fell to the ground.
It wasn't fear that Adrian had felt. It was excitement.
He shouldn't have liked it. But he did. The memory made his body warm in all the wrong ways.
He started to imagine the other deaths Darius mentioned. The students who disappeared quietly, their bodies found in strange places.
'Could it have been Lucien too?'
The thought made his cheeks flush. His breathing came a bit uneven.
If only he had been there... He would've watched. Quietly. Closely. He wanted to see every movement, every expression, every breath of Lucien's as he killed.
He wouldn't have stopped him. Just... watched.
That was enough for him.
He didn't want to be part of Lucien's world... he just wanted to observe it, to understand it. But even then, that was dangerous. If Lucien found out that Adrian was a stalker, that he spent nights gathering information on people, keeping notebooks full of secrets...
No. He couldn't let that happen.
He'd already hidden all his notebooks under the loose floorboard near his bed even before Lucien moved in. He couldn't risk Lucien finding them.
"Who's there?"
The sudden voice made him flinch.
Adrian froze, his heart skipping a beat. He turned his head slightly, not directly at them.
'Huh? Did I get caught already?' He thought to himself as he straightened up and grabbed his stick like he was scared.
"Is anyone here?" He asked softly.
There was silence for a second, then footsteps.
"It's the president of the student organisation," Darius said. "Who are you?"
Adrian's fingers tightened around his cane.
"I'm sorry. I got lost."
"Oh!" the girl gasped. "I know him. He's the blind student."
Adrian forced a faint, polite smile, trying to look as normal as he could.
Darius folded his arms, his tone calm but assessing.
"I didn't know we had a blind student here."
"Yeah," the vice president added brightly. "He's in Class 3-B, right? I've seen him before."
Adrian wished she hadn't said that. He didn't like people knowing his class.
"I just... got turned around," he murmured. "I was waiting for someone to help me find the way."
Darius frowned. "Don't you have a guide?"
Adrian tilted his head. "A... guide?"
The vice president stepped forward, explaining gently.
"The academy provides helpers for students who are deaf, blind, or have other difficulties. Someone to assist with moving around, reading notes, things like that."
Adrian's heartbeat quickened. A guide meant someone who'd follow him everywhere. Watch him. Maybe even find his notebooks.
He couldn't have that.
"My blindness is temporary," he said quickly, forcing a calm smile. "It'll get better soon."
The girl's expression softened.
"Oh... really? That's good! But still, until then, we should assign someone to help you. Just in case."
Adrian opened his mouth to refuse, but Darius was already speaking.
"That's a good idea. Report to the council office tomorrow. We'll find someone suitable for you."
"No... I mean... that's not necessary—"
"It's fine," Darius said firmly. "You'll get used to it."
And before he could say anything else, they walked him all the way back to his dorm.
Adrian stayed quiet the whole time, pretending to smile whenever the vice president spoke. She talked about how she admired Darius, how hardworking he was. Adrian only nodded politely. He definitely didn't give a fuck about who she cared about.
When they finally stopped in front of his door, she smiled.
"We'll send for you tomorrow, okay? Don't worry too much. The academy takes care of its own."
"Right... They do," Adrian mumbled.
They left, their footsteps fading down the hall.
He stood there in silence for a few seconds before sighing quietly.
Then, he turned the doorknob and stepped inside.
The room was quiet. Lucien wasn't there.
Adrian's gaze swept across the space instinctively. The curtains fluttered slightly from the wind. The bathroom door was open, lights off. The balcony is empty.
He frowned faintly. "Where did you go..."
He leaned his cane against the wall and sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor.
'Has he gone to kill someone else?'
The thought made his stomach twist. Not in fear... in excitement.
He pressed a hand against his chest, feeling the quick rhythm beneath his palm.
"No... There's no way he'll do that. He should wait for me..." he whispered under his breath.
He stood abruptly, grabbed his stick again, and moved toward the door.
Halfway through, he stopped. Something on Lucien's bed caught his attention... His phone was turned on.
He reached out carefully, fingers brushing the dark screen. It lit up and he saw an open folder.
It had a list of names. Other notes followed but he couldn't read them clearly. However, one thing stood out... Bella's name, crossed out.
'Is this his... murder list?'
His lips parted slightly. A chill ran down his spine.
Then the door clicked open.
Adrian froze as his finger twitched to turn the screen off.
Lucien stepped in, his expression unreadable. He wore a clean shirt, but there was a small bruise on his face. His eyes flicked to the phone in Adrian's hand, then back to his face.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Lucien closed the door behind him, the lock clicking softly.
"What are you doing?" he asked, voice low, calm... but with that quiet danger underneath.
Adrian swallowed. "I was... looking for something."
Lucien's steps were slow as he approached.
"On my bed?"
"I... I didn't know it was yours."
"Didn't you?"
Lucien stopped right in front of him. Close enough that Adrian could feel his warmth.
"Do you always touch other people's things, Adrian? Is it perhaps a habit?"
The way he said his name made it sound like something sinful.
Adrian's fingers twitched, his throat dry. "No, I don't,"
Lucien leaned forward slightly, his breath brushing against Adrian's ear.
"That's good. Don't. I don't like people touching what's mine."
Adrian froze. The words shouldn't have made his heart race, but they did.
Lucien's voice dropped even lower.
"Did I make you feel nervous, Princess?"
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"Stop calling me that."
Lucien smiled faintly. "Then stop acting like one."
He brushed past him casually, taking the phone from his hand without breaking contact. Then, almost playfully, he added...
"Next time, ask before you touch my stuff. I might forgive you... or I might not."
Adrian stood still even after Lucien turned away.
He didn't know if he wanted to run or stay.
He didn't know which one scared him more... Lucien's darkness, or how much he wanted to see more of it.
Lucien glanced over his shoulder and caught the faint blush on Adrian's cheeks. A small smirk curved his lips.
'Oh? This should be interesting,'