The prefects' room felt too small.
Too quiet.
Kai kept replaying the security footage Aria had shown him — the second shadow, moving with deliberate confidence. But before he could say anything, a sharp knock came at the door.
Aria frowned. "Nobody is supposed to come in right now."
She unlocked the door carefully.
Standing there was Lena — the new junior science tutor, quiet, brilliant, and someone Kai had barely spoken to… but who always seemed to be looking at him longer than she should.
Her eyes widened when she saw Kai inside.
"Oh… you're here," Lena said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Aria, I need to talk to you. It's urgent."
Aria crossed her arms. "We're in the middle of something."
Lena glanced at Kai again — and something flickered in her expression. Concern. Recognition. Maybe something more.
"It's about the power logs," she said. "Someone has been altering them. And whoever it is… they knew how to hide the changes. Very well."
Kai and Aria exchanged glances.
Lena stepped inside, ignoring Aria's annoyed sigh.
Her attention was fixed on Kai now.
"I've been analyzing the generator data for weeks," Lena said, "and it only started fluctuating the day you arrived."
Aria stiffened.
Kai blinked slowly. "And what are you suggesting?"
Lena stepped closer — too close for Aria's liking.
"I'm not accusing you," she said softly. "I'm worried about you. Every time there's a disturbance, you're nearby. Every time something strange happens… you're involved somehow."
Her tone wasn't hostile.
It was protective.
Aria's jaw tightened. "Lena, back off. This isn't about him."
Lena shot her a look. "Everything is about him lately."
Kai felt the tension sharpen between them — two completely different forces pulling in opposite directions.
Aria, straight-backed, sharp-eyed, always analyzing.
Lena, gentle but bold when it mattered, stepping closer to Kai like she was shielding him from something.
Lena turned to Kai again. "I know you're hiding something. But whatever it is… you don't have to deal with it alone."
Aria moved instantly, placing herself between them.
"He's not alone."
Lena didn't back down.
"Are you sure?"
Silence.
Kai exhaled slowly.
This was spiraling into something he didn't want — and couldn't afford.
"I appreciate your concern," he said, keeping his voice steady, "but right now, the priority is the second figure from the footage."
Aria stepped back to his side, relieved he shifted attention away.
Lena, however, bit her lip — frustrated, but not defeated.
"I'll help however I can," Lena said. "Even if I have to go around certain people to do it."
Aria scoffed.
"Try it."
Lena ignored her, giving Kai one last long look.
"If anything happens… come to me. Day or night."
Then she left the room quietly, closing the door behind her.
Aria let out a breath she'd been holding.
"That girl needs to understand boundaries," she muttered.
Kai rubbed his temples.
"Aria… she's not the enemy."
Aria shot him a sideways look. "Maybe not. But she definitely wants something."
Kai didn't respond.
He didn't have to.
Both of them knew exactly what Lena wanted.
And for the first time in a long time…
Kai felt something more dangerous than shadows tightening around him:
Attention.
From two sides.
For reasons he wasn't ready to face.