Jared read the anonymous message again as he sat alone in his office.Stay away from Becky.The words remained as brief and unsettling as they had been the night before. There was no greeting, no signature, no explanation. Just a warning from someone who clearly knew enough about his life to mention Becky by name.He rested his phone on the desk and leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful rather than alarmed.Most people would have dismissed it as a prank.Ordinarily, he might have done the same.Except too many events over the past few weeks refused to leave his mind.Natalie appearing wherever Becky happened to be.The flowers left in the study room.The anonymous photograph taken without Becky's knowledge.The uneasy feeling Becky admitted she couldn't quite explain.None of those incidents proved anything on their own.Together, however, they painted a picture Jared could no longer ignore.A gentle knock sounded against his office door."You busy?"Becky's voice carrie

Jessica had spent the entire night telling herself she was overreacting.By the following morning, she no longer believed that.She arrived on campus earlier than usual, clutching a takeaway coffee that had long since gone cold. Her eyes drifted across the courtyard as students filtered between buildings, but she wasn't looking for a lecture hall or a familiar professor.She was looking for Jared.She eventually spotted him outside the business building, leaning against one of the stone pillars while scrolling through his phone. Becky stood beside him, animatedly explaining how one of her lecturers had somehow managed to schedule two presentations in the same week."I'm convinced they all get together and plan these things," Becky complained, throwing one hand into the air. "There's no other explanation."Jared smiled, slipping his phone into his pocket. "Maybe they draw names out of a hat.""Oh, that's even worse.""They probably have a trophy.""For causing student suffering?"He no

Jared began his investigation quietly.He had no intention of turning the university upside down or alarming Becky any more than she already was. The anonymous messages, the photograph, and the unsettling pattern surrounding Natalie all pointed towards one conclusion—someone was deliberately watching Becky. Until he knew exactly who and what he was dealing with, discretion was his greatest advantage.The morning after Becky received the photograph, he excused himself between lectures and headed straight for the university security office.The receptionist recognised him immediately."Good morning, Jared.""Morning." He offered a polite smile. "Is Mr Henderson available?"She nodded towards a nearby office."He's just finished a meeting."A few moments later, the head of campus security emerged, adjusting his glasses as he noticed Jared waiting outside."Mr Diamond." He extended a hand. "What can I do for you?""I'd like to ask for a favour."Henderson gestured for him to come inside.

For the first time in days, her thoughts felt organised. There was no confusion, no endless cycle of questions that refused to settle. Everything seemed remarkably clear. She stood in front of her investigation wall, studying the timetables, maps and photographs she had arranged so carefully over the past week. Her eyes lingered on the picture of Becky pinned at the centre before they slowly travelled to the note she'd written the previous evening.Be prepared.She smiled faintly."I am."The backpack still sat neatly beside her apartment door. She crouched to unzip it one final time, checking each item with meticulous care. The bottle of water was full. The first-aid kit remained untouched. The portable charger was fully charged, and the snacks she knew Becky liked were tucked neatly into one corner. Satisfied, she zipped the bag closed and rested a hand on top of it."You'll probably tell me you don't need all this," she said quietly, glancing towards Becky's photograph. "You always

Jessica remained beside Natalie throughout the call, gently rubbing slow circles across her back as the young woman continued whispering apologies between uneven breaths. Students who had lingered nearby eventually moved on, sensing the moment was too personal to watch, leaving the three of them isolated beneath the broad canopy of the maple tree. The bustle of campus carried on around them, but it felt strangely distant, as though the rest of the university existed behind a pane of glass."It'll be okay," Jessica murmured, though she wasn't entirely sure who she was trying to reassure anymore. "Becky's coming."Natalie didn't answer.She sat with her shoulders slumped, staring blankly at the pavement while clutching the straps of her backpack so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. Every few seconds, another shaky breath escaped her lips.Jessica looked at her helplessly.This wasn't the Natalie she knew.The confident, thoughtful young woman who had once laughed over coffee a