Adrian

Milli's face went pale as she shook her head slowly. "No... no one. That place is supposed to be sealed off. No one goes there, Erin."

"But why?" Milli asked, her voice tinged with concern.

I shook my head, trying to dismiss the unease I felt. "It's nothing. I think I need to go now, or I'll miss my class again."

"Do you want to take this book with you?" Milli inquired, her tone hesitant.

I knew I couldn't let this book out of my sight. It held too many secrets, too much danger. "Yes, Milli. I'm taking it with me. I can't leave it behind—it's too dangerous."

Milli gave me a small, understanding smile. "Okay, as you say. But be careful. If you need any help, just call me."

"Thank you, I will," I replied, before quickly taking my leave and heading to class.

As I entered the room, I saw Jack waiting for me, his face lighting up with a smile as soon as he spotted me. "Erin!" he greeted, making space for me to sit beside him.

"Jack," I said, settling down next to him. I could feel the tension in the room, the envious glares from some of the girls burning into my back.

I sighed, trying to ignore the weight of their jealousy. Jack, meanwhile, was scribbling something on his paper, completely oblivious to the attention we were attracting.

Just then, the professor entered the room, followed by a tall, strikingly handsome man. My heart skipped a beat, and my eyes widened in shock.

It was him—the man from the library.

His gaze swept across the room, landing on me for a brief, tense moment. He smirked, as if acknowledging some unspoken connection, then moved his eyes away.

I froze, my mind racing. What was he doing here? Why did he follow me to class?

 "Hello, students. I'm your new chemistry teacher," he announced, his voice smooth yet carrying an edge that made me uneasy. He gave us a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm Adrian, and I think we'll get along just fine," he added with a wry smirk that sent a shiver down my spine.

There was something off about him. The vibes he gave off were all wrong, unsettling. As soon as our regular professor left the room, the atmosphere shifted. The girls, especially, seemed enamored by him, their faces lighting up with eager smiles.

"Please, just call me Adrian," he said with a laugh, further endearing himself to the class.

One of the girls raised her hand, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "Adrian, will you take extra classes? I'm not very good at chemistry."

Adrian's smile widened, and he responded smoothly, "Why not, sweetie? I'll take extra classes if that's what you want."

I rolled my eyes, feeling the tension in the room build. The way he played up to them was nauseating. I couldn't stay in this class any longer. I needed to get away from his unnerving presence.

I leaned over to Jack, lowering my voice to a whisper. "Jack."

He turned to me, concern flickering in his eyes. "Yes?"

"Let's get out of here. This is really boring," I said, trying to keep my tone casual despite the anxiety bubbling inside me.

Jack and I slipped out the back door, making sure Adrian was none the wiser. I could sense his confusion as we left.

"Jack, do you live here alone?" I asked, glancing at him.

"No, I'm staying with my friends," he replied, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

I hesitated before asking, "Want to come over to my place now? I have something to show you."

Jack looked a bit taken aback. I offered him a reassuring smile and added, "Actually, no, I just wanted to spend some time with you."

His surprise softened into a gentle smile. "Me? I—"

I nodded. "Yeah, I can't solve a math problem. Will you help me?"

He agreed, and after an hour's drive, we reached my house. My dad was out, leaving the place quiet. I led him to my room and gestured to a chair. "Please, have a seat."

With a nod, Jack settled down as I went downstairs to make coffee.

Jack's POV

Alone in Erin's room, I took in the neat but somewhat chilly space. Her room was tidy, yet the coolness seemed to increase after I closed the window. I glanced around, trying to figure out the source of the chill, but nothing seemed out of place. The room felt oddly quiet, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Jack's breath came out in visible puffs, growing more pronounced with each passing second. The room's cold had escalated rapidly, turning from a mild chill to a biting frost. His breath, now visible, mingled with the chilly air, making him shiver uncontrollably.

"What's happening?" he muttered, his voice trembling. He quickly moved towards the window, hoping to let in some warmth, but it was stuck, refusing to budge no matter how hard he pushed. Panic set in as he turned to the door, only to find it locked. His heart raced, and his hands shook as he tried to turn the knob, but it wouldn't budge.

"Damn it," he cursed, his voice echoing in the increasingly eerie silence. The atmosphere grew heavier, and Jack felt an unsettling presence around him. He shouted for Erin, but there was no response. His kicks against the door only seemed to amplify the cold, and soon, he was struggling to stay warm.

Suddenly, a bone-chilling breath traced across his neck, freezing him in place. It felt as if an unseen presence was right behind him. He tried to turn around, but the sensation was overwhelming. Something sharp, almost like a nail, pressed against his neck, causing him to gasp in terror.

"Ahh..." Jack cried out, clutching his head and sinking to the floor. His vision blurred as he fell into unconsciousness, the cold engulfing him completely.

When Jack finally opened his eyes, he was met with an unexpected sight. A beautiful face hovered over him, her features radiant and serene. He reached out instinctively, his hand trembling as he touched her.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" the woman asked, her voice gentle and soothing.

Jack blinked in confusion. "Erina, is that really you?" He was taken aback by her stunning beauty—so striking that it almost seemed unreal.

"Erina, what am I doing here?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"You lost consciousness for some reason," Erin replied, her eyes full of concern. "You were out for about an hour."

Jack sat up, his head still throbbing. "Erin, I have something to tell you," he began, his mind racing with the strange, chilling experience he'd just endured.