CHAPTER 119: EVERY SHADOW WATCHING

Mr. Blake set the glass down in front of me.

I forced a sip, even though my throat was so tight. The cold shocked me back into my body a little.

June’s call still echoed in my head....her giggling, nervous voice telling me she was on her way to Ren’s place. Ren. One of them.

I wanted to tell her not to go. To cancel, to turn back. But the only thing I could do was sit here, pretending everything was normal.

God, she had no idea.

After everything I’d heard tonight, trusting any of the GlassCircle felt impossible.

Dominic was the only exception, though even with him I was torn in knots, still trying to figure out how, or if, I should ask him about everything I’d just learned.

I set the cup down and stood quickly. "Thanks for the water, Mr. Blake. I... I should get going."

Blake gave a small nod, then motioned for me to follow. The floorboards creaked under us as he walked me toward the front door. My hand was already on the knob when his voice stopped me.

As i pulled the door open, he called out.

Ash."

I turned.

"One last thing. There’s someone inside Blackwell working for the Coil.

My chest froze. "What? A student? Lecturer?"

"I don’t know who. Not yet. But they’re feeding them information. They’re there. Watching. Listening. Maybe closer to you than you think. I’m telling you this because I need you to understand....you can’t trust anyone. Not fully. Be careful who you talk to, who you’re seen with. And keep this meeting between us."

The words made my stomach sink lower. I nodded, even though I had no clue who he meant.

"Good." His eyes lingered on me like he wanted to say more, but then he just opened the door. "Get home safe, kid."

The door shut behind me, leaving me in the cool night.

The street stretched ahead, really quiet.

The lampposts buzzed faintly, flickering like they were about to burn out.

Not a single car, not even the hum of traffic in the distance. Just me, my own footsteps, and the sound of my breathing.

Blake had said the bus station wasn’t far.... just keep walking straight down, he’d told me.

So I did.

But right now, every shadow looked like it was watching me.

Dominic’s face wouldn’t leave my mind. His laugh, the warmth of his hand at my waist, the way he made me feel like I wasn’t alone.

But now, Blake’s words overlapped everything.

I shoved my hands deep into my pockets, forcing myself to breathe evenly.

I kept walking, still, no bus in sight.

My phone vibrated in my pocket the second I spotted the bus waiting at the stop ahead.

I broke into a run, until I scrambled up the steps and dropped into the first empty seat I could find. The doors hissed shut behind me.

With my chest still heaving, I yanked out my phone. My pulse spiked. Could it be Dominic? Or June, maybe?

The name on the screen made my stomach flip.

Marcus.

I answered quick. "Hello, Marcus..."

"I’m on my way," I cut him off before he could speak. My voice came out too fast, too shaky. "I should be there in forty-five minutes. Just... just hang on, okay?"

There was silence. Then Marcus’s voice came through. It was trembling. "Ash..." He swallowed hard, and I could hear how unsteady he was. "Please. Get to the hospital on time. It’s really important."

My heart skipped. My throat tightened.

"Is it Mom?" The words shot out before I could stop them. "Did something happen to her?"

No answer.

I gripped the phone tighter. "Is Alia okay? Tell me she’s okay."

"Yes. Alia’s okay." Marcus’s voice was firm, but not steady. "Just... get to the hospital."

And then.

Click.

The line went dead.

I froze.

Why wouldn’t he tell me what happened? Why cut off like that?

My thoughts were spinning so fast I couldn’t keep up.

Was Mom okay? Did something happen to her? Did something go wrong with her checkups?

God... what if it wasn’t that at all.

My stomach dropped.

What if it wasn’t just some random emergency? What if the Serpent people had gotten to her?

What if I got there and Mom’s bed was empty? Just sheets pulled tight and the faint smell of her left behind.

What if I get there, and a nurse looked at me with that pity-smile people give when it’s already too late?

What if Marcus had called because he couldn’t be the one to say the words?

God.

For a split second I saw it in my head...her IV stand gone, her favorite blanket folded neatly on the chair like she never existed.

And if Blake was right....that someone inside Blackwell was feeding them information, then Mom wasn’t just a random target. She was leverage. She was my weak point.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

God. Please don’t let it be Mom. Please don’t let it be her.

The bus jolted over a pothole, and I nearly bit my tongue.

I shut my eyes. Mom. Please let her be okay. Please let her still be breathing when I walk through those doors.

And all I could do was sit there, helpless, praying I wasn’t already too late.

The second the bus hissed to a stop outside the hospital, I shot up from my seat and practically shoved past the doors before they’d even opened all the way.

My chest was burning, my legs heavy, but I didn’t stop.

The hospital lobby felt like it was moving in slow motion....nurses behind the counter, patients slumped in chairs. I just kept moving:

My sneakers squeaked against the tiles as I ran down the hall I knew too well. My mom’s ward. My heart was pounding louder than my footsteps, like it was trying to break free of my chest.

Marcus was standing just outside the room, leaning against the wall, his hands shoved deep in his hoodie pocket.

His face lit up with relief the second he saw me, but it wasn’t enough to steady the storm in my chest.

"Marcus!" My voice cracked as I reached him, looking breathless. "What happened? What the hell happened? Is it Mom? Did she..:" I swallowed hard, forcing the word out. "Please tell me she’s okay."

"Ash, chill." Marcus pushed off the wall, shaking his head quickly. "didn’t want to tell you on the phone."

My stomach flipped. My heart was racing so fast it hurt. "Tell me now."

I grabbed his arm without realizing it. "Why did you call me like that? Why couldn’t you just say it on the phone?"

Marcus bit his lip, looking at the door, then back at me. His hands flexed like he didn’t know what to do with them.

"Because," he said slowly, "you had to see it for yourself."

My stomach dropped. "See... what?"

He didn’t answer right away. Just stared at me, before he reached for the door handle.

"You should come in."