The Visit

The Visit
The fire alarm shrieked through the dorm hallway. Valentina shot up from her desk, heart racing. Not again. Three false fears this week.
She grabbed her phone and knife, tucking the weapon into her boot before joining the crowd of annoyed students moving toward the exit.
"Another drill?" Zoe groaned, falling in step beside her.
"Doubt it," Valentina answered, scanning faces with practiced caution.
Outside, students gathered on the lawn, complaining about stopped study sessions. Valentina positioned herself at the edge of the crowd, back to a tree, eyes constantly moving.
That's when she saw him.
Alessio stood near the campus security car, wearing pants and a black sweater that probably cost more than most students' monthly rent. He looked totally out of place—too polished, too watchful, too dangerous.
"No way," Valentina grumbled. She marched toward him, cutting through the crowd.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed, grabbing his arm.
Alessio's eyes flickered with surprise. "Lucy. There you are."
"You set off the alarm, didn't you?"
"Of course not," he said, looking insulted. "I simply wanted to find you quickly."
"You can't just show up here!"
"Your phone was off," Alessio said stiffly. "After what you texted about Professor Harmon—"
"I handled it," Valentina snapped. "I didn't go to his office."
A college security guard approached them. "Everything okay here, miss?"
"Fine," Valentina forced a smile. "My brother surprised me with a visit."
The guard watched Alessio suspiciously. "Students can return to the buildings. The alarm was triggered accidentally."
Valentina pulled Alessio away before he could say anything. "We need to talk, but not here. Follow me."
They walked across campus in tense silence. Several students stared at Alessio, who moved with the unmistakable confidence of someone who'd never thought about money or safety.
"Stop looking like you own the place," Valentina whispered. "You're supposed to be a normal person visiting his sister."
"I am a normal person," Alessio said, frowning.
"Normal people don't scan every room for exits and threats."
"They should," he grumbled.
At the small coffee shop near her apartment, Valentina picked a corner table. Alessio grimaced at the sticky surface.
"What's so important you had to come here?" she asked.
"Sebastian found something." Alessio's voice dropped. "The man calling himself Professor Harmon has connections to both the Circle and the Shepherds. The real Harmon disappeared three months ago."
Valentina's stomach twisted. "I figured that out already."
"How?"
"I did my own research after getting that text. The real Harmon published an article last year that contradicts everything this guy teaches. Plus, he mispronounces words that a journalism professor would know."
Alessio looked impressed despite himself. "You should have called me immediately."
"I'm handling it," Valentina declared. "I can protect myself."
"That's not the point—"
"Hey, Lucy!" Zoe bounded over to their table. "Is the fire alarm drama over?"
Valentina forced a smile. "Zoe, this is my brother, Al."
"Wow, you two look nothing alike," Zoe said, studying them. "Nice to meet you, Al."
"Pleasure," Alessio said stiffly.
"We're grabbing dinner at Morales later," Zoe continued, either missing or ignoring Alessio's clear discomfort. "You should both come!"
"Actually—" Alessio began.
"We'd love to," Valentina cut in. "Around seven?"
After Zoe left, Alessio stared at her. "What are you doing?"
"Blending in," Valentina said. "Normal college students have friends and go to dinner. If you're here, you need to play along."
"I didn't come to play college student," Alessio said. "I came to take you somewhere safe."
"I am safe," Valentina insisted. "Nobody's looking for Lucy Campo."
"Except fake Professor Harmon," Alessio replied.
"Who I've been avoiding successfully," Valentina said. "I'm not leaving. I have classes, friends, a life."
"A fake life."
The words stung more than Valentina expected. "Maybe it started that way. But it's real now."
Alessio's phone buzzed. He checked it, then looked up, face serious. "Dante found something in the photo. The real Harmon isn't just missing—he's dead. His body was discovered in Canada last week."
Valentina felt sick. "Near the safe house?"
"Too close to be coincidence."
Students laughed at nearby tables. Music played from speakers. Normal life continued all around them while Valentina's world tilted again.
"There's more," Alessio added. "The fake Harmon isn't working alone. Someone's been watching your apartment."
"Mr. Brooks," Valentina whispered.
"Who?"
"My neighbor. He's always there when I leave or come home."
Alessio nodded sadly. "We need to move you tonight."
"I can't just disappear," Valentina protested. "People will look for me."
"Better they look for Lucy Campo than find Valentina Castello's body," Alessio snapped.
Before Valentina could reply, her phone lit up with a text. Unknown number: "Meeting tomorrow. 8 PM. Come alone if you want to see your parents."
She showed Alessio, who quickly called Sebastian.
While he spoke quietly, Valentina looked around the coffee shop. Everything seemed so normal, so safe. Three weeks ago, she'd been afraid of every shadow. Now, she had friends who texted her about homework and invited her to dinner.
Lucy Campo had a future. Valentina Castello had only foes.
"It's a trap," Alessio said, stopping his call. "But Sebastian thinks we can use it. If we control the meeting place—"
"We might find out who's behind this," Valentina finished.
Alessio nodded, shocked. "You've changed."
"Had to," she said simply.
They left the coffee shop together, walking toward her apartment to pack important items. As they passed the campus newspaper office, Valentina paused, looking at her story pinned to the bulletin board.
"I'm good at this, you know," she said quietly. "Being Lucy. Writing. Having normal friends."
"You were always good at everything," Alessio answered, his voice unusually gentle. "But you were never meant for normal."
At her apartment building, Valentina froze. The door to her room was slightly ajar.
Alessio pushed her behind him, drawing his gun.
"Wait," Valentina whispered, pulling out her knife. "Together."
They entered quietly, scanning the small space. Nothing seemed upset, but something felt wrong.
On her desk lay a single photograph—her parents, bound and tied, a newspaper dated yesterday beside them. On the back, written in red: "The girl who plays pretend will lose everything. 8 PM tomorrow. The old library basement. Come alone."
Valentina's phone buzzed again. A text from Zoe: "Can't wait to see you and your brother at dinner! Mr. Brooks says he'd love to join us too. Hope that's ok!"
Valentina's blood turned to ice as she showed Alessio the message.
"It's a setup," she whispered. "They have Zoe."
Alessio's face darkened. "Not just Zoe. Look."
He pointed to her laptop screen, which she'd left open. A video feed showed all her friends—Zoe, Mason, Ellie, Darius, and Ryan—tied up in what looked like a basement.
A masked figure stepped into view, waving at the camera.
"Hello, Valentina," a garbled voice said. "Time to stop playing college girl. The game is over."