Chapter 152: Chapter 152

Amber

Had I somehow made a mistake by forcing him to join the hunt? Was he going to lose his mind and go on a rampant killing spree and I would be the reason?

I was lost in thought when a faint scuff of movement echoed from the stairs above.

We froze instantly and my ears craned to hear the noise above. We were not alone anymore.

I distinctly heard footsteps of at least two people descending down the stairs. They were heading straight at us.

Theo moved fast, sliding the books back into place.

I shielded the torch and we slipped deeper into the stacks, hearts racing faster than possible.

We found a narrow gap between two tall shelves and pressed into it just like last time.

Our bodies were basically glued to the stone walls on either side of us like it were squeezing us and I couldn’t get enough air in my lungs.

My breathing was shallow but I forced myself to calm down. Beside me, the torch was extinguished as Theo snuffed out the flame immediately.

Darkness swallowed us completely a fraction of a second later.

From our hiding spot, we peeked outside at the archive entrance that seemed like a faint rectangle of lighter shadow.

The footsteps reached the bottom of the stairs and paused.

Not again! I hadn’t come all the way down here just to get caught a night before the hunt.

My pulse thundered in my ears. Theo’s shoulder pressed against mine, both of us rigid with tension.

After an agonizing stretch of silence, the footsteps retreated back up the stairs.

I didn’t even dare sigh in relief and stood there with my heart beat drowning out every other noise and my legs almost wobbly with the effort to keep standing straight.

We waited another full minute that seemed like a decade before daring to move.

“We need to get out,” Theo breathed.

I didn’t need convincing and we crept back through the aisles immediately, navigating mostly by memory.

As we passed the corner with the heavy iron door set deep into the wall, that feeling that I was being watched hit me again — stronger than before.

I could feel a heavy, primal presence on the other side. I didn’t know how I was so sure that it was different from the footsteps above.

Not a sound, but a weight.

Cold air suddenly seemed to seep through the cracks that made me shiver.

I sensed something ancient and aware turning its attention toward me specifically, like invisible eyes locking on.

The hair on my arms stood up and my stomach twisted with instinctive fear.

I wanted to scream but my throat had gone dry.

My nervous gaze flicked towards Theo who didn’t react the same. In fact, he didn't react at all.

He kept moving steadily ahead with his torch held low to illuminate the path ahead of him.

I didn’t say anything because the absence of his reaction told me only one thing.

That it was just stress about the upcoming hunt. That the darkness was playing tricks with me.

We reached the stairs and climbed as quickly as we dared, avoiding noisy steps.

The ascent felt eternal but I kept pushing through. When we finally pushed through the hidden panel into the main library, relief flooded me.

The open windows let in fresh night air, carrying the distant sounds of training. I took deep gulps, trying to steady myself telling myself over and over that I was safe, that no void was staring at me.

Theo locked the main door behind us as we slipped outside. Only when we were a safe distance away, hidden beneath a large oak tree, did we both exhale properly.

“That was too close,” Theo said, running a hand through his hair. His voice was still hushed. “Those footsteps… I think they belonged to the faculty. They’re watching the archives.”

I nodded, still shaken. “Did you feel anything strange near that iron door? Like… something watching us?”

Theo frowned. “No. Just the usual creepiness down there. Why?”

“Nothing,” I lied quickly. “Just nerves.”

We reviewed his notebook notes under the moonlight.

The new discoveries painted a clearer and more terrifying picture.

Damian wasn’t just fighting his own curse. The academy was actively trying to control it, perhaps even break him before the Hunt could expose their weakness.

The old binding pact might be the only real solution, but someone had gone to great lengths to bury that knowledge.

“I need to think about all this,” I told Theo as we prepared to part ways. “Thank you for coming with me again.”

“Be careful, Amber,” he replied, squeezing my shoulder. “Whatever’s coming tomorrow… it feels bigger than just the Hunt.”

I reached for his hand to give it a gentle squeeze. “Thanks again. And I hope you will keep this between us.”

He nodded. “Of course. Now we just got to sleep tonight and hope not to die in the hunt tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow then”

I made my way back to the dormitory alone, the weight of new secrets pressing down on me.

The academy grounds felt darker now, the shadows longer. Guilt twisted deeper in my chest. Damian was out there at the fight club, punishing his body to control the Hunger, trusting me in his own guarded way.

And here I was, hiding meetings with Soren and late-night trips with Theo.

This is to save him, I reminded myself again as I slipped back into the room. My friends were still sound asleep. I changed quietly and lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

But the words felt heavier tonight.

The stronger presence behind the iron door lingered in my mind...that cold, hungry awareness that had seemed to notice me. Whatever it was, it felt connected to Damian’s curse. And I had no idea if digging it up was going to save him… or doom us both.

Sleep came slowly, haunted by visions of wolves, torn pages, and shadows that watched from behind iron doors.