Chương 27: Chapter 27: Alone

Lio moved through the busy campus hallways with a heavy sense of purpose, his thoughts swirling in a storm of anxiety and strategy. The weight of the message from the Hunter—"The Hunter knows."—still lingered in his mind. It was too dangerous now. Too risky to let Mia get pulled in deeper.

As much as Lio appreciated Mia's loyalty and quick thinking, he couldn't let her get caught in the crossfire. The Hunter, whoever they were, had already marked him, and if Mia stayed by his side, she'd only be next.

Lio glanced over his shoulder. Mia was walking right beside him, completely unaware of the silent war raging in his mind. Her determination to help was clear in the set of her jaw, her fierce loyalty blazing in her eyes. But that only made it harder.

He couldn't let her get hurt.

"Mia," Lio started, his voice low. He had to be careful. "I think it's best if you lay low for a while. Just until things cool down."

Mia frowned, confusion flashing across her face. "What? What are you talking about?"

Lio kept walking, not meeting her gaze. "This thing with The Veil, the Hunter... It's getting dangerous. You shouldn't be involved."

Mia stopped in her tracks, grabbing Lio's arm to make him face her. "Are you kidding me? We're in this together. You can't just push me out now."

Lio looked into her eyes, seeing the stubborn resolve that he knew so well. He knew she wasn't going to back down easily. But he had to try.

"I'm serious, Mia," Lio said, his voice firm but tinged with frustration. "The Hunter is targeting me. If you stay involved, you're just going to end up in the crosshairs. I can't let that happen."

Mia's eyes narrowed, her grip on his arm tightening. "So, what? You think you can just go it alone and leave me out of it? That's not how this works, Lio. We're stronger together."

Lio swallowed hard, fighting the urge to agree with her. He knew she was right, but the risk was too great. He couldn't bear the thought of something happening to Mia because of him.

"I'm serious, Mia," he said, pulling his arm away gently. "You've got to trust me on this. Just for now."

Mia looked like she wanted to argue, her mouth opening and closing as she searched for the right words. Finally, she shook her head in frustration.

"I don't get you, Lio. One minute, you want me by your side, helping you figure this out, and the next, you're trying to push me away. What are you so afraid of?"

Lio's jaw clenched. He couldn't tell her the full truth, not without revealing the message from the Hunter. He couldn't risk her knowing too much.

"I'm just trying to protect you," Lio said quietly, his voice tight. "This thing with The Veil, it's bigger than we thought. I can't drag you into it."

Mia stared at him, her expression unreadable for a long moment. Then, she let out a slow breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I get that you want to protect me, but pushing me away isn't the answer. I can take care of myself, Lio. You don't have to do this alone."

Lio felt a pang of guilt, but he forced himself to stand firm. He couldn't let her get dragged into the danger he was facing, no matter how much she wanted to help.

"Please, Mia," Lio said, his voice softer now. "Just trust me on this. For now, at least."

Mia looked at him for a long moment, and Lio could see the hurt in her eyes. Finally, she let out a frustrated sigh and took a step back.

"Fine," she said, her voice flat. "If that's how you want it."

Without another word, Mia turned and walked away, her steps quick and tense. Lio watched her go, a knot of guilt tightening in his chest. He hated doing this to her, but he didn't see any other way.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur for Lio. He spent most of his time avoiding crowded areas and keeping to the shadows, his mind racing with thoughts of The Veil, the Hunter, and the Whisper. He needed to figure out his next move, and fast.

By the time evening fell, Lio found himself standing in the courtyard again, the chill of the night air brushing against his skin. The campus was quieter now, with most students inside for the evening. He took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind and focus.

He couldn't keep running. He needed answers.

Lio glanced at his wrist device, debating whether or not to reach out to Selene again. She was the one who had first introduced him to the Whisper, and she clearly knew more than she had let on. Maybe she had some answers.

Just as he was about to send her a message, his wrist device buzzed again. Lio's heart skipped a beat, half-expecting another cryptic message from the Hunter.

Instead, it was Mia.

"I'm not giving up on you, Lio. Meet me in the archives at midnight. We're doing this together, whether you like it or not."

Lio stared at the message, a mix of frustration and relief washing over him. Mia was as stubborn as ever. And deep down, he knew she was right. He couldn't do this alone.

But before he could even think about replying, a shadow passed over the courtyard, moving too fast for him to follow. Lio's instincts kicked in, his eyes scanning the darkness around him.

He wasn't alone.

The Hunter was here.

Lio's pulse quickened, adrenaline surging through him. He had to move—had to get out of sight before it was too late.

But before he could take a step, the shadow shifted, a figure emerging from the darkness with unnerving silence. The Hunter stood before him, their face hidden beneath a hood, a faint, otherworldly glow surrounding them.

"You can't run forever, Lio," the Hunter's voice echoed, low and dangerous.

Lio's blood ran cold. He was trapped.

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