Chapter 18

Sophia's POV

By the time I stood up from my desk that evening, my whole body ached with the kind of tiredness that made the walk to the staff room feel longer than it should have.

I heard something odd echo down the hallway on my way out, but exhaustion won out over curiosity, and I kept walking.

The sound came again as I neared my room, louder this time, more urgent, and still I let it go, too spent to investigate anything more than my own bed. I was asleep before I’d fully registered lying down.

Morning came without warning, my alarm cutting through a sleep deep enough that I barely remembered falling into it. I dressed for work and stepped outside, only to find Blake waiting for me again.

“What did you mean when you told me