By the time I stumbled back into the house, I felt like a hollow shell. My legs carried me to the study without conscious thought. The familiar room now felt foreign, its cozy ambiance mocking my pain.
I sank into the chair, my head in my hands. The image of the man's face burned in my mind. His name floated to the surface like an unwanted memory: Nathan.
Nathan wasn't a stranger to me. I had seen him before.
It was a stormy day, rain lashing against the windshield as I drove past Carbel University. A figure stumbled across the street, drenched and unsteady. I slowed, squinting through the downpour. It was a young man, his clothes plastered to his thin frame, his movements sluggish.
I couldn't just watch. I pulled over, lowering the window slightly. "Hey! Are you alright?"
He turned toward me, his face pale and hollow-eyed. Then, without warning, his legs buckled and he crumpled onto the pavement.
Panicked, I leaped out of the car and hoisted him up, guiding him into the passenger seat. He was shivering uncontrollably, his lips tinged blue.
Once home, I handed him a fresh set of clothes and a warm towel. "Nathan, right? I've heard about you—you're one of Alexa's students, aren't you?"