Suzie stared at the boy standing in front of her, her eyebrows slightly raised, confusion clear on her face.

  "Who is Gill?" her expression seemed to ask without words.

  Gill noticed it and quickly began to explain.

  "I… I don't know you," he said awkwardly. "I'm new to this city. I just joined Andie City's High School."

  Suzie's eyes widened slightly.

  "That's where I study too," she replied.

  For a brief second, silence stretched between them. Then Suzie turned and said simply, "Follow me."

  Gill walked beside her, a little hesitant at first. The morning breeze was cool, and the streets were unusually calm. They soon reached the school gates.

  Gill left for his class—he was her junior.

  Suzie walked toward hers.

  Inside the classroom, she took her usual seat beside Mrita. Mrita was the only girl in the class who shared a real friendship with Suzie. Both of them were good at studies, always competing for top marks yet silently supporting each other. There was a soft affection between them, something unspoken but strong.

  The hours passed quickly.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  When the final bell rang, Suzie packed her bag and started walking home. But near the school gate, she noticed someone standing alone.

  It was Gill.

  He seemed to be waiting for someone.

  Suzie walked up to him. "Why are you still here?"

  Gill scratched his head nervously. "I… don't understand the way to my house. All the routes look the same. If you don't mind… can you show me? Just for today."

  Suzie paused for a second.

  "Okay," she said.

  They began walking side by side.

  After a few minutes of silence, Gill suddenly asked, "You don't have a boyfriend?"

  Suzie blinked.

  "I thought you might be walking with your boyfriend," he continued. "So I thought you wouldn't accept my request."

  A faint smile appeared on Suzie's lips.

  "No. I don't have a boyfriend."

  Her voice was calm, but something about that moment made her heart beat a little faster.

  Soon, they reached a turning.

  "This is my way," Gill said. "Can you wait for me tomorrow too? I don't want to get lost again."

  Suzie nodded.

  They exchanged phone numbers.

  As she typed her number into his phone, a strange happiness filled her heart. No one had ever asked for her number before.

  It felt… special.

  Suzie walked home with an unfamiliar lightness in her steps.

  But that feeling vanished the moment she entered her house.

  She rushed upstairs immediately to check if the Knight was there.

  He wasn't.

  Her heartbeat quickened.

  She ran downstairs.

  "Mom?" she called.

  There was no response.

  Her mind began racing. Within five minutes that felt like hours, Mrs. Hale finally entered the house.

  "The husky came with me earlier," her mother said breathlessly. "But now it's missing. I searched nearby… I couldn't find it."

  Without saying another word, she rushed outside. She searched the nearby streets, shouting the name of knight, desperately—

  "Knight…"

  But there was no answer.

  The streets were empty.

  The wind felt colder.

  After searching for what felt like impossible, she returned home, nervous and shaken.

  Mrs. Hale looked at her. "Did you find him?"

  Suzie forced her voice to remain steady. " he went to his owner's house."

  But even as she said it, she knew something wasn't right.

  That night, Suzie finished her dinner silently.

  Mrs. Hale was watching TV downstairs.

  Upstairs, Suzie sat at her desk, her homework open in front of her.

  Her pen moved.

  Her eyes read the lines.

  But her mind…

  Her mind was searching for Knight.

  And somewhere, far from the house—

  A pair of glowing eyes opened in the darkness.