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I adjusted the hood of my hoodie, but left it up because I didn't want to risk my mission failing because of a single stupid mistake.

Then I took off my backpack and sat down at one of the PCs, letting the adrenaline in my fingertips drive me to enter all possible passwords – unchanged, of course.

This security room was the best proof that a Ruisangor organization should never collaborate with an institution owned by Senseque.

I picked up the old voice modulator and connected it to the newly purchased USB stick, which I wore on my ring finger, disguised as one of my black rings, and had ordered via the university network using Harlow's personal bank account details.

Triumphantly, I leaned back in the swivel chair.

All I had to do was press one button. Just one. And then they would all be able to hear me. The entire campus.

My smirk intensified.

A lot is going to change here in the next few weeks. I'm curious to see what you have in store for me, Rebecca.

I took a deep breath, enjoying the next wave of adrenaline that reminded me that death hadn't taken me yet. Then I pressed the button.

Silence.

It was as if I had to force myself to do something, even though I had already done it once before.

What are you waiting for? Destroy her.

“Students of Vanderwood University,” I began, filled with overflowing euphoria. “Do you remember me?”

Even if they didn’t, from now on I would make sure that no one here would ever forget me again.

“I am The Eye.”

The right corner of my mouth turned up.

I felt powerful here in the darkness, in the shadows of Vanderwood, like a reckless skydiver just before he realized his parachute wasn't going to open. But I had nothing to fear, because my parachute would open.

“And now you're going to listen to me carefully.”

I would get through this, would land softly.

Harlow would not.

Chapter 15

Larissa

The Right Way Around

DOLKINS

Before Bayla could spot me, I pulled her by her arm – which was wrapped in the dark blue knit sweater of her uniform – out of the crowd and into the less crowded side corridor.

I heard her gasp sharply, but when she recognized me, she just stared at me for a moment before letting me pull her further into the next passageway, where I eventually let go of her.

“Well?” I blurted out.

We had an important mission, and I wanted to know if she had finally overcome her inner fear of the Copelands and searched Alarik Copeland's apartment for new clues.

My best friend looked around as if the next Senseque was about to jump out from around the corner, but the corridor was clear. I couldn't smell anything except the sweet blood of the people who occasionally passed us, or the smell of the old walls, not to mention her own weak, far too neutral scent.

“I have to be careful,” Bay eventually sighed, finally looking me in the face. Her expression was indecisive. “The people there are watching me.” A shadow flitted across her two-colored eyes, which seemed brighter than usual, probably because of the snow outside, reflecting in the blue and dark cyan. “I have the feeling they don’t trust me.”