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Because I’m bad at lying, Larissa.

If I told them, I would have to explain everything. Why exactly he was working with me, that he was researching the species, that he was using Umbra...

Was that wrong? After all, I had promised him that this would remain between us. And apart from the fact that it wasn't a violation of the Umbra oath – only of the papers I had had to sign at the DLSC – I was uncertain about what I could confide in them.

It was enough that Miles already knew more than Quentin.

“Julie?” Larissa asked in an unusual tone, stepping closer, her gaze penetrating. “Do you know something we don’t?” Bayla looked up from the table, her gaze now as suspicious as Larissa’s. “Spill it.”

It was too late. If I didn't tell them now...

Buddy appeared beside me, a light matte blue leash in his mouth, as he always did when I stood by the front door.

“I...” I began, staring at the dog leash. “Oh, dammit...” I blurted out as an idea came to my mind on how I could delay all this. “I think I left my chemistry book in the library.”

I hastily grabbed the leash and hooked it onto Buddy's new, also pastel blue collar, avoiding the stares of the three girls.

“Julie,” Larissa said with her arms crossed, one eyebrow raised, and her foot tapping as if she were a rabbit.

I shot up, clutched the leash, quickly grabbed my gray winter coat, and forced a smile before opening the door and stepping backward into the snow.

Larissa followed me to the door.

“You guys can start without me,” I called into the house.

Buddy was already tugging on the leash and sniffing along the edge of the boardwalk.

“Why does it look more like you want to go for an escape walk?” Larissa called after me.

“I'll be right back, Larissa!” I shouted quickly and hurried to leave the student accommodation park.

I had to come up with a coherent explanation, preferably not a lie. Because I wouldn't be able to avoid telling them at least part of the truth.

Fire

Two Feet

Powdery snow sat on the tip of Buddy's nose as he romped through the snow in the deserted courtyard, as if I had brought him to doggy paradise.

He was probably the happiest soul this town would ever see.

I sighed and pulled my coat tighter around my stomach, watching my breath rise in the form of steam.

Three black ravens hopped around on the edge of the fountain, and Buddy chased them away, but they immediately flew back, only this time to hop toward me, curious but cautious.

I kept walking, and they followed me, as they always did when I was out alone.

I smiled, convinced that animals were able to pull me out of my spiral of thoughts when everything else around me threatened to overwhelm me.

Focused on the moment, I watched Buddy disappear into the next passageway of Vanderwood, forcing me to walk after him.

I followed the dog into the next courtyard, but immediately paused in the passageway when I spotted a tall man wearing a light brown felt coat standing in front of the snow-covered statue in the middle of the courtyard.

He brushed the snow off an edge with his hand and seemed to be trying to decipher something. Then he reached for a small notebook he had placed on the edge and began to write something down.

I couldn't concentrate on the notebook, or on Buddy, who was running toward him with his tail wagging.

My gaze was literally glued to Quentin.