Chapter 9: The Snap of Reality
CRACK.
The sound of Mr. Wright’s ruler hitting the whiteboard snapped Noah back to the present. He blinked, his vision adjusting from the moonlit woods of the 19th century to the fluorescent glare of the 21st century.
His hands were practically gripping the edges of his desk so hard the plastic was beginning to groan. He forced his fingers to relax.
The bell rang—a shrill, piercing sound that signaled the end of the day. Around him, students began scrambling, the air filled with the rustle of backpacks and the chatter of weekend plans.
Noah didn't move. He sat in the silence of his own mind, the ghost of Leila ’s voice still echoing in his ears.
"Noah?"
He looked up. Katherine Becker was standing by his desk. She was looking at him with a mix of concern and curiosity, her dark brown eyes searching his.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly. "You looked like you were a thousand miles away. Mr. Wright called your name twice, and you didn't even blink."
Noah looked at her—really looked at her. She wasn't Leila. She was warm, she was alive, and she smelled like cheesecake. But the danger was the same.
"I'm fine," Noah said, his voice sounding raspier than usual. "Just... thinking about a long time ago."
Katherine tilted her head, a stray curl falling over her shoulder. "Well, class is over. Are you coming, or are you planning on living in the Pre-calc room?"
Noah felt a small, genuine smile tug at his lips. "I think I’ve spent enough time in classrooms for one lifetime."
As he stood up, he realized with a sinking feeling that he didn't want to walk away. He wanted to follow her. He wanted to know if her blood tasted as sweet as it smelled. And that was the most terrifying thought.