Collided Souls

I M O G E N

I know Christian sent him to take me. It's the only explanation for why that man came out of nowhere and tried to knock me out. Thank goodness Brett was there—right on time. Though, part of me still wonders how he knew when to show up. Too perfect to be a coincidence. 

I shook the thought away just as a familiar figure emerged from the hallway below. A smile tugged at my lips watching Cane walk, eyes glued to his phone, bag clutched tightly in one hand. 

I hate this—keeping our distance in public like strangers. Like shadows. Because anything or anyone could run back to Christian and ruin everything. 

I hate having to stay hidden, in the dark, when all I want is to be openly his—and for him to be mine. 

I looked away, and Lauren saw me. 

"Imogen, question!" she chirped, walking up. 

I returned her smile. "Might have an answer." 

"Good," she sighed, clearly relieved. "Do you know who's getting the Teacher's Hall awards at the end of the year?" 

"No idea," I shook my head. "Haven't heard anything." 

She pursed her lips. "Well, I'm asking because there's a new writing award this year." 

My eyes widened. "There is?" 

"Yep." She nodded, one hand now resting on her hip. "They added it just recently." 

"Oh..." 

"I was thinking Cane should enter. The way he writes? It's amazing." She actually blushed when she said his name. And just like that, a sour pit formed in my stomach. I'm not usually one to claim people—but Cane? He's mine. 

I tilted my head, pretending to think. "Cane?"

"Well, I don't know if he writes writes, but I saw him draft a prologue for one of his classes. It was... impressive."

"Oh," I said again, trying not to let the heat rise in my cheeks.

"Well, if you find anything out, let me know!" she smiled and sauntered off, latching onto the next coworker in her sights.

Cane... entering the writing protion? I don't see it. But reading, teaching, leading—I see all of that in him. My eyes drifted back to where he once stood, and the thought of him writing kindled something beneath my skin. A warmth. A thrill. An ache.

Should I ask him about it? Or would that be crossing some invisible line we haven't defined yet?

He's still a mystery.

◊◊◊◊ 

Later, I sat listening to Leona rattle off her growing list of suspects tied to Christian. Jenny squinted at one of the names. 

"Wait," she interrupted. "How is one of the baristas from the coffee shop a suspect?" 

Leona rolled her eyes. "She messed up my order. Suspicious behavior." 

Jenny blinked. "That has nothing to do with Christian." 

Leona glared. "Are you here to listen or to criticize my list?"

Jenny shrugged. "Both." 

Their bickering faded into static as my eyes locked on a single name: Brett. 

Suddenly, I was there again. 

"Get off me!" I screamed, thrashing against the arms that yanked me back. "Let me go!" 

Tears blurred my vision. Every pull, every drag, brought Christian's memory crashing into me—his rage, his hands, his voice. I fought harder. But the man's grip was iron. 

"Please!" I sobbed, body shaking. 

Then silence.

No more screams. 

Just me, paralyzed, my head pressed against the cool metal of a bullet-scarred wall.  "If you don't shut up," the man hissed in my ear, "things will get bloody." 

My world froze. My body trembled. The tears didn't stop—but I stopped fighting. 

And then—Brett. 

He tore the man away from me, throwing punches like fire. Protecting me. Shielding me. I hadn't moved. I was frozen. Just a girl standing there—too afraid to run. 

"Immy!"

I blinked back to reality. "Huh?" 

"Are you okay?" Jenny asked softly, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. 

"Yeah," I forced a swallow. "Yeah... I'm okay." 

"Great! Anyway—back to what I was saying," Leona clapped, snapping the moment back to its chaotic norm. 

Jenny turned her attention back, smiling. I tried to do the same. I tried to listen.  But the memory kept resurfacing—last night at Cane's, now here at the table. It just won't go away. And now, sitting here...  I feel cold.

A/N

Had a bit of 抖阴社区rs block but I got somewhere!!
💌