Claire woke up alone in her room, the early morning light filtering through the curtains and casting soft shadows across the walls. Slowly, the events of the previous night came rushing back to her. The harrowing journey to her aunt’s apartment, the brutal discovery of Talia’s lifeless body, and the surreal embrace she had shared with Thomas—all of it came flooding back, filling her with a mix of grief and confusion.
She sat up, rubbing her eyes as she shook off the remnants of sleep. Her heart felt heavy with the loss of her aunt, and questions swirled in her mind. Who were the people that had killed Talia? What did they want? And why was she, Claire, at the center of all this chaos?
As she looked around the room, she realized that Thomas was gone. She was certain they had fallen asleep together, his presence a comforting anchor in the midst of her turmoil. But now, the bed beside her was cold and empty.
A pang of disappointment surged through her chest. Where had he gone? And why did it bother her so much that he wasn’t here?
She got out of bed and began to dress, her movements slow and deliberate as she tried to piece together her next steps. Her mind was a storm of grief and lingering frustration at Thomas’s secrecy. She resolved to find him, to get the answers she so desperately needed.
Just as she was lacing up her shoes, her phone rang, breaking the silence. She glanced at the screen to see Hugo’s name. It had been days since she’d last spoken to him, and she knew she couldn’t ignore him any longer.
Taking a deep breath, she answered. "Hey, Hugo."
Hugo’s worried but lively voice filled her ear, a familiar comfort. "Claire, where did you disappear to? What’s happening? Talia is worried sick. I saw you leaving the club in some van—who were those people? If you found a guy, fine, but you should’ve just told me. I’d have covered for you."
Despite everything, she couldn’t help but smile at Hugo’s tone. His voice always had a way of grounding her, making the world seem a little less chaotic. "I’m alright, Hugo. I promise."
"You know, Claire, I even tracked you using the Find My Phone feature, but somehow it shows you’re in an abandoned building in the center of Paris. I even went there, but it’s empty. Nobody is there. I thought somebody had stolen your phone."
Claire’s heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t give him all the answers—couldn’t explain the hidden Academy or the dangers lurking in the shadows. But she needed to calm his worries, and she needed his presence now more than ever.
"Hugo, I can’t explain everything right now, but I swear I’m okay. Can we meet at our favorite café? I need to see you." Her voice wavered with the weight of her request, hoping he would sense her desperation.
"Of course, Claire. I’ll be there in twenty minutes," he replied, his tone serious now. "Just be safe, okay?"
"Promise," she said, attempting to reassure him, and ended the call.
Ignoring all the warnings Thomas had given her about staying hidden and safe, Claire decided to sneak out of the Academy once more. She couldn’t bear to sit idle, not when so many questions needed answers.
She moved cautiously through the Academy, her senses on high alert. The corridors were quieter than usual, and she used the solitude to her advantage, slipping out without being noticed. Once outside, she stuck to the lesser-known streets, constantly looking over her shoulder to ensure she wasn’t being followed.
The familiar sight of the café put her slightly at ease. She slipped inside, finding a secluded table in a corner where she could keep an eye on the entrance. Moments later, Hugo burst through the door, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on her.
He rushed over and enveloped her in a tight embrace, the warmth of his concern momentarily easing her grief. “Claire, thank God you’re okay.”
She pulled back, offering him a small, tired smile. “I’m here, Hugo. And I need your help.”
Sitting down, they quickly ordered coffee, the café’s comforting atmosphere a balm to Claire’s frayed nerves. Hugo sat across from her, his eyes filled with questions and concern. She took a deep breath, ready to share what she could, knowing that while she couldn’t tell him everything, she needed his presence now more than ever.