Belview

ina'

ear, casual as ever. "Yeah," she

the hallway sudden

book. "I read something online. Took my

eep my voice steady. "Did they ever fig

pect. Some student who was, like, obsessed with

ed. "Do you rem

No idea. They couldn't charge him-lack of evidence or whatev

's stil

about an old classmate who'd failed to grad

ll here. A

e ground tilt

"Why do you care?" Her tone was light, bore

omeone lost their life. And the person

t. "God. Relax. You d

ur problem. College is hard enough with

vable," I snapped. "Someone was murdered-right here

g. "Violence happens everywhere, babe. Professors are the worst

like a slap. My

t some desperate old lady who tried hooking up with th

ed like it

e both disgusting," I said, my voice sharp and shaki

?" Phoebe called after

larm dawning in her eyes.

em both dead in the eye. "That 'desperate old lady'?"

nd me before they cou

ering neon VACANCY sign buzzed above like it ha

sleeves as I headed for the entrance. Inside, the lobby was harsh

d floor," she said flatly, sliding the keycard toward me. No ques

rm, with Phoebe and Megan. Even the thought of

ootsteps echoed off stained wallpaper and sticky tile. Room 213 opened with a soft click, lik

e, a desk with water rings and burn marks. Everything reeked

warning, the memories came rushing in. I

s still warm with breakfast smells-bu

olling on their phones, half-watching some game show on mute.

name. Then his phone rang. One sharp, s

knew that voice. It was the one he used when bil

us when he ended the call. Just sta

"Your mother's

I'd misheard. "Wh

. What do you mean? What

uld anchor her. "No. No, she just went

traight line. "I always knew that school wou

like

tell us it was all some horrible mistake. She didn't. She never would. The memory fade

flickering in the corner. The air felt too thin. My lungs couldn'

ade a sound. Then

ching for it wi

sage. Unkno

on you. Eyes that can see everything.

one. I stared at the screen

ell knew