Chapter 5 BELLA ENCOUNTERS CLAIRE AND MATTHEW

BELLA POV

As I walked down the hallway, I couldn't help but notice that it was as if nothing had happened earlier, as if no one had died.

The students had gone back to whatever they were doing.

The professors were back to teaching.

No flowers, no prayers, no memorial, and no announcement happened.

How could they act like that? Were they already used to things like this, or were they taught to stay silent and never ask questions?

"Bella?"

I looked at the person who had walked beside me.

"Hmm."

"Are you okay?" she asked, making me wonder why.

"Of course. Why do you ask?" I asked back.

She studied me carefully. "You're not very good at hiding how you feel. You may look brave, but it's obvious you're not okay."

"It's normal to be nervous on the first day of school," I forced a smile.

She laughed. "Trust me. Everyone looks terrified on their first day."

Since classes hadn't started yet, Claire invited me to walk around the university so I wouldn't get lost.

The library.

The student center.

The athletic complex.

"Northbridge cares a lot about appearances," she suddenly said.

"What do you mean by that?"

"The flowers are always fresh. The buildings are always clean. The rankings are always high," she said.

"Isn't that a good thing?" I asked, confused.

"But you know what's the sad part?"

"What?"

"Northbridge hates ugly stories."

I couldn't understand what she meant. But before I could ask another question, she had already started walking, so I quickly followed her.

As we walked past the dormitories, Claire suddenly stopped and looked at a photograph hanging in the dormitory lobby.

A memorial wall.

Several framed pictures.

Students.

Former students.

People who had attended Northbridge.

I noticed her smile disappear when her eyes landed on the picture of a girl.

"Do you know her?" I asked.

She didn't answer right away and just kept staring at the photograph.

After a while, she nodded. "Mia Sebastian."

"Is she still here? Why isn't there anything written about her? It's okay if you don't want to answer," I said.

"I don't know."

"W-what? W-what do you mean you don't know?" I asked in confusion.

She shook her head. "No one does."

"I'm confused, Claire," I said.

"She loved university." Her eyes remained fixed on the picture. "Every time we talked, I could hear how happy she was whenever she told stories about this place. Then one day, I never received another call from her. Not even a single piece of news."

"W-what happened? Didn't you ask the people in charge?"

She looked at me. "Her room was empty, nobody, no investigation."

I could hardly believe what Claire had just told me. How could this university do nothing when a student had gone missing under their care?

"If no one knows where she is, and no one can say whether she's alive or dead, then why is her picture on the memorial wall?" I asked.

"You know why? Because it's easier to remember someone as dead than to admit they're missing."

I fell silent after hearing that.

"Bella..."

I looked at Claire. Her expression was serious.

"Whatever strange things you hear about this university, don't believe them right away. But don't ignore them either."

---

The next day, I was late. Not because I woke up late, but because I got lost.

I looked at my schedule.

Room 302. Third floor.

It looked like I had gotten lost again because when I looked around, I realized I was in the engineering building.

‘What a great day to start,’I whispered.

"What are you doing here?"

I turned toward the voice beside me and saw Matthew.

Ah... I got lost."

He looked at me carefully, as if making sure I was telling the truth.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked.

"Have we met before?"

I suddenly felt nervous, but I didn't let it show.

"I don't think so."

His expression softened. "Sorry. You just look familiar. I just can't remember. You're the new transfer student, right?"

"Ah, yes. Bella Morgan."

"Matthew Blake," he said.

"As if anyone here doesn't know that," I said.

He offered to show me where my building was, and I didn't refuse since I still wasn't familiar with the campus and I might end up getting lost again.

As we walked together, neither of us spoke. It was as if we were both trying to read each other

"You seem so observant," he suddenly said.

"I like paying attention," I answered.

"Most people don't."

"I don't like missing details and information," I said.

"And that can be dangerous here."

I looked at him as he walked after he said that.

"Dangerous? In what way?" I asked.

He stopped walking and turned to me with a serious expression.

"You'll figure it out soon. We're here."

"Thank you," I said with a smile.

He quickly excused himself since he had class as well. But after he left, a small piece of paper suddenly slipped out from the book I was carrying.

‘What is this now?’ I thought.

The smile on my lips instantly disappeared when I read what was written on it.

I clenched my fist as I gripped the paper tightly.

Someone knows.

Someone knows why I'm here at Northbridge University.

I looked at the note once again.

STOP ASKING ABOUT ADRIAN.

I scanned my surroundings, my eyes moving from one student to another, all of them busy with what they were doing.

Now I am sure of it.

Every move I made. Someone is watching me.