MARIA POV
I cross the campus under the cloak of night, the dimly lit pathways stretching out before me like rivers of light and shadow. The tall, ancient trees surrounding the university rustle softly in the breeze, their leaves whispering secrets that only the darkness can hear. My footsteps echo faintly on the pavement, the only sound in the otherwise silent night, amplifying the anxiety that's been gnawing at my nerves since I left the café. The distant hum of the city seems miles away, and here, in this deserted stretch of campus, it feels like I’m the last person left on Earth.
Despite the calm exterior of the campus, an unease twists in my stomach. I keep glancing over my shoulder, half expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows. But each time I turn around, there’s nothing—no
