Chapter 8: The Shadows of Midnight

The darkness of the night seemed to swallow October whole as she made her way to the old oak tree. The moon cast an eerie glow on the deserted path, and the rustling of leaves beneath her feet seemed to echo through the silence. She had tried to ignore the text, to convince herself it was just another prank, but the words lingered in her mind like a challenge. As she approached the tree, a figure emerged from the shadows. October's heart skipped a beat as she realized it wasn't Ethan, but a stranger. Tall and imposing, with piercing green eyes that seemed to bore into her soul. "Who are you?" October demanded, trying to keep her voice steady. The stranger smiled, a slow, enigmatic smile. "I'm someone who knows Ethan," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "And I'm here to tell you that you're in danger." October's mind reeled as she tried to process the stranger's words. Danger? What did he mean? But before she could ask any questions, the stranger handed her a small folder. "What's this?" October asked, her eyes scanning the contents. The folder was filled with newspaper clippings, photographs, and documents. As she flipped through the pages, October's eyes widened in shock. The articles were about Ethan, about his family, and about a tragedy that had occurred several years ago. The stranger's eyes locked on hers, a seriousness in their depths. "Ethan's family was involved in a tragic accident," he said. "A fire that killed several people. Ethan was the only survivor." October felt like she had been punched in the gut. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Ethan she knew, the one who had been so kind and gentle, was connected to a tragedy? The stranger's voice cut through her thoughts. "Ethan is hiding from his past, October. He's been in witness protection for years, and he's been trying to keep his new identity a secret." October's mind reeled as she tried to process the information. Witness protection? What did that mean for Ethan's life? And what did it mean for her? As she stood there, frozen in shock, the stranger vanished into the night, leaving her with more questions than answers. October knew she had to find Ethan, to confront him about the truth. But as she turned to walk back to her dorm, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was being watched. And that her life was about to change forever.