The bell stopped ringing.
Aanya and Aarav stood completely still.
The Keeper was staring at the sealed crack.
“Aanya…”
She looked at him.
“What?”
The Keeper didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he walked toward the wall.
Slowly.
Carefully.
He placed his palm against the stone.
Nothing happened.
Then—
THUD.
The wall shook beneath his hand.
Aanya stepped back.
“What was that?”
The Keeper’s face tightened.
“The bell.”
Aarav frowned.
“What about it?”
“It wasn’t calling the university.”
Aanya looked toward the ceiling.
“Then what was it calling?”
The Keeper turned around.
“Nightfall.”
Silence.
Aarav looked at his wrist.
The black mark was still there.
But now it was barely visible.
“Aanya…”
She looked at him.
“Yeah?”
“My mark is cold.”
The Keeper’s eyes widened.
“That shouldn’t be possible.”
Aanya moved closer.
“What does it mean?”
Before the Keeper could answer— the mark flashed.
Aarav gasped.
Aanya grabbed his hand.
“Aarav!”
“I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not.”
“I said I’m okay.”
The Keeper stepped toward them.
“Don’t let go of him.”
Aanya looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because Nightfall may try again.”
Aarav stared at the Keeper. New chapters come out on g.com first.
“Through me?”
The Keeper nodded.
“But not the way it did before.”
Aanya’s expression hardened.
“Then how?”
The Keeper looked toward the ceiling.
“Through your memories.”
Aarav went silent.
Aanya’s eyes narrowed.
“But it said his memories would destroy him.”
“Yes.”
“And you know why.”
The Keeper didn’t answer.
Aanya stepped closer.
“You know something about Aarav.”
The Keeper finally looked at her.
“I know something about both of you.”
Aarav’s voice was quiet.
“What?”
The Keeper took a slow breath.
“Nightfall doesn’t want your memories.”
Aanya frowned.
“Then what does it want?”
The Keeper looked directly at them.
“It wants you to remember the same thing.”
A cold silence filled the chamber.
Aarav whispered,
“What thing?”
The Keeper shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Aanya stared at him.
“You’re lying.”
“I wish I was.”
Another sound came from above.
DONG.
The bell rang again.
This time— the silver key in Aanya’s hand began glowing.
She looked down.
“Aarav…”
He looked at the key.
“What?”
“It’s reacting.”
The Keeper suddenly stepped back.
“No.”
Aanya looked at him.
“What?”
“Put it away.”
“Why?”
“Because that key doesn’t only open doors.”
“What does it do?”
The Keeper’s voice dropped.
“It remembers them.”
The key flashed.
Aanya’s vision suddenly blurred.
For one second— she saw a corridor.
A silver door.
A boy standing beside her.
A voice whispering:
“Don’t forget.”
Aanya gasped and dropped the key.
Aarav caught her.
“Aanya!”
She looked at him.
“I saw something.”
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
The Keeper stared at the key on the floor.
Then at them.
“We have to leave.”
Aarav frowned.
“Leave where?”
The Keeper looked toward the staircase.
“Somewhere Nightfall cannot hear us.”
Aanya picked up the key.
“And where is that?”
The Keeper hesitated.
Then whispered—
“Above Ravenhall.”
Aarav looked confused.
“Above?”
The Keeper nodded.
“There is a place even the university forgot.”
The lights suddenly went out.
Aanya held Aarav’s hand.
The darkness returned.
But this time— there was no voice.
No shadow.
No movement.
Only one thing.
A soft sound from somewhere far above them.
A door opening.
The Keeper whispered,
“It’s already awake.”
Aanya tightened her grip on Aarav’s hand.
“Then let’s find it.”
And together— they climbed the stairs.