Page 107 of The Bleak Beginning

My shadow. He’s found me.

An invisible current thrums between us, making my body stir with a mix of longing and confusion. I tear my gaze away and turn back to Aubrey and Camden.

They’re still locked in their verbal sparring, as I tug on her arm.

“I need a drink,” I whisper urgently. “Now.”

Aubrey glances at me, puzzlement flickering across her face before she nods and turns back to Camden with a saccharine smile.

“As delightful as this little reunion has been, dear cousin, we really must mingle. Wouldn’t want to monopolize your charming company all evening.”

With that, Aubrey steers me away from Camden, whose smirk has faded into a look of annoyance. As we weave through the crowd, I can’t help but glance back at the balcony. My shadow is gone, vanishing as quickly as he appeared.

“What’s wrong?” Aubrey murmurs, her grip on my arm tightening.

I shake my head, trying to clear the fog of unease that’s settled over me. “It’s nothing.”

Aubrey raises an eyebrow but doesn’t press further. We make our way to the bar, where she orders us both glasses of champagne. I down mine in one gulp, ignoring her concerned look.

“Easy there, girl,” she says, placing a hand on my shoulder. “We’ve got alooongnight ahead of us.”

My eyebrow shoots up in suspicion. The way she elongates that word, drawing it out with a knowing tone. Does she know something I don’t?

“Hey, don’t you find it weird that they’re allowing us to drink?” I ask her, grabbing another glass.

Aubrey’s lips curl into a sly smile. “You really think the university would let us have all this fun without ulterior motives?” She leans in closer, her voice dropping. “The champagne is to help ease our nerves. It’s all part of the game.”

I nearly choke on my second glass. “What game?”

“The pre-trial,” Aubrey says, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Did no one tell you? Tonight isn’t just a masquerade ball. It’s a taste of what to expect for the games. A pre-trial, where all third years will be scored and ranked based on how they do.”

My stomach drops. “Scored and ranked? On what?”

Aubrey grins. “Everything. How we interact, how we present ourselves, our ability to navigate social situations, even how well we hold our liquor. The faculty are everywhere, watching and evaluating.”

I scan the room, suddenly hyper-aware of every glance in our direction. How many of these masked figures are professors in disguise?

Aubrey’s eyes widen, a mix of surprise and concern flashing across her face. “I thought you knew. The masquerade, the drinks, the mystery of it all—it’s all part of the initiation.”

I shake my head, trying to process this information. “Initiation into what?”

“The Altair games,” Aubrey explains. “The staff and the fourth years, but mainly the staff. They’re always watching, always testing. And tonight, they’re especially measuring us up for this year’s festivities.”

Right. I remember Sylvester mentioning how the seniors assist with the games, that it was some kind of strange reward for participating the year prior. That was right before he’d left me stranded on that cliff after our one-on-one tutoring session.

Sylvester’s cryptic words now take on a new, ominous meaning. I feel like I’m drowning, the weight of this revelation pressing down on me.

“Alex,” Aubrey’s voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts. “Breathe. You look like you’re about to pass out.”

I force myself to take a deep breath, steadying myself against the bar. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” I hiss.

“I thought you knew. Everyone’s been talking about it for weeks. I’m sorry, I should have made sure.”

I shake my head, trying to clear it. “It’s fine. I just… I need a minute.”

As I turn to leave, I catch a flash of black in my peripheral vision. My shadow, watching from across the room. Our eyes lock once more, and I feel how my pulse thrums. He watches me imperceptibly, then melts back into the crowd.

“Alex?” Aubrey’s voice snaps me back to reality. “Where are you going?”

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