Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series - Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Suspicious Chapter 64: Suspicious As they made their way through the narrow passageways of the trophy room, mapping out the hidden tunnels, Aiden couldn’t shake the conversation he had with Emmeranne.

The corridors around them seemed to close in as he carefully sketched out their route on a scrap of parchment, the soft glow of his fire lighting the way.

He finally turned to Sevan and Adrian, who were both working on their own sections of the map.

“I talked to Emmeranne today,” he started, his voice low, as though he didn’t want to draw any attention.

“I asked her about that night/ about why she was outside when we fought.” Sevan paused in his mapping, looking at Aiden.

“What did she say?” Aiden hesitated for a moment, his mind replaying the conversation with Emmeranne.

“She said she was ordered by Headmaster Kairos to be out there.

To scout, or something like that.” Sevan’s brow furrowed, his confusion evident.

He stopped marking the wall and turned to face Aiden.

“Wait, what?

She said she was ordered by Kairos?

That doesn’t add up.” Aiden shrugged.

“I know.

She didn’t explain much more, but that was the gist of it.” Sevan’s mind clearly raced as he processed the information.

“That’s… strange,” he said slowly.

“You know, that kind of thing- scouting, being sent outside on missions like that, it’s usually reserved for third or fourth years, not first years.

It’s considered way too dangerous for someone just starting out.” He paused.

“Kairos wouldn’t send someone so young on a mission like that, would he?” “I mean, he did with me.

But I was with my parents so maybe mine doesn’t count.” Adrian said.

As the boys worked in silence, their minds wandered back to Emmeranne and the strange conversation they’d had earlier.

The tunnels they had been mapping seemed to stretch on forever, but their thoughts were caught in a web of suspicion, each thread leading back to her.

Adrian was the first to speak up, his voice low and filled with a tinge of uncertainty.

“You know, I’m starting to think Emmeranne might be hiding something.” He looked over at Aiden, who met his gaze with a knowing frown.

Sevan, who had been scribbling in his notebook, glanced up, clearly unsettled.

“Hiding something?” Aiden’s eyes darkened, his thoughts racing back to the night he’d been attacked.

“She was there that day as well, near the done.

When I was attacked by that guy in the woods.

She could’ve seen something, maybe even known who he was.” Aiden’s grip on the map tightened as he recalled the intense moments of that fight.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a connection between the attack and Emmeranne’s strange behavior.

Sevan frowned, trying to piece everything together.

“But why wouldn’t she say anything?

If she knows who the attacker is… why would she keep it to herself?” Adrian shook his head, clearly frustrated.

“That’s what I don’t get.

She’s been acting so reserved, not really giving us much to go on.

But now this, with the whole ‘ordered by the headmaster’ thing.

It’s too convenient.

I mean, why would she be out there, in the middle of the night, without being told to?

She’s got to be involved in something more than just a scouting mission.” Aiden couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that they were missing something crucial.

“What if she’s hiding something bigger?

Maybe she’s not as innocent as she seems.” He met Sevan’s gaze.

“What if she’s connected to the guy who attacked me?” Sevan’s eyes narrowed.

“You think she’s working with him?

Or maybe she’s involved somehow?” His voice lowered, clearly unsettled by the possibility.

“I don’t know,” Aiden admitted.

“But it’s too much of a coincidence.” “We need to keep an eye on her,” Aiden said finally, his voice low and resolute.

“We need to find out what she’s really up to.

And if she’s hiding something, we’ll uncover it.

But we can’t let her see us coming.” Adrian grinned darkly, the usual lightheartedness gone.

“No one’s better at that than us.” Sevan gave a half-smile, though it was clear his mind was still on the implications of everything that had happened.

“We’ll need to be careful.

If she’s hiding something, it could be bigger than we think.

And I don’t want to get caught in the middle of whatever’s going on.” As the three of them returned to their mapping, their thoughts were heavy with the weight of the mystery that had grown around Emmeranne.

As the boys continued down the dark, winding tunnel, the hours seemed to stretch on.

Aiden’s body felt heavy with exhaustion, his mind buzzing with thoughts of Emmeranne and the mysterious events that had transpired.

They’d been at it for a while now, mapping out the tunnels, but it felt like their energy was slipping away.

Sevan, who had been leading the way, let out a yawn, his pace slowing as his feet dragged.

“I think it’s about time we head back,” he muttered, rubbing his eyes.

“This mapping thing can wait until tomorrow.” Aiden and Adrian exchanged tired glances before nodding in agreement.

They were all starting to feel the pull of sleep, their bodies aching for rest.

But just as they turned to retrace their steps, something odd caught their attention, something out of place in the air.

A delicious scent wafted toward them, rich and mouthwatering, something unmistakably familiar.

It was the smell of freshly cooked food- something warm, comforting, and inviting.

The kind of meal that would make anyone’s stomach growl in hunger.

Aiden froze, his senses sharpening.

The scent was unmistakable, but what made it strange was that it didn’t belong here, in the cold, dimly lit tunnels beneath the school.

They were deep underground, far from the kitchens or any place that could be preparing food.

The three of them looked at each other, puzzled, and without a word, they started moving toward the source of the smell.

The scent seemed to linger in the air, but as they walked deeper into the tunnel, it was as if it vanished, leaving only a vague trace in the air.

Adrian stopped, his eyes scanning the darkness around them.

“Do you guys smell that too?” Sevan nodded, squinting into the shadows.

“Yeah, but there’s nothing around here.

No signs of food or anything.” Aiden’s brow furrowed as he tried to focus, his senses on high alert.

He could feel the pull of the smell, almost like it was drawing them deeper into the tunnels.

“It’s… strange.

It smells like a feast, but there’s nothing here.

No passageways leading to a kitchen, no signs of anything cooking.” He glanced down at the ground, looking for any clues, but there was nothing- just the same cold stone floor and the faint echoes of their footsteps.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“It doesn’t make sense.

It’s not like there’s a hidden kitchen or a secret feast down here.

Is someone messing with us?”