The knots in my stomach tightened. My breaths plumed from my mouth as I started for the tower, my footsteps hurried and loud across the dead branches and bones at my feet. One good thing about the lack of windows in the school was that no one could see us out here or hear the crash of my boots.

Unless there was someone lurking out here in the shadows with me.

Okay, no more thoughts. Ever.

Other than my footsteps, the silence pressed in around me. If I ...