NOAH’S POV

The hallway was eerily silent, as though the entire building had fallen into a post-party coma. My heels clicked lazily against the tiled floor, echoing in the stillness. I was still in my girl outfit from the Halloween party. Penny had insisted we keep dancing long after the crowd vanished, and like a fool, I agreed. We danced until our legs gave out beneath us, drunk on sugar, music, and fleeting joy.

Now, I was paying the price, every step felt like I was dragging a corpse, ...