ELIAS'S POV

The next two weeks were strange.

Mercer stopped calling us in for meetings. Stopped sending threatening messages. Stopped confronting us directly.

According to the law, he'd backed off. Officially, his investigation into me was over.

But he was still everywhere.

I'd see him in the hallway between classes. Standing near the wall. Watching students pass. His eyes would track me for a moment, then move on.

He'd show up at the dining hall during lunch. Sitting alone at a corner ...