<b>Chapter </b><b>76 </b>
<b>The </b>hotel room was pristine but forgettable–neutral tones, standard furnishings, and that <b>peculiar </b>non–smell <b>of </b>industrial cleaning products<b>. </b>I’d chosen to stay here rather than go straight to <b>campus</b>.
Standing at the window, I gazed at the darkening New Jersey skyline. My phone buzzed with a <b>text </b>from Night: “All clear on surveince<b>. </b>Shadow Organization activity minimal in Princeton area<b>. </b><b>Stay </b>
alert.”
I replied with a simple thumbs–up emoji. Even Night had adapted to my new cover identity<b>–</b><b>careful </bmunication, nothing traceable. The whiskey he’d sent me sat half–empty on the desk<b>, </b>a reminder of who I really was beneath this college student facade.
Morning came too quickly. I packed my minimal belongings, checked out, and took a cab to campus<b>. </b>The driver dropped me at the main entrance, where Princeton’s imposing gothic architecture rose against the clear blue sky.
I stood before the ornate wrought–iron gates, momentarily frozen by the weight of what this moment represented. The original Jade Morgan never made it here. In her timeline, high school graduation led straight to the factory floor, standing beside Linda for ten–hour shifts until her body broke down. Then a loveless marriage to escape, trading one prison for another.
Now her life had beenpletely rewritten. I’d given her–given us–a different destiny.
Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my suitcase and walked through the gates into my new reality.
The campus bustled with orientation activity. Upperssmen in brightly colored T–shirts representing different departments greeted iing freshmen, handing out water bottles and offering to help with luggage. Engineering students in orange shirts were enthusiastically directing neers. English department representatives in purple were reciting Shakespeare while distributing campus maps.
Then I spotted the Computer Science wee point. Unlike the other stations, the CS upperssmen looked distinctly unenthusiastic. Onenky student slouched in his chair, barely looking up from his phone as he gestured vaguely toward a building.
“<b>Just </b><b>go </b>straight for three hundred yards, then right for two hundred, then left…” he mumbled to a confused–looking freshman.
<b>“</b>Come on<b>, </b>Leo,” said the student beside him, trying to salvage <b>the </b>situation. “The <b>least </b><b>you </b><b>could </b><b>do </b>
<b>is </b>walk them there.”
<b>1/4 </b>
<b>12:31 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>21 M<b>… </b>
61
The <b>freshman </b>looked between <b>them </b>hesitantly. “Um<b>, </b>the other departments have upperssmen girls showing people around. Doesn’t Computer Science have any?”
Leo snorted, finally looking up from his phone. “Dude, we barely have twenty female students in <b>the </b>entire CS program. They’re practically treated like royalty around here. You think they’re gonna stand in the sun carrying luggage? Dream on.”
The freshman muttered something under his breath, looking disappointed.
“You can still switch majors if you want,” Leo called after him. “More resources for the rest of <b>us</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
A well–dressed student with perfectly styled hair shot Leo a disapproving look. “Leo, would you
please try to be professional? You’re representing the department.”
“Yes, yes, Mr. Student Body President,” Leo replied with a mock salute. “Just having a bit of fun,
Julian.”
I approached their table, pulling my suitcase behind me. “New student check–in. What’s the procedure?”
Leo’s head snapped up so fast I thought he might get whish. His eyes widened as he took me in,
and in his haste to stand, he knocked into the table, nearly toppling it over. Julian, standing nearby,
stumbled backward from the impact.
Without thinking, I reached out and steadied Julian with one hand, my grip firm enough to prevent
his <b>fall </b>but controlled enough not to hurt him. The movement was pure reflex–quick, precise, and
betraying years of training.
Leo stared open–mouthed between Julian and me, while Julian looked at my hand on his shoulder with surprise.
“Thanks,” Julian said, straightening his posture. “That was quite a save.”
I withdrew my hand immediately, mentally cursing myself for the slip. “No problem<b>.</b><b>” </b>
By now, several other CS upperssmen had noticed themotion and were gathering around, their previous indifferencepletely forgotten as they stared at me.
<b>Leo </b><b>scrambled </b>to check the registration list. “Name?” he asked, his voice cracking slightly.
<b>“</b><b>Jade </b>Morgan.”
<b>12:31 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>21 </b>M<b>… </b>
:
<b>The </b>effect was immediate. Leo’s eyes bulged<b>, </b>and excited whispers spread among the group.
<b>61 </b>
“Wait, you’re Jade Morgan?” Leo blurted out. “The one who didn’t write the essay part of the SAT but still scored 1400? The one Thornton personally went to recruit?”
“That’s me,” I replied coolly.
Suddenly<b>, </b>every male upperssman was offering to carry my luggage, show me around, get me coffee, or help me find my dorm. Their eagerness was almostical.
“I don’t need help,” <b>I </b>said firmly. “Just tell me the check–in process.”
Julian stepped forward. “I’ll show you to the registration office. It’s on the way to the CS building
anyway.”
I gave him a slight nod, ignoring the disappointed looks from the others. As we walked away, I could
hear them still whispering about me.
*Thank you again for the save back there,” Julian said as we walked across the leafy quad. “I’m Julian Sheldon, by the way<b>. </b>Student body president, junior year. <b>If </b>you need anything at all, just let me
know.”
“Julian!”
We both turned to see a well–dressed young man striding toward us.
“Edward,” Julian acknowledged. “I thought you’d left already.”
“Grandpa wants us both for dinner tonight,” Edward said, then noticed me. “Sorry, didn’t mean to
interrupt.”
“No problem,” Julian replied. “Edward, this is Jade Morgan, new CS student. Jade, this is my brother Edward Sheldon.”
Edward gave me a polite nod, which I didn’t return. My attention had shifted to the girl behind him, who was now looking directly at me.
<b>“</b><b>Hi</b><b>, </b><b>Julian</b>!” she said with a bright smile. Her voice was sickeningly sweet.
Julian’s expression cooled noticeably. “Emily.”
12:31 <b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>21 M…
:
B
61
“<b>This </b>is…” Julian began, turning to <b>me</b><b>, </b>but his words died as Emily finally looked at my face.
Her expression transformed from practiced charm to utter shock. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, her eyes wide with disbelief.
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