It was 8:22 pm
Becky had needed to escape the dorms after yet another tense conversation with Rossie and Michael about Mr. Harl's strange behavior.
The discussions had been too intense, filled with speculation and worry, and she felt weighed down by it all.
So, in a fit of frustration, she had borrowed her roommate's old bike, hoping a ride toward the edge of campus would help clear her mind.
As she pedaled along the winding paths, her heart began to calm.
The rhythmic clinks of the bike against the gravel felt comforting, but just as she was getting into a rhythm she felt a sharp jolt. Startled, she nearly lost her balance.
"Oh no!" she exclaimed as she heard the unmistakable hiss of air escaping from the front tire. She quickly dismounted, glancing down to spot a shiny nail embedded in the rubber.
"Great," she muttered under her breath, kicking the stand down near the science building. The dim glow from a nearby lamppost was her only source of light in the enveloping fog, creating shadows that danced on the ground.
Kneeling to inspect her flat tire, she felt a wave of frustration wash over her. Just when she thought things might settle down for a moment, there was yet another hiccup.
•••But out of the corner of her eye, a figure emerged from the mist. He was tall, with dark hair that fell into his eyes, and he carried a toolbox and flashlight. His school blazer was slightly wrinkled, as if he had been caught up in something more important than just wearing it neatly.
"Need a hand?" he asked, his voice warm and steady, cutting through the night's uncomfortable chill.
Becky looked up, and her breath caught as she registered his presence. The lamplight illuminated his sharp jawline and kind hazel eyes, and she felt a flutter in her chest - totally unexpected, but undeniably intriguing. "Um, yeah," she stammered, brushing dirt from her hands as if that could clear her mind of swirling thoughts.
"Flat tire. I'm Becky, by the way."
"Ethan," he replied, kneeling beside her with a small smile that made her cheeks flush.
"Ethan Harl. I was fixing some stuff in the lab - saw you from the window and thought I could help. Let's see what we can do about this tire."
He pulled a patch kit from his toolbox, working with a confident ease that somehow soothed her.
"Thanks," she said, her heart pounding not just from the situation but from his presence.
As he began to patch the tire, he explained each step with a clarity that made her feel oddly safe amidst the chaos swirling around the school. It was strange; most guys didn't have that effect on her.
"Hargrove?" Becky repeated, her mind racing. "As in… Mr. Harl, the history teacher?"
Ethan nodded, though his smile faltered slightly. "Yeah, he's my uncle. I just transferred here to help him out - he's been... Well, off lately. You know him?"
Becky hesitated, torn between the instant connection she felt and the chilling reality of the discussions she'd had earlier.
"A little," she admitted, watching his hands as he carefully worked.
"There's been some weird stuff going on. But… you seem really nice."
He glanced up catching her gaze, and for a moment, the world around them faded.
"You too," he said softly, the moment stretching just a little longer than it should have.
"I don't usually believe in fate, but running into you like this feels... meaningful."
Becky's heart raced as he finished the repair, standing to offer her a hand up.
Their fingers brushed, and the warmth of his touch sent a shiver down her spine - she could feel it: a spark of something deeper.
"Maybe it does," she replied, smiling shyly. "Want to walk back with me? I'd love to hear more about you."
"Definitely," he said, his grin lighting up the foggy night as they began the walk back to the dorms.
The bike rolled quietly beside them, and every shared glance seemed to hint at a growing connection that felt both thrilling and precariously tied to the school's dark secrets.
With each step, Becky found herself eager to learn more about Ethan, not just the enigmatic boy fixing her tire, but the person underneath it all.
As they walked, she discovered they shared a number of interests - books, music, and a taste for adventure, but there was something even more comforting in the way he listened, his eyes never leaving hers as she spoke.
The night stretched ahead of them, and Becky felt lighter as if the weight of the world had lifted, if only for a moment.
They reached the dorms, but neither seemed ready to say goodnight.
"So," Ethan said, glancing sideways at her, "what's something you love about this place?"
Becky smiled, the conversation flowing effortlessly.
"Honestly? The hidden spots around campus. There's this amazing view from the top of the hill behind the library. You can see everything."
"Sounds like we need to check that out together," he suggested, his hazel eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
"Definitely," she agreed, her heart skipping a beat, realizing that this unexpected encounter had opened up a new chapter for her - one filled with promise and intrigue, even amid the shadows of their school's secrets.
Sure, let's turn this scene into a more conversational style. Here's the revised version:
---
9:50P.M when Rossie quietly slipped out of her dorm room. The mist wrapped around her like a living thing, adding to the deep silence on campus after the chaotic day they'd had.
There was still a lot on her mind - like the wild party, the locked doors, and Becky dropping that bombshell about Mr. Harl.
As she walked, she felt the moonflower in her satchel pulsing faintly. It was leading her toward the garden's rusty gate, and she knew she needed answers.
Michael and Becky were still shaken and she couldn't wait around any longer. The scent of jasmine filled the air, growing stronger as she pushed through the tangled hedge, her heart racing with fear and determination.
Stepping into the garden, she was struck by the way it glowed under the moonless sky. The moonflowers and jasmine created an almost otherworldly light. She took a deep breath and called out, her voice trembling but firm,
"Gardener! I need to know the truth. What's happening to the school - and to us?"
From the shadows, the Midnight moonlight Gardener appeared. His long coat billowed around him, and his wide-brimmed hat cast a dark shadow over his face.
He held a luminescent bloom in his gloved hands, and his sharp, ancient eyes met hers.
"You seek the truth," he said, his voice low and resonant, as if it came from deep within the earth.
"Fine. My name is Eli and I'm not just some spirit. I'm a result of a broken covenant - one made when Michael's family, the Harrows, betrayed a sacred pact long ago.
Nathaniel Harrow, the first in the line, made this garden to protect the academy, but he abandoned it for a forbidden love.
Now, I'm bound here to guard its secrets until a male Harrow takes my place and ends my torment or you take it if you wish ."
Rossie felt her breath catch, her thoughts racing to Michael.
"So... Michael has to take your place? But why him?"
The Gardener's expression turned serious.
"The covenant requires a male Harrow. Only then can I be free. But it comes with a heavy price - a sacrifice.
You either give up the moonflower, which holds your truths, or you must share a personal truth so profound it might cost you your life.
Harl's possession is getting stronger; it's a dark force that thrives on this imbalance. Ending my curse could unleash it fully, but it's the only way to free the garden - if the sacrifice is made."
Rossie clutched her satchel so tightly her hands trembled.
"My life? For what? Just to keep Michael trapped here?" Her voice cracked and tears pricked her eyes.
"There has to be another way. I can't let him die or lose myself!"
The Gardener stepped closer.
"This isn't just your decision. But understand: confessing a truth here ties you to the garden's will.
Share your deepest fear - your dread of losing yourself to this place, of becoming me - and it might claim your life to balance things.
Or you can give up the moonflower to sever its power and hope Michael can accept his fate.
The entity within Harl is hungry, and we're running out of time."
Rossie's mind raced.
Love or sacrifice? She thought about Michael's smile and the life they could have spent together.
"If I confess," she whispered, "will it save him? Will it stop Harl?"
"It might," Eli said, his tone softening.
"But the cost will be yours."
Tears streamed down Rossie's face as she steadied herself.
"My deepest fear... is losing myself here, becoming trapped like you.
I fear I'll fade away, and Michael will forget me.
But I'll face it - for him, for the school."
As her words filled the air, the garden trembled. The moonflower flared brightly for a moment before dimming, as if it accepted her truth.