I'm Not Like Them

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

The night had teeth.

Cold wind brushed against Rania’s skin as she walked aimlessly along the empty sidewalk outside the apartment complex. She didn’t know where she was going—only that she needed to move, to breathe air that wasn’t laced with frustration and unspoken words. The city lights painted her skin in pale amber, the breeze playing with her hair.

Her outfit was casual—too casual for midnight. A gray lounge set draped loosely on her frame, the hoodie unzipped to reveal a white cropped tank top beneath. Her wide-legged pants swept lightly with each step, her sneakers tapping the pavement in a steady rhythm that sounded more deliberate than her thoughts.

She looked fearless. Or maybe she just wanted to be.

Every step echoed against the quiet of the night, each one a small act of defiance—as if she were daring the world to test her resolve. The street was dimly lit, lined with closed shops and the faint hum of a flickering streetlamp.

Then—she slowed.

There was a sound behind her. Not the rustle of leaves, not the echo of her own steps, but something heavier. A presence. When she stopped walking, it stopped too. The air shifted.

Rania turned her head slowly, her pulse quickening. A figure leaned casually against the wall near the corner—a man in casual clothes, hands tucked into his pockets, his expression unreadable under the glow of the streetlight.

Her brows furrowed. “Professor Gil Brody?”

The man grinned faintly and pushed himself off the wall, straightening. “Miss Veyra.”

Her tone sharpened. “Why are you following me? What do you want from me?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, his eyes roamed the dim street, then returned to her with unsettling calm. “It’s late,” he said. “And you’re walking alone in a dark area. Aren’t you afraid someone might block your way? You know the city’s not safe these days.”

“I’m not afraid, Professor.” Her voice was cool, measured.

That made him smile wider, as if her defiance amused him. “Still the same. Unshaken.” He took a step closer, his shoes scraping softly against the pavement. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Miss Veyra. But I need to talk to you about something… and I think it’s better if we do it somewhere else. Privately.”

Rania’s eyes narrowed. “Why would I go anywhere with you?”

“You don’t trust easily,” he said, a knowing edge in his tone. “But I’m not here to harm you. Let me introduce myself properly. There are things you should hear—from me, not from anyone else.”

His voice was calm, too calm, and that made it worse.

Rania stared at him for a long moment, her instincts prickling. She wanted to turn away, but curiosity—always her flaw—anchored her. She folded her arms. “You have five minutes.”

Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Avery was pacing the living room. “Let’s follow her,” she said, anxiety threading her words. “We can’t just let her walk off like that, what if something bad happens?”

Chelsea nodded quickly. “Yeah. It’s too late for her to be out alone.”

“I’ll come with you,” Evan said, already reaching for his car keys. His voice was calm but tight, his jaw set. Avery and Chelsea exchanged a look—this wasn’t the professorly calm they were used to. This was something else.

The three left the apartment in haste, the sound of their footsteps echoing down the corridor. The elevator doors opened with a chime that felt too loud for the hour, and as soon as they reached the ground floor, they rushed toward the parking area.