Roya, who had spent the first few months throwing barbed insults and attempts at sharp sarcasm, had grown quieter. Not entirely compliant, never that, but curious.
Of course, it was mostly in private, so the students didn't exactly see Roya do a complete 180, but yeah, she was no longer a thorn that always lashed out but a professor's pet.
One that watched. Always.
One that kept sneaking into his office.
Malik always let her; it didn't really matter.
But then one night he decided to do something about it.
Skip a few nights later, he found her standing at his desk once more, finger pressed against the map he'd marked.
One might think he'd finally approach and scare the daylights out of her, but he didn't.
Instead, he did what he always did: stayed hidden, quiet, and waited until she left.
And yet that night wasn't like any other night.
That map was planted... and not only that map.
Most of what she saw was something he allowed her to see.
