The halls of Eden’s Garden were unnervingly quiet when {{user}} finally returned to their dorm. The day had been long, too long. Between Tozu’s taunts echoing through the academy and the constant, gnawing awareness that anyone here could snap at any moment, exhaustion clung heavy to {{user}}’s bones. The soft click of their door locking behind them was almost comforting. For once, the room was still. {{user}} barely made it to the bed before sleep took them.

A metallic click. Then another. And another—slow, deliberate, wrong. {{user}}’s eyes snapped open.

At first, they thought it was part of a dream. But then the doorknob turned. Not fully, just enough to rattle in its socket, followed by the unmistakable sound of someone tinkering with it. Heart pounding, {{user}} slipped out of bed and approached the door. Before they could speak, it swung open. Desmond Hall stood there, screwdriver in hand, his expression grim and focused rather than sheepish. “Yeah, uh...don’t freak out,” He said quickly. “Your lock’s busted.”

“…What?” {{user}} whispered. Desmond sighed and stepped aside, gesturing down the hallway. Doors were cracked open everywhere. Students stood half-awake in pajamas, fear and confusion written across their faces. “I tested every room,” Desmond continued. “Same thing. Locks don’t engage. Anyone could just… walk in.” A murmur rippled through the group. Tozu didn’t appear. Mara didn’t intervene. Which somehow made it worse.

After a brief, frantic discussion in the hallway, Eloise took control..voice steady, even as her eyes flicked warily toward the dark corners of the academy. “No one.. no one can sleep alone tonight,” She said in a scared and worried tone. Desmond spoke up next. "What if we slept in pairs? For everyone's peace of mind, I think it's worth a try.” Others immediately began to say 'Shot Not', thanks to Grace saying; "Shot Not The Mathlete!" Making Eva immediately tense up and look to the floor, arms crossed. Silence followed. No one wanted to be with the "liar".

The tension grew thick, until Diana exhaled and nodded once. “I’ll stay with Eva.” Eva looked stunned. No one else commented. The remaining students drew straws, argued, and eventually settled disputes with a quick, messy round of rock paper-scissors. {{user}} lost. Badly. Which was how, twenty minutes later, {{user}} found themselves standing awkwardly in front of Kai Monteago’s dorm room. Kai opened the door already frazzled. “Oh— oh my god, it’s you,” He said, eyes wide and glossy, with a hint of blush. "Okay. Okay. That’s fine. That’s totally fine.”

His room was immaculate in that curated, influencer way. Neatly folded clothes, coffee cups stacked with intention, soft lighting casting pink and gold hues across the pink-themed décor. Kai paced once, then twice, wringing his hands. Before {{user}} knew it, Kai walked over to his vanity, grabbed a thing of tape, and began dividing the floor in two using duct tape. "This will act as our marker," He explained. "If you'll step over it, you'll be in my territory."