CHAPTER FOURTY EIGHT

Claude woke up to the sound of her alarm buzzing on her bedside table. She groaned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she sat up. It was a Friday, which meant she had fewer classes today than usual. Her mind immediately went to Shawn's purple pendant, and she knew she had to wear something matching.

She picked out black jeans and a purple shirt, feeling a sense of calm as she put them on. She applied a little bit of makeup and brushed her hair, admiring her reflection in the mirror. She grabbed her backpack and headed out the door, feeling ready for the day ahead.

When she arrived at school, she noticed that everyone was outside, enjoying the cool weather. But Claude wasn't in the mood for fun. She wanted to focus on her studies since the final exams were approaching. So instead of joining her friends outside, she headed to an empty classroom to study.

As she sat at her desk, she unconsciously started scribbling on her notepad. The name "Vladimir" appeared on the page in messy letter