Frequencies of Us Chapter 78: Fix and a Flicker

Noah POV

I’m hunched over a table in the AV room at Lincoln High, fixing Mateo’s earbuds. The wires are tangled, a mess like my nerves after that shadow on the track. Mateo sits close, his knee brushing mine. He watches me work, quiet for once. My hands shake a little, still jumpy. He leans in quick and steals a kiss, soft and fast. “You’re too good to me,” he murmurs, voice low. My face gets hot, blushing hard. My heart thuds, loud in my chest.

I drop the earbuds, turning to him. He grins, eyes locked on mine. I kiss him back, deeper this time. His lips are warm, tasting like the gum he chewed earlier. I push my tongue in, slow and needy. He moans, soft, grabbing my shirt. My hands slide to his waist, pulling him close. He’s warm against me, solid. I tug his shirt up, fast. He yanks it off, tossing it aside. My fingers touch his chest, sliding over his skin. He’s hot, smooth.

He grabs my jeans, undoing them quick. They drop, and he touches me, firm and warm. I gasp, loud, my legs shaking. His hand moves, slow then fast. I bite my lip, trying to stay quiet. A whimper slips out anyway. He kisses me harder, swallowing the sound. My hands fumble with his shorts, pushing them down. I feel him, hard and hot. I stroke him, matching his pace. Our breaths get quick, messy. He pulls my hair, just a little. I groan, too loud. He presses his mouth to mine, keeping me quiet.

I push closer, hips rocking into his hand. He’s trembling, close. I feel it too, building fast. “Noah,” he whispers, voice rough. That’s it. I lose it, spilling over his fingers, shaking hard. He follows right after, a low growl in his throat. We hold each other, panting, sticky and warm. His forehead rests on mine. Our breaths slow, syncing up. It’s sweet, perfect, even in this room.

I pull back, smiling shy. He grins, eyes bright. I fix my jeans, hands slow on the zipper. He pulls his shorts up, laughing quiet. “You’re trouble,” he says, teasing. I shrug. “Only for you.” My chest feels warm, full of him. He leans in, kissing my forehead. I close my eyes, feeling safe. For a second, it’s just us, no shadows, no fear.

I pick up the earbuds again, finishing them. “Good as new,” I say, handing them over. He takes them, grinning. “Thanks, tech boy.” I smile, then grab a security tape from the shelf. My stomach twists, nervous. “Let’s check this,” I say. He nods, serious now. I pop it into the player. The screen flickers on. It’s Mateo, standing near Ortiz’s office. Red paint drips on the wall behind him. My gut sinks. It’s fake, I know it, but it looks real.

Mateo curses low. “That’s not me,” he says, voice hard. I believe him. I lean closer, eyes narrow. Something’s off. I pause it, rewind. There. A reflection in the window. Lena’s shape, clear for a second, hunched over a laptop. Editing software glows on her screen. My chest jumps, excited. “Look!” I say, pointing. Mateo leans in, eyes wide. “That’s her,” he says. Triumph flares in me. Proof, finally.

I hit play again, grinning. We’ve got her. My hands shake a little, happy. Mateo grabs my shoulder, squeezing. “You’re amazing,” he says. I blush again, heart racing. The tape keeps rolling. I watch close, waiting for more. Then the power cuts. Darkness swallows us, fast and total. My breath stops. Mateo’s hand finds mine, gripping tight. “What the hell?” he says, voice sharp.

I freeze, listening. The room’s quiet, too quiet. My heart pounds, loud in my ears. I squeeze his hand back, scared. “Power’s out,” I say, voice shaky. He pulls me closer, arm around me. I feel his breath, fast and warm. My mind races. This isn’t random. Not after the tape, the shadow, the car. Someone’s doing this.

A sound crackles through the speakers. Low, distorted. My stomach flips. “You’re next, Keller.” The voice is cold, chilling. It echoes in the dark, bouncing off the walls. My blood runs cold. I grab Mateo tighter, shaking bad. “Who’s that?” he says, voice rough. I don’t know. Lena? Ryan? Ortiz? My throat’s dry, stuck.

I stand quick, pulling him up. “We gotta go,” I say. He nods, hand still in mine. I step forward, slow. My foot hits something, a cable maybe. It’s too dark to see. I feel my way, hands out. The voice loops in my head, creepy and mean. You’re next. Next for what? My chest hurts, scared and mad. They’re after us, always after us.

Mateo’s close behind, his grip strong. “Door’s that way,” he says, pointing blind. I nod, moving faster. My hand finds the wall, cool and rough. I slide along it, searching for the knob. The speakers crackle again, static hissing. My heart jumps. “Noah,” Mateo whispers, urgent. I keep going, faster now.

My fingers hit the knob, cold metal. I turn it, hard. Locked. My stomach drops. “No,” I say, voice breaking. I twist again, desperate. It won’t budge. Mateo curses, loud. “They locked us in,” he says. Panic claws at me. I bang the door, fists hurting. “Let us out!” I yell. No answer. Just silence, heavy and thick.

I turn to Mateo, breathing fast. “What now?” I say. He pulls me close, arms tight. “We’ll figure it,” he says. I nod, trying to believe him. My hands shake, sweaty in his. The dark presses in, suffocating. I hear my own heartbeat, loud and fast. Then a click, sharp in the quiet. My head snaps up. The speakers? The lock?

I hold my breath, waiting. Nothing moves. My chest burns, scared stiff. Mateo’s grip tightens, keeping me steady. Then a laugh, low and mean. It comes through the speakers, distorted but real. My stomach twists hard. “You’re trapped,” it says. My legs shake. I look at Mateo, his face pale in the dark. The laugh cuts off, sudden. Silence falls again. But I hear it now. A creak, outside. Someone’s there.