Page 20 of Reckless Dare

“You still think it’s a joke?” he asked. “I guess you need a lesson in reality, Harvard. And I’m going to give it to you.”

With those chilling words, he stepped back and walked away from her. A long breath she didn’t know she was holding, escaped her. She saw his broad back as he walked along the corridor and scanned his phone at the double doors before disappearing from her view.

Her heart thumped hard.

What just happened?

Her heart continued to race in fear and confusion.

Why is he doing this? And when will he stop?

She hoped the trick he was playing on her would end soon. If not, she would have to talk to him and ask him to cut it out.

Shaking off her confusion, she once again focused on her classes that were going to start soon. Students began pouring in.

She followed them through the corridor, pulling in the excitement of attending her first class at Simha. The group of students stopped and she had to wait in line while students scanned their phones at the double doors to enter the lecture hall area.

She didn’t know she could use her phone to gain access. She would have to get it synced up soon so she didn’t need to carry her physical ID card.

She reached for her card that she had clipped on the waistband of her skirt, but she couldn't find it.

Her heart nearly stopped.

Oh my God. Did I forget my ID card in my room?

She knew she didn’t. She had used her ID card in the elevator at the housing unit.

Then where was it?

She frantically searched around her waist to see if she clipped it on the other side. But she couldn’t find it.

“Hey, step out of the way if you aren’t going to pass.” The student behind her sounded impatient.

She stepped out of the short line, letting the other students pass while she searched her uniform pockets. But she couldn’t find the card anywhere.

Did it fall on the ground somewhere?

She looked around helplessly, unable to believe she had lost her ID card.

The class would begin in a few minutes. She couldn’t believe that despite her planning, things went wrong and she did not have access.

She decided to go behind the next student who entered the double doors. She would be marked as absent for the class, but she didn't want to miss her first class at Simha.

The student was scanning his phone ID on the card reader.

“Hello,” she said urgently. “I’m having trouble with my access. Can you let me into the class, please?”

The guy shook his head. “Both of us will get kicked out of the class if I do that. You should get your ID fixed with the security team.”

Relief swept over her.

“W-where is the security team located?” she asked.

“In the basement.”

Thanking the guy, she rushed towards the basement area. Missing a few minutes of the class was better than not attending the entire class.

She hurried down the steps and went toward the room marked as security.

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