The Warning
1548 Words
Chapter Four
The Warning
Elena didn't move.
Her eyes remained fixed on the screen, the last message sitting there like a sentence she couldn't escape.
I'm coming.
She read it once.
Then she locked her phone.
Her room suddenly felt smaller.
She looked toward the door.
Nothing.
The silence outside seemed louder than before.
She got off the bed and walked across the room, checking the lock even though she already knew she had locked it.
Her hand remained on the handle for a moment.
Who was coming?
And why her?
She stepped away from the door and tried to steady herself.
The sensible thing would have been to tell someone.
But every person she considered telling came with another question.
Who could she trust?
Her family had already placed her in a situation she hadn't asked for. The people surrounding the heir seemed to know more than they ever said. Even he had admitted that there were things she didn't understand.
Maybe that was what frightened her most.
She wasn't simply being pulled into a marriage.
She was being pulled into something she couldn't see.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
Elena's heart jumped.
She didn't answer.
Another knock followed.
“Elena?”
She recognized the voice.
She exhaled slowly before opening the door.
He stood outside, his expression serious.
“What?”
“You've been in here for a while.”
“So?”
“So I wanted to check on you.”
“I don't need checking on.”
His eyes moved over her face.
“You don't look fine.”
“I didn't say I was.”
That made him pause.
For a second, Elena wondered if she had said too much.
He leaned against the doorframe.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“You're terrible at lying.”
“And you're terrible at minding your business.”
A faint smile almost appeared on his face, but it disappeared just as quickly.
“I'll take that as a sign you're feeling better.”
“I wasn't feeling bad.”
He looked at her for a moment.
“You've been different since you came here.”
“Maybe because everything is different.”
“That isn't what I mean.”
Elena crossed her arms.
“Then what do you mean?”
“You're always watching everyone.”
She said nothing.
“Like you're waiting for something.”
Her stomach tightened.
Was she really that obvious?
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
He straightened.
“If something is bothering you, tell me.”
Elena almost laughed.
Tell him?
She couldn't even decide whether she trusted him.
“Why do you care?”
His expression changed slightly.
“Because you're going to be my wife.”
The words made Elena uncomfortable.
Not because she hadn't heard them before, but because the reality behind them seemed heavier now.
She looked away.
“That doesn't mean you know me.”
“No.”
“And it doesn't mean I know you.”
“I know.”
“Then don't expect me to tell you everything.”
He studied her.
“I don't.”
“Good.”
He nodded.
Then he turned to leave.
Elena watched him take two steps before she spoke.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
She wanted to tell him.
The words were there.
Someone was looking for her.
Someone had said they were coming.
But something inside her refused to let them out.
“What?”
Elena hesitated.
“Nothing.”
He stared at her.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
He didn't look convinced, but he didn't push.
“Get some sleep.”
He walked away.
Elena slowly closed the door.
She locked it again.
This time, she checked the handle twice.
She returned to her bed and sat down.
Her phone was still in her hand.
She stared at the screen, wondering how long she could keep pretending nothing was happening.
She opened the message thread.
There was no name attached to the number.
No profile picture.
Nothing that could tell her who was behind it.
She considered replying.
Her fingers moved across the screen.
Who are you?
She stared at the words.
Then deleted them.
If the person wanted her to know who they were, they would tell her.
She placed the phone beside her.
For several minutes, she sat in silence.
Then she heard footsteps.
Elena looked toward the door.
The footsteps stopped.
She held her breath.
A few seconds passed.
Then they continued down the hallway.
She exhaled.
“This is ridiculous,” she whispered.
She got up and went to the window.
The curtains were still open slightly.
She looked outside.
The compound was quiet.
The security lights illuminated the driveway, and the guards remained near the gate.
Everything looked normal.
That should have made her feel better.
It didn't.
She pulled the curtains closed.
As she turned around, her phone vibrated.
Elena froze.
She looked at it.
Another ordinary notification.
Nothing else.
She picked it up anyway and checked the screen.
Nothing had changed.
She let out a frustrated breath.
She was letting fear control her.
That was what they wanted.
Whoever was behind the messages wanted her nervous.
Maybe they wanted her to make a mistake.
Elena refused to give them that satisfaction.
She placed the phone down and walked toward the bathroom.
Halfway there, she stopped.
Something was bothering her.
Not the message itself.
The timing.
Everything had changed since she came into this house.
The arrangement.
The family.
The heir.
And now this.
She had thought the biggest problem would be learning how to live with a man she barely knew.
She hadn't expected to wonder whether someone outside the house was watching her.
She sat on the edge of the bed again.
Maybe she should leave.
The thought came suddenly.
If she left now, whatever was happening might stop.
But she knew that wasn't realistic.
Her family wouldn't allow it.
And even if they did, where would she go?
She had already been brought into this situation.
Running away wouldn't erase it.
A noise came from downstairs.
Elena stood immediately.
She listened.
Voices.
Several of them.
She couldn't make out what they were saying.
She moved closer to the door.
Then she heard his voice.
The heir.
His tone was low, serious.
She couldn't hear the words clearly.
Another voice answered him.
Elena hesitated.
She knew she shouldn't listen.
But curiosity won.
She opened the door slightly and stepped into the hallway.
The voices were clearer now.
“I'm telling you, something isn't right.”
She recognized his voice.
Another man replied, but she couldn't make out his words.
Elena remained still.
Then she heard the heir again.
“We can't take chances.”
Her heart began beating faster.
Were they talking about her?
She stepped closer.
A floorboard creaked beneath her foot.
The voices stopped.
Elena froze.
A few seconds later, the door downstairs opened.
She quickly stepped back into her room and closed her door.
Her heart pounded.
She leaned against it and listened.
Footsteps came up the stairs.
They stopped outside her room.
Elena held her breath.
A knock came.
“Elena?”
She didn't answer immediately.
“Yes?”
“Are you awake?”
She opened the door.
He stood there alone.
“What were you doing downstairs?”
“Nothing.”
“You're lying again.”
“So are you.”
His eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?”
“You were talking about something.”
He was silent.
“You were talking about me, weren't you?”
He looked at her carefully.
“Why would you think that?”
“Because everyone keeps acting like there's something I'm not supposed to know.”
His jaw tightened.
“Elena, there are things happening that you don't understand.”
“Then explain them.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because knowing everything won't make you safer.”
She stared at him.
“Safer from what?”
He didn't answer.
That silence was enough.
Elena stepped back.
“You know something.”
“I know enough to tell you to be careful.”
She almost told him about the messages again.
Almost.
But the words stayed inside her.
Instead, she said, “I'm tired.”
He looked like he wanted to say something else.
Finally, he nodded.
“Lock your door.”
“I already did.”
“Do it again.”
He walked away.
Elena watched him disappear down the hallway before closing the door.
This time, she didn't question his warning.
She locked the door.
Then she turned off the lights and climbed into bed.
But sleep stayed far away.
Every sound seemed louder.
Every movement outside her room made her sit up.
She kept thinking about the same thing.
Someone was looking for her.
Someone knew where she was.
And someone had promised they were coming.
Elena pulled the blanket closer and stared into the darkness.
She didn't know who was coming.
She didn't know what they wanted.
But she knew one thing.
Whatever happened next would change everything.
And for the first time, Elena wasn't afraid of the marriage.
She was afraid of what had followed her into it.
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