The Watcher
1202 Words
They were watching her.
Clara remained frozen, staring at the phone in her trembling hands. The two messages were still glowing on the screen.
YOU WON’T REMEMBER EVERYTHING.
AND YOU’RE BETTER OFF THAT WAY.
She read them again, hoping the words would somehow become less frightening.
Someone knew about her missing memories and Julian’s death. Whoever sent the messages knew where she was.
Clara looked toward the door. Locked.
Then toward the window. Curtains closed.
She had the strange feeling that if she opened them, she would see someone standing outside.
Her phone vibrated again.
Clara flinched.
A third message appeared.
DON’T TRY TO REMEMBER.
She stared at it.
A knock suddenly sounded.
Clara jumped to her feet.
“Clara?”
Clara rushed to the door and opened it.
Evelyn stepped inside, immediately noticing Clara’s frightened expression.
“What happened?”
Clara held out the phone.
“Someone is sending me messages.”
Evelyn took the phone and read them.
Her expression became serious.
“When did you receive these?”
“Just now.”
“Do you recognize the number?”
“No. It’s unknown.”
“Did anyone else know you were here?”
Clara hesitated.
“Victoria.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“She came to see me earlier.”
“What did she want?”
“She asked if I remembered anything.”
“And what did you tell her?”
“That I couldn’t remember.”
Evelyn studied Clara carefully.
“What did Victoria say?”
Clara looked down.
“She said maybe it was better that way.”
“Did she seem frightened?”
“Yes.”
“Did she tell you why?”
“No.”
“Then let’s start with what you do remember.”
Clara closed her eyes.
“Julian.”
“What about him?”
“He was scared.”
“Scared of you?”
“No.”
“Who was he scared of?”
“I don’t know.”
“Think carefully.”
Clara tried.
She saw the library again.
Julian stood near the desk, his face tense. He kept looking toward the doorway.
Then he looked directly at Clara.
His lips moved.
“Don’t trust her.”
Clara opened her eyes.
“What did he say?”
“I think he told me not to trust someone.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you see anyone else?”
Clara hesitated.
“A woman.”
Evelyn reached for her notebook.
“Describe her.”
“Dark hair. Red dress. She wore a silver pendant.”
Then her phone rang.
She answered.
“Yes?”
Her expression changed.
“What?”
She listened.
“Where?”
Another pause.
“Don’t touch anything. I’ll be there.”
She ended the call.
Clara stood.
“What happened?”
“They found something at the house.”
“What?”
“A hidden camera.”
Clara’s heart began to race.
“Where?”
“In the library.”
“Did it record the murder?”
“We don’t know.”
“Why not?”
“The memory card is missing.”
Clara stared at her.
Someone had destroyed the security footage.
Someone had taken her phone.
Now someone had removed a hidden camera’s memory card.
“Someone is trying to erase what happened,” Clara whispered.
“That is what it looks like.”
“Then they must be afraid of what I remember.”
“Maybe.”
Clara looked toward the window.
“What if I remember everything?”
“Then we find out the truth.”
“But what if the truth proves I killed him?”
Evelyn didn’t answer immediately.
Then another memory struck her.
A hallway.
Rain against glass.
Julian standing in front of her.
Blood on his shirt.
Someone behind him.
A voice close to her ear.
“If you tell anyone, you’ll be next.”
Clara gasped and grabbed her head.
Evelyn stood.
“What did you remember?”
“Someone threatened me.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Was it Julian?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Julian was afraid too.”
Evelyn’s phone vibrated.
She looked at the screen.
Her face went pale.
“What is it?” Clara asked.
Evelyn turned the phone toward her.
It was a photograph of Clara standing beside the window.
Clara stared.
“That was just now.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Who took it?”
“I don’t know.”
Clara stepped backward.
The photograph had been taken from outside.
But the angle made no sense.
The person had been much closer than the street.
Almost directly beneath the window.
Then Clara heard something.
Click.
She and Evelyn turned toward the wardrobe.
The door moved slightly.
Evelyn reached for her weapon.
“Stay behind me.”
She approached the wardrobe slowly.
Another click.
She opened the door.
Nothing.
Only clothes.
Then she saw something on the floor.
A small black object.
Evelyn picked it up.
Clara’s eyes widened.
“My phone.”
The screen suddenly lit up.
A message appeared.
ASK VICTORIA WHAT SHE DID AT 12:17 A.M.
Clara stopped breathing.
12:17.
One minute before she entered the library.
One minute before the missing part of her memory began.
Then another message appeared.
SHE WAS THERE.
Clara looked at Evelyn.
“Victoria?”
Evelyn’s expression was unreadable.
Clara’s mind raced.
Victoria had told her she left before everything happened.
But what if she had lied?
What if she had stayed?
What if she had seen Julian?
What if she knew exactly what happened during those missing minutes?
Clara looked at the phone again.
A final message appeared.
DON’T ASK HER ALONE.
Clara felt a chill move through her.
Someone wasn’t simply threatening her anymore.
They were giving her clues.
But why?
Were they trying to help her discover the truth?
Or were they leading her toward a carefully prepared lie?
Clara looked at Evelyn.
“I need to talk to Victoria.”
“You won’t do it alone.”
“I need answers.”
“And if she is involved?”
Clara looked down at the phone.
“Then I need to know.”
“But until we know who sent those messages, you tell me everything.”
Clara hesitated.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“I remembered Victoria.”
Evelyn’s eyes sharpened.
“At 12:17?”
Clara nodded.
“She was standing in the hallway.”
“What was she doing?”
“Did she see you?”
“I don’t know.”
“What else?”
Clara closed her eyes.
Julian’s voice returned.
“Clara, whatever happens next, don’t let her—”
The memory vanished.
Clara opened her eyes.
“Don’t let her what?”
Evelyn stared at her.
Clara looked toward the door.
For the first time, she wasn’t sure whether she wanted the missing memories back.
Because the closer she came to the truth, the more dangerous it seemed.
And somewhere outside the room, a shadow moved silently past the window.
Someone was still watching.
And this time, Clara knew they were waiting for her to remember.
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