New Year’s Romance (2025)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 – Shadows in the Dark

Cassie’s POV

I stand frozen, staring at the curtain, my breath shallow and quick. Did I really see something? My heart races, thudding against my chest like it wants to escape. I swallow hard, trying to calm myself. It was probably nothing. Just my imagination.

But deep down, I know something's wrong. I never should’ve opened the door to Henry.

I force myself to move, step by careful step, until I reach the window. My fingers hover over the curtain, but I hesitate. I’m scared. Scared of what I might see, or worse, what I might not see.

The apartment is so quiet, so still. The only sound is the faint hum of the refrigerator and the distant murmur of traffic outside. It’s all normal, but my senses are on high alert now. Everything feels… off.

I pull the curtain back just a fraction, peering out. The street is empty. The shadows stretch long across the pavement, and the occasional car passes by, its headlights briefly illuminating the area. Nothing out of the ordinary.

But still, I can't shake the feeling that someone is out there.

Stop it, Cassie.

I pull the curtain closed with a snap, and take a step back. The cold sweat on the back of my neck sends a chill down my spine. I walk briskly to the kitchen, trying to shake off the anxiety creeping up on me. The bright kitchen lights do little to calm the unease swirling in my gut.

I need to distract myself.

I pull open a drawer, searching for a bottle of wine, anything to quiet the rising panic. My fingers brush against the glass bottle, and I yank it out, along with a corkscrew. I fill a glass with the dark red liquid, the sharp scent of the wine filling the air.

But as I take a sip, the tension doesn’t leave.

I’m just being paranoid.

I finish the glass quickly, then pour another. It burns on the way down, but it doesn’t help. Nothing helps. The dread, the feeling of being watched, lingers.

I start pacing the kitchen, moving back and forth across the small space. My mind keeps replaying the image of the shadow on the fire escape. I try to reason with myself, but the more I think about it, the more I can’t shake the feeling that I wasn’t imagining it.

Maybe it’s just my mind playing tricks on me after everything with Henry.

The thought of him brings an immediate rush of anger. The nerve of him showing up here, thinking he could just talk to me. What is it that he wants now? Does he think a simple apology will fix things?

I rub my temples, trying to clear my mind, but I can’t.

The sound of footsteps in the hallway makes my heart leap in my chest. My pulse quickens, and I freeze. Who is it now?

I inch closer to the door, barely breathing. The footsteps stop right outside my door, and I hold my breath.

I listen.

Please don’t be Henry. Please don’t be Henry.

The silence stretches on for what feels like hours, but it’s only a few seconds. The doorbell rings once, then twice.

I exhale in relief. It’s not Henry.

With shaky hands, I unlock the door and pull it open, peeking out.

“Cassie?”

I almost jump out of my skin when I see Sam standing there, looking concerned. “Sam?” I ask, confused. “What are you doing here?”

“I saw your lights on from across the street,” he says, glancing past me into the apartment. “Everything okay?”

I don’t know why, but the sight of him, standing there, grounded and steady, makes me feel a little better. Maybe it’s the way he carries himself, the way he always seems in control. Or maybe it’s just the fact that I’m not alone for once.

“Yeah,” I say, forcing a smile. “Just a little… jumpy.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Jumping at shadows?”

I laugh weakly, but the sound doesn’t reach my eyes. “Something like that.”

He steps inside without waiting for an invitation, his boots tapping lightly on the wooden floor. “Mind if I hang out for a bit?” he asks, glancing around.

“Uh, sure.” I step back, gesturing for him to come in. “I wasn’t expecting anyone, but…” I trail off. “Yeah, sure.”

He closes the door behind him and looks at me, his expression serious. “What happened?”

I shrug, unsure of how to explain. “It’s just… Henry showed up earlier. He—he wanted to talk, but I told him to go away.”

“Good,” Sam says firmly, stepping farther into the living room. He pauses, his eyes narrowing slightly. “And then what?”

I swallow, the memory of the shadow still fresh in my mind. “I don’t know. I thought I saw something outside the window. On the fire escape. I’m probably just being paranoid, but…” I trail off.

Sam nods, his face unreadable. “You’re not being paranoid.”

My stomach drops. “What do you mean?”

He looks out the window, his sharp eyes scanning the darkened street. “The fire escape… it’s a good spot for someone to hide. I’ve seen people use it before to get into places without being noticed.”

I feel a chill run down my spine. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying,” he says, taking a step closer to me, his voice low, “someone could be watching you.”

I shake my head, trying to clear the fog. “But why? Why would anyone be watching me?”

He meets my gaze with a hard, serious look. “That’s the question, isn’t it?”

For a moment, the room feels smaller. I look at him, feeling both comforted and… unsettled.

“Why are you so concerned?” I ask quietly, not sure if I want the answer.

Sam meets my eyes. His gaze is intense, almost… protective. “Because something doesn’t feel right, Cassie. I’ve been around enough to know when someone’s hiding something. And you’re not the only one with secrets.”

I stare at him, the weight of his words sinking in. “What do you mean by that?”

He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he runs a hand through his hair, his jaw tense. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on here. But I’m telling you, I’ve been watching this place for a while. And I’ve seen things I can’t explain.”

I swallow, trying to keep my voice steady. “What kind of things?”

Sam shakes his head. “I don’t want to scare you, but… it’s better if you know. I’m not just here to fix your apartment. I’m here for a reason.”

My heart starts to pound. “What reason?”

He meets my eyes again, his expression hardening. “Because someone in this building is dangerous, Cassie. And I think it has something to do with you.”

The room goes cold. I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

“What are you talking about?” I whisper, my voice shaking.

Sam steps closer, his voice low. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with. But I do. And I’m not going to let you get caught in the middle of it.”

Before I can respond, there’s a sharp knock on the door.

I freeze. Sam looks at me, his eyes flickering to the door. “Don’t answer it,” he says quickly.

I nod, holding my breath as the knock sounds again. This time, louder.

“I said, don’t answer it.” Sam’s voice is low but urgent.

My heart races as the knocking continues, each sound more insistent than the last. It’s like a countdown, a warning.

“Who is it?” I call out, my voice trembling.

There’s a pause before a voice replies. “Cassie, open up. It’s important.”

I feel my pulse spike. The voice sounds familiar, but I can’t place it.

“Who is it?” Sam asks, his hand resting on the door, ready to stop me from opening it.

“I don’t know,” I say, my throat dry. “But something feels wrong.”

Sam motions for me to step back, his eyes scanning the door, the hallway outside. “We need to be careful. Whoever’s out there, they’re not here by chance.”

The knocking stops, and there’s an eerie silence. For a moment, I think maybe they’ve left.

Then I hear a whisper. Barely audible, but enough to send a shiver down my spine.

“Cassie…”

I take a step back, my mind racing. The voice is too familiar. It’s Henry.

But this time, it sounds different. It sounds desperate.