~~ Chapter Eight ~~
502 Words
The announcement came at the end of class.
“For your next assignment,” the professor said, “you’ll be doing a field study. We’ll be visiting the port district on Friday to observe real logistics operations.”
A few students groaned.
Janessa straightened slightly in her seat. The port was one of the busiest areas in the city, huge warehouses, shipping yards, cargo routes. It sounded interesting.
Across the room, Enzo froze.
The port.
Of all places.
His phone buzzed in his pocket at the same moment.
He didn’t check it.
---
Friday morning arrived gray and windy.
Two university buses carried the class toward the port district. Through the windows, students watched the city slowly change, glass buildings fading into industrial cranes and endless stacks of cargo containers.
Janessa sat beside Riley, pointing out ships in the distance.
“Honestly,” Riley said, “this is way better than sitting in a lecture.”
A few rows behind them, Winter leaned across the aisle to talk to Enzo.
“You’ve been quiet lately,” she said.
“I’m just tired.”
But his eyes weren’t on her.
They were on the port entrance coming closer outside the window.
A message finally flashed on his phone.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:
Interesting place for a school trip.
Enzo’s stomach dropped.
---
The buses stopped beside a large shipping facility.
Students stepped out, laughing and stretching while the professor gathered them.
“Stay in groups,” he said. “This is an active work zone.”
Janessa pulled her jacket tighter against the wind. “This place is huge.”
Metal cranes towered above them. Containers were stacked like giant colored walls.
Somewhere in the distance, a siren wailed.
Enzo scanned the area instinctively.
Old habits.
Old memories.
This had once been his territory.
And that’s when he saw it.
A black SUV parked across the street.
The same kind that had stopped Janessa days earlier.
Inside the vehicle, someone was watching.
Enzo’s phone buzzed again.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:
Relax. I’m not here for trouble.
But remember, you owe me.
Enzo’s jaw tightened.
The professor began leading the group deeper into the yard.
Janessa walked ahead, unaware.
Winter stayed close to Enzo.
And somewhere among the containers, unseen eyes followed the students moving through the maze of steel.
This wasn’t just a school trip anymore.
It was a reminder that Enzo’s past knew exactly where to find him.
- Writer
