The Letter
It was still when Elara got home from work. Too still. She walked into her small flat, her bag on her arm, & froze in the door. It felt off. The air was thick, as if the room held its breath.
Her eyes slid from side to side. The drapes were a bit open, but she had shut them that morn. A desk drawer was half out. Her books on the table seemed moved, like someone had picked them up.
Elara's heart sped up. She set her bag down soft, her ears alert for any noise. She yelled out, but her voice felt odd in the quiet.
"Hello?"
No one spoke back.
She moved in more, took slow breaths. The flat had one room, a cook space, & a live space. She looked in the sleep space, the wash space, even the closet. All empty. No one was here now.
When she went back to the live space, she saw it.
On her table was a white note. It had only her name on it.
Her hands shook as she took it. She did not know the hand that wrote it. It was neat, each word made with care.
She tore it open. In it, one line:
"Someone eyes you. Trust no one."
The words chilled her. Her mouth went dry. She read it many times, but it stayed the same. She held the note tight.
"Eyes me?" she said soft.
Her first thought was the cops. But a voice in her told her they'd not help. If someone had been in her home, knew her well... could she trust anyone?
Her next thought was strong. She must call Adrian.
Adrian was the only one she knew she could trust. He was a friend of her late bro. He had been like a shade, calm & strong.
She hit his number fast, her hands clumsy. When his voice came, she felt safe.
"Elara?"
Her voice shook.
"Someone was here. They left a note... it says they eye me. Adrian, I am in fear."
A pause. Then his voice, firm & sure.
"Lock up. Stay put. I come now."
Time dragged as she sat. Each noise made her flinch. She made sure the door was locked. Her hands shook as she held the key. She sat on the sofa, the note held tight, her heart still wild.
Then, a knock.
Her heart jumped. Was it them? Her chest tightened. She felt a wish to hide.
Then, his voice.
"Elara. It is me. Open up."
She felt calm flood her. She rushed & opened it.
Adrian stood tall, in dark wear. He took in the flat with quick eyes & walked in. He checked the space: windows, corners, each room.
Elara saw him move with ease. He was like a fighter. She knew he was strong, but now she saw his full might. Where she shook, he stood firm.
He came back. "The note?"
She gave it to him. He read, his face tight. He put the note away.
"This is the start," he said soft.
Elara gulped. "What does that mean?"
Adrian's eyes met hers. "Someone wants you in fear. They want you to know they can get to you. This was a sign."
Her fear grew. "Why me? I'm just... me. I know no big stuff."
He came near, his voice sure. "Don't say that. You are key. They know things. You're not safe."
She sat, weak, & hid her face. "I can’t... I don’t know what to do."
Adrian knelt by her, his voice kind. "You don’t need to know. I do. Just trust me."
Her eyes met his. His look was so firm it almost hurt. For a bit, her fear lessened, swapped by a small hope.
That night, she did not sleep. Adrian watched the road from the window. He was like a wall against the dark.
But as she tried to rest, she saw those words again:
Someone eyes you. Trust no one.
And she thought, who are they? What do they want from her?
Morning came too early. Elara just shut her eyes when light came in. Her head hurt. Her body felt weak.
Yet her heart still raced from last night. She sat in the small cook room. She looked at the mug of coffee on the top in front of her. She had not sipped it.
Her hands still trembled.
Adrian was again standing near the window. He had not slept. She had attempted to make him sleep, but he refused. He was standing straight and tense, looking out over the road below.
When a car passed by or someone walked down the street, he would become slightly tense, then let go of it again.
"You have to eat something," he said at last, his tone normal but firm.
Elara shook her head. "I can't. My stomach…"
She placed her hand over her abdomen. "It sickens me."
Adrian swung around to face her .His eyes were dark, hard, deep. "Fear will eat you up if you let it. . You have to be strong."
Elara lowered her eyes. She hated how weak she was. She hated how solid he was in contrast to the shaking she was inside. But she knew she needed him too. Without him, she could have already broken.
There was an extended silence before Adrian resumed talking.
"You can't stay here. It's not safe."
Elara's head snapped up. "What are you talking about? This is my home."
His jaw was set.
"It's not a home if anybody can just walk in whenever they want. They know your address. If you stay, they'll return."
The words knotted her chest.She gazed at her flat. The known couch, the racks, and the small bits she'd picked up through the years. It was tiny & plain, yet it was hers. The idea of parting with it all tore at her inside.
But… where would I go?" she panted.
Adrian was unshakeable. "With me."
Her gasp caught. She had known him for years, but never, during all that time, had he ever addressed her so confidently, so definitely. "With you?"
He nodded. "I can protect you. I have a house in the countryside. Safe. No one will find you there."
Elara's heart was pounding. Leaving with Adrian terrified and comforted her simultaneously. She never left the city. She never left the routine. She liked safe, familiar things. Now they were all being ripped away
.
"I don't know…" she breathed.
Adrian drew nearer, his overpowering but anchoring presence.
"Elara, listen. If you stay, you're in danger. I won't allow anything to happen to you. But you must trust me."
Her eyes swelled with tears. She wanted to agree. She wanted to trust him completely. But the letter echoed in her mind: Trust no one.
What if even Adrian could not be trusted?
There was a knock on the door before she could speak.
They both froze.
Adrian's eyes went to the sound. Cold & wide-awake. He moved to the door with no sound. His ear went to it. There was a knock. A loud one this time.
"Elara?" a voice called. "It's Mrs. Green. From next door."
Elara caught her breath anxiously. Mrs. Green was her older neighbor, always with cookies or sugar to lend.
Adrian raised a hand. "Wait here," he breathed. He opened the door far enough to bar most of the way with his large body.
The small old woman hovered there, her hand grasping a bag. She gazed up at Adrian in confusion. "Oh! I… I didn't know Elara had a visitor."
Adrian's expression was calm but unreadable. "She does. What are you seeking?
Mrs. Green peeked over his shoulder at Elara.
"I baked muffins. Figured you'd want some, dear." She raised the bag slightly.
Elara tried to smile.
"Thank you, Mrs. Green."
She stepped in to grab the bag, but Adrian restrained her with his arm, softly. He leaned out and took it instead, nodding once.
"We appreciate it.".
The old woman blinked at him, clearly perplexed.
“Well… all right. I'll leave you two then."
“She descended the corridor slowly.
Adrian closed the door when she was gone. Elara frowned.”
“She's not a threat. Why did you…"
He cut her off.
“Anybody is a potential threat. Anybody can be manipulated." His eyes burned hers.
"From now on, you don't open the door.
To anyone. Do you understand?"
Elara bit down on her lip and nodded. She didn't enjoy it, but part of her accepted that he was correct.
That night, she slept on the couch once more. Adrian sat near the window. She looked up at the roof. The still air lay thick on her.
Finally, she spoke in a whisper, "Adrian?"
His head shifted ever so slightly. "Yes?"
"Why do you help me?" Her voice broke. "Why do you care so much? I'm not… I'm not special."
He said nothing for a moment. She thought he wouldn't. But then he spoke, low and raspy.
"You're wrong. You are important. More than you know. And as long as I'm here, no one will touch you."
Her heart constricted. She wanted to inquire further, but his tone suggested that he would say no more. She shut her eyes and clutched the blanket.
And even though fear still pressed firmly in her chest, for the first time since the note had appeared, she felt safe.
