Tell Someone
528 Words
I couldn't stay in the courtyard forever.
Eventually, people would notice the girl standing alone, staring at her phone like it had personally betrayed her.
I wiped my face with the sleeve of my hoodie and forced myself to walk.
One step.
Then another.
Think.
Just...
Think.
My parents weren't answering.
I couldn't keep wandering around campus hoping everything would magically fix itself.
I needed an adult.
Someone who knew what to do.
Someone who could help.
The thought should have comforted me.
Instead...
It made me hesitate.
Because how exactly was I supposed to explain this?
"Hi... I think my soulmate is trying to kill me."
They'd think I was insane.
I almost laughed.
Almost.
My feet carried me toward the administration building before I'd fully decided to go.
People could help there.
Couldn't they?
The glass doors slid open.
Cold air greeted me.
The reception area was quiet.
Too quiet.
A woman sat behind the front desk, typing on her computer.
She looked up and smiled.
"Can I help you?"
My mouth suddenly felt dry.
Say it.
Just say it.
"I..."
The words refused to come out.
"I think someone's following me."
That sounded much better than the truth.
Her smile faded slightly.
"Would you like to sit down?"
I nodded.
She pointed toward a row of chairs near the wall.
"I'll call campus security."
Relief washed over me.
Finally.
Someone believed me.
I sat down, my hands twisting together in my lap.
Minutes passed.
The receptionist spoke quietly into the phone before returning to her desk.
I stared at the floor.
Maybe this nightmare was finally ending.
Maybe—
Two pairs of footsteps approached.
I looked up.
A campus security officer.
And another man beside him.
Not in uniform.
Black trousers.
Dark jacket.
An ID card hanging from his neck.
I couldn't read the writing from where I sat.
The security officer offered me a reassuring smile.
"Miss Morgan?"
My heart skipped.
"...Yes."
"We're just going to ask you a few questions."
I nodded weakly.
The man beside him hadn't said a word.
He simply watched me.
Calmly.
Carefully.
Like he was memorizing my face.
Something about him made every instinct inside me scream.
Run.
The security officer sat opposite me.
"Can you describe the person following you?"
I opened my mouth.
Black jacket.
Combat boots.
Grey—
"Remain calm."
The thought hit me so suddenly I nearly flinched.
Not my thought.
His.
Somewhere nearby.
"Do not engage unless necessary."
My blood turned to ice.
He was here.
Somewhere inside the building.
Listening.
Watching.
I looked around the reception area.
Nothing.
Just students.
Staff.
Doors.
Hallways.
The man with the ID badge noticed me looking around.
"You alright?"
His voice was polite.
Too polite.
"I..."
I couldn't breathe.
The security officer leaned forward.
"Miss Morgan?"
Then I noticed it.
The man beside him.
His right hand moved.
Just slightly.
Two fingers touched the tiny earpiece hidden beneath his hair.
Click.
Everything inside me stopped.
No.
No...
Not him too.
The receptionist.
The security guard.
Now this man.
How many of them were there?
The man looked directly into my eyes.
And smiled.
Not warmly.
Knowingly.
- Writer
