CHAPTER 12: DAMIEN
367 Words
It was 1:12 a.m.
I was half-awake on the couch, documents scattered across the floor, half a sandwich untouched beside my laptop. I wasn’t expecting anything except another sleepless night of planning and second-guessing.
Then the burner phone lit up.
Unknown Number.
Only one person had the number.
I sat up straight.
For a second, I didn’t move. Just stared at the screen like it might vanish.
Then I picked up.
“Scarlett?”
There was a pause on the other end. Not hesitation—just the kind of silence that says, Don’t make a big deal out of this.
Her voice came through low, steady, like she'd been pacing for hours.
“Still alive?”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“Barely. You?”
Watched him all day. Same patterns. Same security blind spots. Same smug face.”
She paused again. I could hear the faint hum of cars in the background—she was outside.
“I thought I’d call.”
I leaned back, unsure whether to sound casual or grateful. I went with honest.
“I didn’t expect you to.”
“Neither did I.”
That was all she gave me.
No soft words. No apology. No bonding moment.
Just facts. Like always.
But the fact that she called at all meant more than anything she could’ve said.
---
I rested my elbow on the back of the couch, phone pressed to my ear.
“You need anything?”
“No.”
Another pause. Then:
“Just wanted to make sure this wasn’t all in my head. That you’re still in this.”
I nodded, though she couldn’t see me.
“I’m still in.”
“Good.”
A beat of quiet passed between us.
She spoke again, voice just a fraction softer.
“I’ll text when I’m done watching the house. Don’t wait up.”
I smiled. “Didn’t peg you for a check-in type.”
“I’m not.”
Click.
Call ended.
I stared at the dark screen, heart racing for no good reason.
She called.
It wasn’t much. A few words. A shadow of vulnerability.
But after everything she’d been through, that was everything.
- Writer
