The warning
533 Words
The rest of the school day passed in a blur.
No matter where I walked, people stared.
Some whispered my name even though I had only been there for a few hours.
“That’s the new girl.”
“Luca talked to her.”
“She’s brave… or stupid.”
I wasn’t sure which one I was.
By lunchtime, I had escaped to the library, hoping the silence would drown out the gossip. Rows of old books stretched from floor to ceiling, and the smell of paper instantly calmed me.
I picked up a mystery novel and settled into a chair near the window.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
I looked up.
A girl with long blonde hair stood in front of me, arms crossed.
“I’m Sophie.”
“Aria.”
She glanced around to make sure nobody was listening before sitting across from me.
“I heard what happened this morning.”
“It wasn’t a big deal.”
“It is if it involves Luca Moretti.”
I sighed.
“Everyone keeps saying that. What’s so special about him?”
Sophie hesitated.
“My brother used to be friends with him.”
“Used to?”
She nodded slowly.
“Last year my brother accused someone of cheating during a football match. That someone happened to be Luca’s cousin.”
“What happened?”
“They fought.”
“And?”
“My brother transferred schools a week later.”
“Because of Luca?”
“No one knows.”
A chill ran down my spine.
Before I could ask another question, my phone buzzed inside my pocket.
Unknown Number.
I frowned.
Another anonymous message.
You’re asking too many questions.
My heart skipped.
I hadn’t told anyone I was talking about Luca.
I looked around the library.
Students were reading quietly.
No one was paying attention to me.
Another message appeared.
Leave Blackwood before it’s too late.
My hands trembled.
“Everything okay?” Sophie asked.
I quickly locked my phone.
“Yeah… probably just spam.”
But deep down, I knew it wasn’t.
⸻
School finally ended.
The rain had stopped, leaving the streets glistening beneath the evening sun.
As I walked home, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me.
Halfway down an empty street, I heard footsteps.
Slow.
Steady.
Behind me.
I turned around.
Nothing.
Just parked cars and silent houses.
I told myself I was imagining it.
Then…
A black motorcycle pulled up beside me.
The rider wore a black helmet.
He didn’t speak.
Instead, he held out a small white envelope.
“For me?” I asked.
He simply nodded.
The second I took it, he sped away.
Inside was a single black playing card.
The Ace of Spades.
On the back, written in neat handwriting, were six words.
Stay away from Luca… or else.
A cold breeze swept through the street.
I stared at the card, my pulse racing.
Who was sending these messages?
Why did everyone seem terrified of Luca?
And why…
…did a part of me want to find him and ask him the truth?
Because sometimes the most dangerous stories don’t begin with love.
They begin with curiosity.
- Writer
