CHAPTER 3 THE WAY HE LOOKED AT ME
889 Words
I didn’t see him the next day.
Or the day after that.
At first, I told myself it didn’t matter.
That it was normal.
That I shouldn’t even care.
But the truth was…
I did.
More than I wanted to admit.
Every evening, I found myself walking the same road again.
Slowing down at the same spot.
Looking around like I was expecting him to appear out of nowhere.
But he didn’t.
It was like he had disappeared completely.
And somehow… that made everything feel worse.
Because now, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.
About what he said.
About the way he looked at me.
About that moment…
When his eyes changed.
I knew I didn’t imagine it.
There was no way I did.
Something was wrong.
Something he wasn’t telling me.
And instead of being scared enough to walk away…
I wanted to know more.
By the fourth day, I was already tired of pretending.
So I decided to ask.
I found his friend.
The same one that was talking to my sister that first day.
It didn’t take long.
People always know someone who knows someone.
“Do you know Daniel?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
His friend looked at me for a moment.
Then he laughed.
But it wasn’t a normal laugh.
It was… strange.
“Why are you asking about him?” he said.
My heart tightened slightly.
“I just… want to see him.”
The way his expression changed made my stomach turn.
“You should forget about him,” he said.
The same words.
The same warning.
Just like Daniel.
“Why does everyone keep saying that?” I asked, a little frustrated now.
His friend shook his head slowly.
“You don’t understand,” he said quietly.
“Then make me understand.”
For a moment, he looked like he was about to say something.
But then he stopped.
Like he changed his mind.
“Just stay away from him,” he said again.
Then he walked off.
Leaving me standing there.
Confused.
Annoyed.
And even more curious.
That night, I couldn’t sit still.
Everything felt off.
The air felt heavy.
Like something was about to happen.
I don’t even know what pushed me, but I found myself stepping outside again.
The street was quieter than usual.
Too quiet.
Even the usual sounds I was used to hearing… were gone.
I hugged myself slightly, feeling a chill run through me.
Then—
I heard it.
That same sound.
Low.
Deep.
Like a distant growl.
My heart started racing immediately.
It was the same sound from that night.
The night he disappeared.
“Daniel?” I called out softly.
No response.
Just silence.
I took a step forward.
Then another.
My feet moving even when my mind was telling me to stop.
The sound came again.
Closer this time.
My breath caught in my throat.
“Who’s there?” I whispered.
Still nothing.
But I wasn’t alone.
I could feel it.
That same strange feeling.
Like someone was watching me.
My body went still.
Slowly… I turned around.
And that was when I saw it.
A shadow.
Not clear.
Not fully visible.
But it was there.
Watching.
My heart started pounding loudly in my chest.
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t even breathe properly.
For a second… I thought I was going to scream.
Then suddenly—
The shadow moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
And before I could even react—
Someone grabbed my arm.
I gasped, my body freezing completely.
“Are you crazy?” a familiar voice snapped.
Daniel.
Relief washed over me instantly.
But it didn’t last long.
Because the moment I looked at him…
I realized something.
He looked different.
His breathing was heavy.
His body tense.
And his eyes…
They weren’t normal.
Not this time.
There was no mistake.
They were glowing.
Faint.
But real.
My heart dropped.
“Daniel…” I whispered.
He didn’t answer.
He was staring past me.
At where the shadow had been.
Like he was ready for something.
Or someone.
Then slowly… he looked back at me.
And for the first time—
I saw fear in his eyes.
“Go home,” he said.
His voice was low.
But urgent.
“What is happening?” I asked, my voice shaking.
“I said go home,” he repeated.
Stronger this time.
But I didn’t move.
I couldn’t.
Not anymore.
“Tell me the truth,” I said.
Silence.
A long, heavy silence.
Then he stepped closer to me.
So close, I could feel his breath.
“You really don’t remember me…” he said quietly.
My heart skipped.
“What are you talking about?”
He stared at me for a moment.
Like he was searching for something in my face.
Then he said something that made everything stop.
“I’ve been watching you… for longer than you think.”
A chill ran down my spine.
“What?”
But before I could say anything else—
That sound came again.
Louder.
Closer.
And this time…
It wasn’t just one.
Daniel’s grip on my arm tightened slightly.
And his voice dropped to almost a whisper.
“…They found you.”
My heart stopped.
“They?” I repeated.
But he didn’t answer.
Because whatever was out there…
Was no longer hiding.
- Writer
