The strange feeling

The photograph

The Strange Feeling

Episode 3 — The Photograph

Amara couldn't stop staring at the photograph.

The words written on the back kept repeating themselves in her mind.

You were never supposed to remember.

Who had written them?

And what exactly was she supposed to remember?

She slipped the photograph into her bag and looked around the cafeteria.

Students were talking, laughing, and moving between tables as though nothing had happened.

But Amara no longer felt safe.

Someone had placed that photograph on her table.

Someone knew about her childhood.

Someone knew about the memories she couldn't explain.

And whoever it was had deliberately chosen to frighten her.

She immediately called Maya.

“Maya, where are you?”

“On my way to class. Why?”

“I need you to come back.”

There was something in Amara's voice that made Maya stop asking questions.

“Where are you?”

“The cafeteria.”

“I'm coming.”

Five minutes later, Maya returned.

Amara showed her the photograph.

Maya's face changed.

“Where did you get this?”

“It was on my table after Adrian left.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

Maya turned the photograph over.

Her eyes moved across the handwriting.

“You were never supposed to remember.”

She looked at Amara.

“This is creepy.”

“I know.”

“Did Adrian leave it?”

“I don't know.”

“Did you ask him?”

“No.”

“Then ask him.”

Amara shook her head.

“I don't trust him.”

Maya looked at her carefully.

“Then why are you still talking to him?”

Amara didn't answer.

Because she didn't know.

There was something about Adrian that confused her.

She didn't trust him.

But she couldn't deny that she felt strangely drawn toward him.

That feeling returned whenever he was near.

It wasn't simply attraction.

It was something deeper.

Something she couldn't explain.

That afternoon, Amara went to the university library.

She spent hours searching through old online records.

She searched her mother's name.

She searched Richard Cole.

She searched Adrian.

Most of the information had been removed or was difficult to find.

Then she discovered an old newspaper article.

The headline read:

BUSINESS DISPUTE LEAVES COLE FAMILY SHOCKED

Amara opened it.

The article was more than twenty years old.

It mentioned Richard Cole's business partner.

A man named Victor Hale.

Amara read the article carefully.

Victor had been one of Richard's closest friends.

The article said that shortly before Elena disappeared, she had accused someone inside the company of financial fraud.

But the case was never investigated.

Amara's heartbeat increased.

She continued reading.

Then she saw her mother's name.

Elena Bennett, a former employee of Cole Enterprises, reportedly left the city shortly after the disagreement.

Left the city.

That was the official story.

But something didn't feel right.

Amara printed the article.

She folded it carefully and placed it inside her notebook.

A shadow suddenly appeared over the page.

She looked up.

Adrian.

She immediately closed the notebook.

“You again.”

“You shouldn't be investigating this alone.”

“Are you following me?”

“No.”

“Then why do you keep appearing?”

“Because you're looking into things that can hurt you.”

Amara stood.

“You keep saying that, but you never tell me why.”

Adrian looked at the newspaper in her hand.

“You found Victor Hale.”

“Who is he?”

Adrian's jaw tightened.

“My father's former business partner.”

“Was he involved with my mother?”

“I don't know.”

“You're lying.”

Adrian looked at her.

“I know he had something to do with her disappearance.”

Amara's eyes widened.

“Then why didn't you tell me?”

“Because I didn't have proof.”

“Do you now?”

“No.”

“Then what do you have?”

Adrian hesitated.

“A warning.”

“What warning?”

“Stop searching.”

Amara laughed bitterly.

“Everyone keeps telling me to stop.”

“Because it's dangerous.”

“I don't care.”

“You should.”

Adrian stepped closer.

“Amara, whoever made your mother disappear may still be watching you.”

She stared at him.

“Why would they care about me after all these years?”

“Because you may remember something.”

Her heart skipped.

The strange feeling returned.

She saw the hallway again.

The woman crying.

The silver necklace.

And a man's shadow.

Amara suddenly grabbed the edge of the table.

Adrian caught her before she fell.

“Amara?”

She pushed him away.

“I saw something.”

“What?”

“A hallway.”

Adrian's expression changed.

“Tell me.”

“A woman.”

“Your mother?”

“I don't know.”

“What else?”

“A necklace.”

Adrian froze.

“What kind of necklace?”

“Silver.”

He stared at her.

Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

He showed her a photograph.

Amara's breathing stopped.

It was the same necklace.

Adrian looked at her.

“That belonged to your mother.”

Amara stared at the screen.

“How do you have that?”

“My father kept a photograph of it.”

“Why?”

“I don't know.”

She looked at him.

“Then let's find out.”

Adrian nodded slowly.

For the first time, neither of them argued.

They both knew they had just found the first real piece of the truth.

But neither of them noticed the man standing outside the library window.

He watched them carefully.

Then he pulled out his phone.

“She found the photograph.”

A pause.

Then a voice answered.

“Then it's time to make her stop.”