Chapter 4: Maya's POV
997 Words
Thomas quickly pulled the curtain aside and looked outside.
His expression changed instantly.
"What the heck are you staring at?" I asked nervously.
He didn't answer.
Instead, he quietly let the curtain fall back into place, walked to the front door, locked it again, then switched off every light in the living room.
Within seconds, the apartment was swallowed by darkness.
Only the faint moonlight slipping through the curtains allowed us to see one another.
Lillian immediately grabbed my hand.
"Maya..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm really starting to get scared."
To be honest...
So was I.
Nothing about this situation made any sense anymore.
I looked at Thomas.
"I don't understand any of this," I said. "Who found me? What's really going on?"
Thomas took a slow breath before answering.
"I warned you before."
His voice was calm, but I could hear the urgency behind it.
"Your life is in danger."
"The people outside are the reason I came here tonight. They've been watching this house since yesterday."
I frowned.
"What people?"
"The people who have been searching for you."
A cold chill ran through my body.
"No..." I whispered, shaking my head. "I don't believe this."
Lillian slowly stepped closer to me.
"Maya..." she said quietly. "This is getting serious."
But I refused to believe either of them.
Without thinking, I walked toward the window.
"If there are really people outside," I said, "then I want to see them with my own eyes."
I reached for the curtain.
Before my fingers could touch it—
Thomas grabbed my wrist.
He pulled me backward so suddenly that I lost my balance and crashed straight into his chest.
For one brief moment...
Time seemed to stop.
I could hear the steady beat of his heart.
His hands remained firmly on my shoulders, making sure I didn't fall.
When I looked up...
Our eyes met.
For the first time since meeting him, I noticed something unexpected.
Fear.
Not fear for himself.
Fear for me.
His eyes held a seriousness that sent another shiver down my spine.
Could he really be telling the truth?
The thought frightened me more than anything else.
Realizing how close we were standing, I quickly stepped away.
"Let me go," I said, trying to hide how nervous I had suddenly become.
Thomas released my wrist immediately.
"What do you think you're doing, Maya?" he asked.
"You were about to walk straight into danger."
He shook his head.
"I won't allow your stubbornness to break the promise I made."
I frowned.
"What promise?"
He looked away for a second.
"I've already told you..."
"This isn't the right time to answer your questions."
"Just trust me."
I folded my arms.
"So now my questions are meaningless?"
A bitter laugh escaped my lips.
"You know what? I only have myself to blame for letting you into my apartment."
I pointed toward the front door.
"You should leave."
Before Thomas could respond, Lillian stepped between us.
"Maya, what's wrong with you?" she asked.
"Can't you see he's trying to protect you?"
I stared at her.
"So..."
"You actually believe him now?"
She nodded without hesitation.
"Yes."
"If those people are really outside, then everything he's been saying is true."
I shook my head.
"I still want answers."
"If those people are outside, maybe they'll tell me the truth Thomas keeps hiding."
Lillian sighed.
"I know you're confused."
"I would be confused too."
"But maybe this really isn't the right time."
"Please..."
"Just trust him this once."
I looked from Lillian to Thomas before laughing softly.
"So you've joined his team already."
For the first time that night...
Thomas gave the faintest hint of a smile.
"Thank you, Lillian," he said.
"At least someone understands the situation."
He immediately became serious again.
His eyes returned to the window.
"We're running out of time."
He lowered his voice.
"Pack only what you truly need."
"No unnecessary things."
"And don't make any noise."
"If the people outside realize we're still here, none of us will leave this apartment safely."
Lillian didn't argue.
She hurried into the bedroom and immediately started packing.
I watched her in disbelief.
"Lillian," I called.
"Pack only your own things."
"If you're so eager to follow him, then go."
She didn't even look up.
"I'm packing yours too."
"Whether you like it or not..."
"You're coming with us."
"I'm not going to stand here and watch your stubbornness destroy your life."
I sighed deeply.
Everything was happening too fast.
Just yesterday...
Thomas was nothing more than a mysterious student on campus.
Now...
He was standing inside my apartment, claiming dangerous people were hunting me.
It felt impossible.
Yet somehow...
No one seemed to be joking anymore.
While Lillian packed our bags, Thomas remained beside the window, lifting the curtain just enough to keep watch outside.
Every few seconds, he checked a different angle, as though expecting someone to appear at any moment.
The tension inside the apartment became almost unbearable.
"Lillian," I whispered, "do you really think we should trust him?"
She paused before answering.
"I don't know."
"But I know one thing."
"The fear in his eyes doesn't look fake."
Her words echoed in my mind.
Maybe...
Just maybe...
Thomas had been telling the truth all along.
"Maya," Lillian called after finishing.
"Come and carry one of these bags."
I crossed my arms stubbornly.
"I told you to pack only your own things."
"You can carry them yourself."
Without saying anything, Thomas walked over and picked up two of the bags.
He looked toward the door.
"It's time."
He slowly reached for the doorknob.
Suddenly—
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
A loud knock shook the entire apartm
ent.
The three of us froze.
No one moved.
No one even breathed.
Then...
A deep voice echoed from outside.
"Open the door..."
A short silence followed.
Then the voice spoke again.
"We know Maya is inside."
The blood drained from my face.
Whoever was outside...
...knew my name.
- Writer
