THE UNKNOWN
367 Words
Sylvia’s mind raced as she stared at the ominous message. She could feel the walls closing in around her, the weight of Daniel’s silent threats and this mysterious warning suffocating her.
Who was watching her?
Her fingers hovered over her phone as she debated whether to call Ryder. But what would she even say? Hey, I think my husband knows about us, and also, someone is sending me cryptic messages.
No. She couldn’t drag him into this.
Instead, she forced herself to move through the motions of the day. She got dressed, went to work, and tried to pretend everything was fine. But no matter how hard she tried, she felt eyes on her—like a shadow lurking just out of sight.
By the time evening rolled around, Sylvia was exhausted. She had barely eaten, her stomach too twisted with nerves. But she wasn’t ready to go home yet. She needed air, space to think.
So she drove aimlessly through the city, letting the neon lights blur past her. At some point, her car ended up in front of a bar—a familiar one.
The same bar where she’d met Ryder.
As if on cue, her phone buzzed.
Ryder: You okay?
Her pulse skipped.
Sylvia hesitated, then typed: Yeah. Just needed to clear my head.
Ryder: You wanna talk?
Did she?
Before she could second-guess herself, she replied: I’m outside the bar.
Less than five minutes later, Ryder appeared, stepping out into the cool night air. His dark eyes scanned her face, reading the tension in her shoulders.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he murmured.
“Maybe I have,” she muttered.
Ryder frowned, stepping closer. “Sylvia, what’s going on?”
She bit her lip, debating how much to tell him. But before she could say anything, her phone vibrated again.
Another message.
Unknown Number: He’s watching you right now.
Sylvia’s blood ran cold.
Her eyes darted around the dimly lit street, searching for any sign of Daniel.
Nothing.
But the feeling of being watched was stronger than ever.
Ryder noticed her expression darken. “Sylvia?”
She gripped her phone, heartbeat hammering.
“I think I’m in trouble.”
- Writer
