far from what the eyes could see

THE ECHO

📖 Chapter 4 – The Echo

The air outside felt different.

Killian couldn’t explain it—but he noticed it immediately.

Too still.

Too… arranged.

The café wasn’t far from Murray’s apartment.

Same place. Same setup. Same people—at least, that’s what it looked like.

Killian stepped in, scanning the room automatically.

A couple by the window.

A man on his laptop.

Two girls laughing softly over drinks.

Normal.

He exhaled.

See?

Normal.

He ordered coffee.

The cashier barely looked up.

“Name?”

“Killian.”

A pause.

Then—

“You’re not as smart as you think.”

Killian blinked.

“What?”

The cashier looked up, confused.

“I said, ‘That’ll be ready in a minute.’”

Silence.

Killian stared at him.

Same face. Same tone. Nothing strange.

“…Right,” Killian muttered, stepping aside.

He moved toward a corner table.

Sat down.

Watched.

The girls at the table laughed again.

One of them flipped her hair and said—

“Say my name again.”

Killian’s head snapped slightly in their direction.

The other girl giggled.

“That’s not what I said,” she replied.

Killian frowned.

His grip tightened around the cup.

A chair scraped behind him.

The man with the laptop spoke quietly into his phone.

“Yeah… he’s here.”

Killian turned.

Too quickly.

The man glanced up, confused.

“Sorry?” he said.

Killian stared.

“…Nothing.”

His chest felt tighter now.

Breathing shallow.

Controlled.

He reached for his phone.

Checked it.

No messages.

No notifications.

Everything clean.

“Relax,” he muttered under his breath.

“Just… tired.”

The door opened again.

Someone walked in.

Killian didn’t look up immediately.

Didn’t want to.

Didn’t trust what he might hear.

“Killian.”

He froze.

That voice—

He knew that voice.

Slowly, he looked up.

Gibson.

Standing there.

Watching him.

“You okay?” Gibson asked.

Killian blinked once.

Twice.

“Yeah,” he said quickly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Gibson stepped closer.

“You look like you’ve seen something.”

Killian let out a short laugh.

“I’m sitting in a café, Gibson. What exactly am I supposed to see?”

Gibson didn’t answer immediately.

His eyes moved slightly—taking in the room.

Then back to Killian.

“…Just checking.”

Killian leaned back in his chair.

Forced himself to relax.

“This is what I mean,” he said. “You and Murray—always acting like something’s wrong.”

“Maybe something is,” Gibson said quietly.

Killian’s expression hardened.

“Or maybe you just don’t get it,” he snapped. “Not everything has to be a problem.”

Gibson held his gaze.

Calm.

Steady.

“That’s not what I said.”

Killian looked away.

Out the window.

The city still looked normal.

Still steady.

Still real.

But his reflection in the glass—

lagged.

Just slightly.

He blinked.

It corrected itself instantly.

“…You saw that, right?” Killian asked suddenly.

Gibson frowned. “Saw what?”

Killian stared at the window.

Nothing now.

Just his reflection.

Perfectly aligned.

“…Nothing,” he said again.

Silence settled between them.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Gibson pulled out a chair and sat down.

“You should slow down,” he said.

Killian shook his head immediately.

“No.”

“Killian—”

“I said no.”

Too sharp.

Too fast.

People at nearby tables glanced over briefly.

Then went back to their conversations.

Like nothing happened.

Killian leaned forward slightly.

Lowered his voice.

“I’m close,” he said. “You don’t understand that.”

“Close to what?” Gibson asked.

Killian hesitated.

Just for a second.

“…Everything.”

Gibson studied him.

Something almost like concern in his eyes.

Or something else.

Hard to tell.

Killian’s phone buzzed.

Again.

He froze.

Didn’t reach for it this time.

Didn’t want to.

“Answer it,” Gibson said quietly.

Killian shook his head.

“No.”

“Killian—”

“I said NO.”

Too loud.

Silence dropped across the table.

Slowly…

very slowly…

Killian reached into his pocket.

Pulled the phone out.

Held it.

Stared at the screen.

Blank.

He exhaled sharply.

A laugh escaped him.

Short.

Dry.

“See?” he said. “Nothing.”

Gibson didn’t respond.

Killian looked up.

Met his eyes.

“…What?” Killian asked.

Gibson leaned back slightly.

Calm as ever.

“I didn’t hear your phone buzz,” he said.

Killian’s smile faded.

The café suddenly felt smaller.

Tighter.

Louder.

And for the first time—

Killian wasn’t sure which part of this was real anymore. 👀🔥