Chapter 41: The Name On The Envelope
1616 Words
Kael's POV
I stared at the envelope in my hand.
AKIRA OWENS.
The name was written neatly across the front, followed by three words that made my stomach twist.
She knows everything. What the hell was that supposed to mean? I looked around the driveway again, nothing. Whoever had left it was already gone..I stepped back inside and locked the door. Then I locked it again. I stood there for a few seconds, trying to calm my breathing.
This was getting too close, too personal. I took the envelope upstairs and dropped it on my desk. I didn't open it immediately. Something told me I shouldn't. But curiosity won. I tore it open.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
I unfolded it..My eyes scanned the words.
You think you're protecting her. My jaw tightened. I continued reading.
But you're only making her a bigger target..I swallowed. Then I reached the last line.
Ask her what happened to her mother.
I froze. My hand went completely still..What did Milky's mother have to do with any of this?.I read the sentence again, then again. Whoever was doing this knew about her family. That meant they knew more about Milky than I did. And somehow, that scared me more than anything else.
I grabbed my phone.
I opened Milky's contact. My thumb hovered over the call button. Should I ask her?.No.
Not over the phone. Not when I didn't know who could be listening. I locked my phone.
Tomorrow. I'd talk to her tomorrow. But before I could put the phone down, it buzzed.
Unknown number.
I opened it. Don't ask her. My blood ran cold.
Another message appeared. She'll lie to you.
Then:
Just like everyone else. I stared at the screen. Whoever this was knew I had found the envelope, they knew I was thinking about asking Milky questions. That meant they were watching me.
Right now. I looked toward my window, nothing. I walked over and pulled the curtains shut. For the first time in my life, I wished I didn't live in such a big house. There were too many windows, too many doors, too many places for someone to hide.
>>>>>>>>
Akira's POV
I woke up the next morning with a strange feeling in my chest. I couldn't explain it, Something had happened. I just didn't know what. Mom was in the kitchen when I came downstairs.
“Good morning.”
“Morning, sweetheart.” I sat at the table. She placed breakfast in front of me.
“You're quiet.”
“Just tired.” She smiled.
“You need to sleep earlier.”
“I'll try.” She sat opposite me. “Are you still having problems at school?”
I froze. “Problems?”
“With your classmates.” I forced a smile.
“Nothing serious.” Mom watched me carefully.
“You know you can tell me anything.”
“I know.” I lowered my eyes. But I couldn't tell her. Not when I knew how hard she worked just to keep everything together, I couldn't add another worry to her shoulders.
My phone buzzed. I checked it.
A message from Camila. Don't forget we're studying together after school.
I smiled.
At least one thing could still feel normal. I put my phone away. Then Mom spoke again.
“Akira?”
“Hmm?”
“Someone came by yesterday.” My heart stopped.
“Who?” She shrugged.
“I don't know. I didn't see them properly.” I stared at her.
“What did they want?”
“They didn't come inside.”
“What happened?”
“They stood outside for a while, then left.” My hands became cold.
“Mom.” She frowned.
“Why are you looking like that?”
“What did they look like?”
“I couldn't tell. They were wearing a hoodie.” My stomach dropped. “Did they say anything?”
“No.” She smiled faintly. “Don't worry about it.” I couldn't breathe properly. A hoodie. Outside my house. Just like the person who had been watching us.
I stood abruptly. “I have to go.”
“Akira, you haven't finished breakfast.”
“I'm sorry.” I grabbed my bag.
“Love you.”
“Love you too.” I rushed out.
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Kael's POV
I saw Milky standing near the school gate. She looked worried..The moment she noticed me, she smiled.
“Morning.”
“Morning.” I studied her face.
“You okay?” She nodded.
“Yeah.”
“You're lying.” She sighed. “Why do you always say that?”
“Because you're terrible at lying.” She smiled. Then I noticed the dark circles beneath her eyes.
“Did you sleep?”
“Barely.”
“Why?” She hesitated.
“Something happened at home.” My stomach tightened.
“What?” She shook her head.
“Nothing.”
“Milky.”
“Kael, please.” I stopped. She looked genuinely frightened. I lowered my voice.
“Okay.” She looked surprised.
“Okay?”
“I'm not going to force you.”
“Thank you.”
“But if something happens, you tell me.” She nodded.
“I will.” I wanted to tell her about the envelope, about her mother, about the message. But something stopped me. If the person behind this wanted me to question her, maybe they were trying to make me turn against her.
I wasn't going to give them that, not yet.
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Akira's POV
The school day felt endless. Every time I looked behind me, I expected to see someone watching. By lunchtime, I was exhausted. Camila sat beside me.
“You're distracted.”
“I know.”
“Did something happen?” I hesitated. Then I told her about the person Mom had seen outside our house. Her face changed immediately.
“What?”
“I don't know who it was.”
“Did your mom see their face?”
“No.”
“Akira, that's not normal.”
“I know.” She lowered her voice.
“Do you think it's the same person?”
“I don't know.” Before she could respond, Justin approached.
“Hey.” I looked up.
“Hi.” He pulled out the chair beside us.
“Can I sit?” Camila shrugged.
“Sure.” Justin sat.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” He looked at me.
“Really?” I nodded. He stared at me for a moment. Then he said something that made my stomach drop.
“You shouldn't walk home alone anymore.” I froze. “How do you know I walk home?” He looked confused.
“You told me before.”
Had I? I couldn't remember.
“Right.” He smiled.
“Just be careful.”.Camila watched him carefully.
“Why are you so concerned?” Justin laughed.
“She's my friend.” Camila didn't respond, neither did I.
>>>>>>>>
Kael's POV
After school, I found Adrienne. “We need to talk.”
He nodded. “About Justin?”
“Partly.”
“What did you find?” He handed me his phone.
“I checked.”
“And?”
“Justin wasn't home.” I frowned.
“So he lied.”
“Maybe.”
“What do you mean, maybe?” Adrienne sighed.
“He wasn't home, but that doesn't mean he was doing anything wrong.”
“Where was he?”
“He went to a pharmacy.” I stared at him.
“A pharmacy?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Apparently, he bought something for his mother.” I frowned. That didn't make sense.
“Did you verify it?”
“Yes.” I stared at the screen. Justin had lied. But maybe he wasn't lying about everything.
“There's something else.”
“What?” Adrienne hesitated.
“He wasn't alone.” I looked at him.
“Who was with him?”
“I don't know.”
“Adrienne.”
“He left the pharmacy with someone.”
“Who?”
“I couldn't see.” I took a deep breath.
“So we're back to nothing.”
“Pretty much.” I looked toward the school building, then I saw Milky. She was walking toward the gate. Alone.
My instincts kicked in, I started walking toward her. Then my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
A photograph appeared.
Milky. Walking toward the gate.
Taken only seconds ago. My heart stopped. Then another message appeared. You promised to protect her.
I looked up. Milky was still walking, so I scanned the area. Students, cars, teachers. Nothing. Then another message.
Then why are you letting her walk away alone?.My blood ran cold.I started running.
“Milky!” She turned.
“What?”.I didn't answer. I reached her and grabbed her wrist.
“Come with me.” She frowned.
“Kael, what—”
“Just trust me.” I pulled her away from the gate. She looked very confused. Then her phone buzzed, she stopped.
“Wait.” She pulled it out. I watched her face change.
“What is it?” She slowly turned the screen toward me..My heart nearly stopped. It was a picture.
Not of her, not of me. It was a picture of us. Standing together beneath the tree earlier that day..And underneath it was one sentence: You two look good together.
My blood ran cold..Then another message appeared.
Let's see how long that lasts. I looked around wildly. Someone was watching us.
I knew it.
And this time… They were very close.
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