Chapter 38: Too Close
1384 Words
Kael's POV
I stared at the photograph for what felt like an eternity. My bedroom window. My room. Me. Whoever took it had been standing outside my house. That wasn't a prank anymore, It was a warning. I locked my phone and shoved it into my pocket.
I needed to think. Running outside immediately would be stupid I thought. Whoever sent this wanted me angry, they wanted me to make a mistake. I wasn't going to give them that satisfaction.
I walked downstairs. The house was quiet as usual.
The cleaning lady was somewhere in the kitchen, and the chauffeur had probably gone home for the evening.
I walked toward the front door.
“Sir?” I turned.
Gerald stood behind me. “Where are you going?”
“Outside.”
“At this hour?”
“I'm just checking something.” He frowned.
“Should I come with you?”
“No.” I opened the door. The night air hit my face. I looked toward my bedroom window. Nothing. I walked around the house. No footprints, no broken fence, no suspicious vehicle, nothing.
Whoever had been there had covered their tracks. I pulled out my phone and looked at the picture again. The angle bothered me, It wasn't taken from the street. It was taken from somewhere closer. Much closer.
I looked toward the side of the house. There was a narrow path leading toward the backyard. I followed it. Halfway there, I stopped. Something caught my eye. A tiny piece of black material was caught on the edge of the fence. I pulled it free.
Fabric.
Dark. Like a piece torn from a hoodie. I stared at it. My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Looking for me?
My jaw tightened. I typed back. You're making a mistake. The response came almost instantly.
Am I? I clenched my phone.
Stay away from Milky.
Three dots appeared.
Then it disappeared.
Nothing.
I waited.
No response. That somehow made it worse.
>>>>>>>>
Akira's POV
I woke up the next morning feeling like I hadn't slept at all. I had spent half the night staring at the ceiling. Something wasn't right. I could feel it. I checked my phone, no messages. I sighed in relief. Maybe the person had stopped, maybe they were tired of trying to scare me.
I knew that was wishful thinking. I got ready for school and headed downstairs. Mom was already preparing breakfast.
“You look tired.”
“I didn't sleep well.”
“Are you worried about something?” I smiled.
“No.” She studied me.
“You've been saying that a lot lately.” I hugged her.
“I'm fine, Mom.” She sighed.
“Just don't keep things to yourself.” I froze. The words hit me harder than they should have.
“Okay.”
I left for school.
…….
When I got to class, Camila was already there.
She waved at me. “You're late.”
“Barely.”
“You're usually early.”
“I know.” She studied my face.
“Something happened.”
“Nothing happened.”
“Akira.” I smiled.
“I'm fine.” She rolled her eyes.
“You're becoming just like Kael.” I laughed.
“That's insulting.”
“Exactly.” We both laughed. For a moment, everything felt normal. Then the classroom door opened. Kael walked in.
Our eyes met. Something in his expression changed, He looked serious. Not his usual annoyed expression, something deeper. He walked toward his seat. As he passed me, he quietly said,
“Meet me after school.” I frowned.
“Why?”
“Just do.” Then he walked away. Camila stared at me.
“What was that?”
“I don't know.”
“Did he just tell you to meet him?”
“Yes.” She raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting.”
“Camila.”
“I'm not saying anything.”
“You're thinking it.”
She laughed.
……
After school, I found Kael waiting behind the gym. He looked around before speaking.
“You came.”
“You asked me to.” He looked at me carefully.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” He sighed.
“Someone sent me another message.” My heart dropped.
“What?” He pulled out his phone.
“I didn't want to scare you.”
“Kael.” He showed me the message.
I read it. My hands became cold.
You're getting too close.
I looked up. “Who sent this?”
“I don't know.”
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“Kael.”
“I said I didn't do anything.” He looked at me.
“But I found something.”
“What?” He pulled a small piece of black fabric from his pocket.
“This was caught on the fence behind my house.” I stared at it.
“Someone was at your house?”
“Yeah.” My heart started pounding. “Because of me?”
“I don't know.”
“You shouldn't have told me.”
“I needed you to know.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't want you going anywhere alone.” I stared at him. “You can't protect me all the time.”
“Watch me.” My heart skipped. He seemed to realize what he'd said. He looked away.
“I mean...” “I know what you meant.” Silence settled between us. Then I noticed something.
“Kael?”
“Hmm?”
“Where did you find the fabric?”
“Behind my house.” I touched the edge of it. It was soft, thick, and expensive. Then something clicked.
“I've seen this.” Kael's eyes snapped toward me.
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Think.” I closed my eyes. I tried to remember.
The hallway, the gym, the cafeteria, the party. Then— Justin. His hoodie. I remembered the dark material. But there was no way Justin couldn't be involved. He was my friend.
“Milky?”
“I... I don't know.” Kael studied me.
“You remembered something.”
“No.”
“Don't lie.”
“I said I don't know.” He sighed.
“Okay.” I looked at him.
“Kael?”
“Yeah?”
“Promise me something.”
“What?”
“Don't confront anyone.” He stared at me.
“Why?”
“Because I don't want this to get worse.” He didn't answer.
“Kael.”
“Fine.”
“Promise?” He sighed.
“I promise.” I smiled faintly.
“Thank you.” He rolled his eyes. “You're welcome.” For once, he didn't complain about me saying thank you.
>>>>>>>
Kael's POV
I watched Milky walk away. I had promised. But I hadn't promised to stop investigating. There was a difference. I pulled out my phone. I opened the photograph again. Then the picture of the fabric. I zoomed in. Something was sewn into the edge.
A tiny silver symbol. My eyes narrowed. I had seen it before..But where?.I searched through my memories. School, party, practice. Then I remembered. The same symbol was on someone's bracelet. Someone I had seen recently. Someone Milky had been talking to.
My stomach tightened..I didn't want to believe it. I opened my messages and called Adrienne. He answered.
“What's up?”
“I need you to check something.”
“What?”
“Find out where Justin was last night.” There was silence.
“Justin?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
“Kael, what are you thinking?”
“I don't know yet.” I hung up. I looked at the silver symbol again. My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I opened the message.
You shouldn't have asked about Justin. My entire body went still. Another message appeared.
Now you've made things worse..I stared at the screen. Then my phone buzzed again.
A picture.
This time, it wasn't of me, It wasn't of Milky.
It was a picture of Adrienne. Standing outside his house. My blood ran cold. The message underneath was only three words.
Choose your friend.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD