Chapter 6: A Stranger in the Dark
645 Words
The moment Emma saw the figure, her breath hitched.
It wasn’t Daniel.
But… she recognized the voice.
The man stepped closer, and as the streetlight hit his face, Emma’s stomach dropped.
> Liam.
Her mind reeled.
Why was he here?
Liam was a quiet customer at the bakery—always polite, always alone. He often came in for coffee, exchanged a few words with Daniel, and left.
They had never been close.
So why… was he writing to her?
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A Terrifying Warning
Emma’s heart pounded.
“Liam?” Her voice wavered. “Did you send this letter?”
Liam’s dark eyes studied her carefully. “Yes.”
She swallowed.
He stepped closer. “Emma… I need you to listen to me.”
Something in his tone made her shiver.
“I know about the letters,” he continued. “I know you think they were from Daniel.”
Emma stiffened. “What do you mean ‘think’? He admitted it.”
Liam let out a low sigh. “Of course, he did.”
Emma’s body went rigid.
“What do you mean?”
Liam hesitated before speaking, his voice lower.
“Because he wants you to believe it.”
Emma blinked. “What?”
Liam clenched his jaw. “Emma… Daniel wasn’t the one who started writing to you.”
Emma’s chest tightened. “That doesn’t make sense—”
“I was.”
Her blood turned ice cold.
No. That couldn’t be right.
Liam? The real letter writer?
Her head spun. “You’re lying.”
He shook his head. “I’m not.”
Emma stepped back. “But Daniel—he knew everything about the letters.”
Liam’s expression darkened. “That’s because he found them.”
Emma’s hands trembled. “I don’t understand.”
Liam exhaled sharply. “I wrote the first few letters, Emma. I left them under the bench. But then—one day, they were gone before you could get them.”
He paused, his eyes serious.
“That’s when Daniel got involved.”
Emma felt like she couldn’t breathe.
Daniel stole the letters?
Was that why he acted so guilty?
She shook her head, refusing to believe it. “You’re wrong. Daniel wouldn’t do that.”
Liam’s eyes darkened. “Wouldn’t he?”
---
The Truth or a Lie?
Emma was shaking.
Everything she thought she knew was falling apart.
Daniel had lied to her?
But why?
Was it because he wanted her to believe the letters were his?
Liam took a slow step forward. “Emma… I know this is hard to hear. But you deserve the truth.”
Emma’s throat felt dry. “Why are you telling me this now?”
Liam hesitated. Then, his jaw tightened.
“Because Daniel isn’t who you think he is.”
Emma’s heart skipped a beat.
“What do you mean?”
Liam looked away for a moment before meeting her gaze again.
“You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
A chill ran down her spine.
Was Liam warning her… about Daniel?
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A Dangerous Night
Emma took a shaky breath.
This was too much.
“I… I need to go.” She turned, ready to leave.
But before she could take a step, Liam grabbed her wrist.
“Emma, wait.”
His grip was firm—but not painful.
Still, panic surged in her chest.
“Let go of me,” she whispered.
Liam’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. “I just want to keep you safe.”
Emma yanked her hand away.
“From what?” she demanded. “From Daniel?”
Liam didn’t answer.
Instead, he looked at her with something almost like regret.
“I hope you make the right choice,” he murmured.
Then, without another word, he turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Leaving Emma alone, confused, and more afraid than ever.
- Writer
