Chapter 49: Warning from Nowhere
354 Words
Maria sat by the window, her fingers absently tracing patterns on the glass. Outside, the sky was heavy with clouds, as if the weather sensed the tension in her heart. She’d been replaying Daniel’s last words over and over in her mind — the way his voice had dropped, the look in his eyes before he walked away.
The silence in her room was almost deafening until her phone buzzed on the table. She reached for it, thinking it might be Daniel, but the number was unknown.
She hesitated, then swiped to open the message.
"Stay away from him. Before it’s too late."
Maria’s breath caught in her throat. She blinked, reading it again, as if her eyes were deceiving her. The words were simple, but the weight behind them was crushing.
Her first instinct was to call the number back, but it went straight to voicemail. No name. No voice. Just the echo of that warning burned into her mind.
Who would send such a message? And more importantly — why now?
Her thoughts were spinning when she heard a faint knock at her door. She froze, her phone still in her hand. It was past 9 p.m., and she wasn’t expecting anyone.
“Maria?” The voice was soft but uneasy.
It was Emeka. She opened the door, relief washing over her — until she saw the look on his face.
“You need to be careful,” he said quietly, glancing over his shoulder as if someone might be listening.
Her pulse quickened. “What do you mean?”
Instead of answering directly, Emeka stepped inside and closed the door. “Some things are better explained when you’re ready to hear the truth. But right now, you just need to trust me… and keep your distance from Daniel.”
Maria’s chest tightened. Two warnings in one night — both about Daniel. She wanted to demand answers, but the heaviness in Emeka’s tone stopped her.
Her mind screamed for clarity, but her heart… her heart refused to believe any of it.
And somewhere deep down, she knew this was only the beginning.
- Writer
