Chapter 13: The Truth She Was Never Meant to See
664 Words
Arielle did not answer immediately.
Because the truth was—she didn’t have one.
Not a complete one.
Not something solid enough to give Kael without feeling like she was lying.
“He’s just…” she started, but the words felt weak the moment they left her lips. “Someone I know.”
Kael didn’t react.
And that was what made it worse.
Because he wasn’t asking casually anymore.
He already knew something.
“I looked him up,” Kael said quietly.
Arielle’s heart dropped.
“And?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Kael held her gaze, measuring her reaction before speaking again.
“And he’s not just ‘someone,’ Arielle.”
Silence filled the room, thick and suffocating.
“What did you find?” she asked, softer now.
Kael hesitated.
Not because he didn’t want to tell her—
But because once he did, nothing would go back to normal.
“His name shows up in old records,” Kael said slowly. “Not recent. Not public. The kind of files that aren’t easy to access.”
Arielle frowned slightly. “What kind of files?”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“The kind that involve people being watched.”
That word lingered.
Watched.
Arielle felt something cold settle in her chest.
“That doesn’t make sense,” she said quickly. “Luca wouldn’t—”
“You don’t know that,” Kael interrupted, not harsh, just firm.
And that was the problem.
She didn’t.
⸻
Her mind began to race, piecing together moments she had ignored before.
The way Luca always seemed to appear at the right time.
The way he avoided questions.
The way he looked at things—like he already knew more than he should.
It hadn’t felt dangerous then.
Just… mysterious.
Now?
It felt different.
⸻
“I need to see it,” Arielle said suddenly.
Kael studied her for a moment, then handed her his phone.
She took it carefully, her fingers slightly tense as her eyes scanned the screen.
At first, it didn’t make sense.
Names.
Dates.
Fragments of reports.
But then—
She saw it.
A photograph.
Blurry.
Distant.
But clear enough.
Her breath caught.
“That’s…” she whispered.
Kael nodded.
“It’s him.”
Luca.
Standing beside someone.
Not smiling.
Not relaxed.
But alert.
Focused.
Like he belonged in that world.
⸻
Arielle scrolled further.
And then—
She froze.
Because there was another name.
One she recognized instantly.
Kael.
Her eyes widened.
“Why is your name here?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kael didn’t answer immediately.
Because he didn’t have a simple answer either.
“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “But I’m going to find out.”
⸻
Arielle handed the phone back slowly, her mind spinning.
Nothing felt real anymore.
Not Luca.
Not Kael.
Not even herself.
It was like she had been living in a story where she only knew half the plot.
And now—
The missing pieces were starting to show.
⸻
“I need air,” she said suddenly.
Kael didn’t stop her this time.
He just watched her go.
Because he knew—
This wasn’t something she could process in that room.
⸻
Outside, the world felt too normal.
Too calm.
Cars passed.
People talked.
Life continued like nothing had changed.
But for Arielle—
Everything had.
She walked without direction, her thoughts loud, chaotic.
And then—
Her phone vibrated.
She stopped instantly.
Her heart racing as she looked down.
One message.
Unknown number.
But somehow—
She already knew.
She opened it.
And her breath caught.
“Stop looking into things you don’t understand.”
A pause.
Then another message.
“You’re not safe anymore.”
Arielle’s hands trembled slightly.
Her eyes scanned her surroundings instinctively.
Suddenly—
The world didn’t feel normal anymore.
It felt watched.
Across the street, a car sat quietly.
Engine running.
Windows tinted.
And inside—
Someone was watching her.
- Writer
