Chapter 14: The One Who Was Watching
645 Words
Arielle didn’t move.
Her eyes stayed locked on the message, her breath shallow as the words replayed in her mind.
You’re not safe anymore.
It didn’t feel like a warning.
It felt like a fact.
Slowly, she lifted her head.
The street looked the same.
People walking.
Cars passing.
Nothing unusual.
But now she saw it differently.
Every shadow felt heavier.
Every glance felt intentional.
Every second stretched too long.
⸻
Her phone vibrated again.
Another message.
“Go back inside.”
Her heart slammed against her chest.
This time, she didn’t hesitate.
She turned quickly—
And that’s when she saw it.
Across the street.
A black car.
Engine running.
Windows dark.
Still.
Waiting.
⸻
Arielle took a step back instinctively.
Her pulse racing, her instincts screaming at her to move—but her body felt caught between fear and disbelief.
This isn’t real.
But it was.
It had to be.
Because—
The car door opened.
⸻
A man stepped out.
Tall.
Composed.
Dressed in dark clothing.
For a split second, Arielle’s heart dropped in pure fear—
Until she recognized him.
“Luca…”
⸻
He didn’t walk toward her right away.
Instead, he scanned the street first.
Careful.
Alert.
Like he wasn’t just worried about her—
But about who else might be watching.
Then his eyes met hers.
And everything in his expression changed.
⸻
“Get in the car,” Luca said.
No greeting.
No explanation.
Just urgency.
⸻
Arielle didn’t move.
Not this time.
Her fear twisted into something else.
Frustration.
Confusion.
Anger.
“No,” she said, her voice unsteady but firm. “Not until you tell me what’s going on.”
Luca’s jaw tightened slightly.
“Arielle, this isn’t the time—”
“When is it then?” she cut in. “Because I’m done being in the dark, Luca!”
Silence hit hard between them.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then—
Luca exhaled slowly.
And stepped closer.
⸻
“You were never supposed to be part of this,” he said quietly.
Her chest tightened.
“That’s not an answer.”
“I know.”
His voice softened—but the tension didn’t leave his eyes.
“And I’ll explain everything. But right now, you need to trust me.”
That word again.
Trust.
It felt heavier now than it ever had before.
⸻
Arielle shook her head slightly.
“I trusted you before,” she said. “And now I’m getting messages from people telling me I’m not safe.”
Luca’s expression darkened.
“Show me.”
She hesitated, then handed him her phone.
He read the messages quickly.
And for the first time—
She saw something crack in his composure.
Not fear.
Not panic.
But something close.
⸻
“They’ve already reached you,” he muttered.
Arielle’s stomach dropped.
“They?” she repeated.
Luca looked at her again.
And this time—
He didn’t avoid the truth.
⸻
“The people who have been watching me,” he said.
Her breath caught.
“And now… they’re watching you too.”
⸻
Everything inside her went still.
Cold.
Heavy.
Real.
⸻
“Why?” she whispered.
Luca didn’t answer immediately.
Because the truth—
Was worse than she expected.
⸻
“Because of Kael.”
⸻
The name hit harder than anything else.
“What does Kael have to do with this?” she asked, her voice breaking slightly.
Luca stepped closer again, lowering his voice.
“More than you think.”
⸻
Inside the hospital, Kael stood by the window.
Watching.
His eyes fixed on the street below.
On her.
On Luca.
On everything he wasn’t supposed to see—
But now couldn’t ignore.
His phone buzzed in his hand.
A message.
Unknown sender.
Just like Arielle’s.
⸻
He opened it.
And his expression went completely still.
- Writer
