Before You Found Me

EYES EVERYWHERE

The flash from the camera disappeared into the darkness.

Isla never noticed.

She entered her apartment, locked the door, and leaned against it.

Everything had changed in less than three days.

She was no longer just a waitress trying to survive.

Now she was connected to one of the most powerful men in the city.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown Number.

"Don't leave your apartment tomorrow."

Her heart stopped.

Before she could reply, the message vanished.

Isla stared at the screen.

"What?"

She refreshed her messages.

Nothing.

The unknown number was gone.

There was no conversation.

No message.

Nothing.

She checked again.

Still nothing.

A strange feeling crawled through her chest.

Someone had contacted her.

Someone had warned her.

And somehow, they had made the message disappear.

She slowly lowered her phone.

The apartment suddenly felt different.

The same walls surrounded her.

The same furniture.

The same small kitchen.

The same bedroom where she had spent countless nights trying to forget how lonely she felt after her grandmother's death.

But tonight...

It didn't feel like home.

It felt like a place where someone could be watching her.

Isla looked toward the window.

The curtains were closed.

She hadn't opened them since returning.

She remembered Adrian's warning.

Don't trust anyone.

She walked toward the window but stopped before touching the curtains.

"What if they're watching?"

She stepped back.

Her phone buzzed again.

This time, it was Adrian.

Are you home?

Isla stared at the message.

She quickly typed:

Yes.

His reply came almost immediately.

Did you get inside safely?

Yes.

She hesitated.

Then typed:

Something strange happened.

Three dots appeared.

What?

Isla looked at the empty space where the unknown message had been.

Someone sent me a message.

Adrian replied instantly.

What did it say?

She typed:

Don't leave your apartment tomorrow.

She waited.

No reply.

Five seconds.

Ten.

Twenty.

Then her phone rang.

Adrian.

She answered.

"Hello?"

"Tell me exactly what happened."

His voice was calm, but Isla could hear the tension underneath it.

"I received a message from an unknown number."

"What number?"

"I don't know. It disappeared."

"Did you take a screenshot?"

"No."

"Did you click anything?"

"No."

"Did the message disappear by itself?"

"Yes."

Adrian was silent.

"Isla."

"Yes?"

"Are you alone?"

She looked around the apartment.

"Yes."

"Lock every window."

"I already locked them."

"Check again."

She sighed.

"Adrian..."

"Please."

Something about his voice made her stop arguing.

She walked around the apartment.

Kitchen window.

Locked.

Living room window.

Locked.

Bedroom window.

Locked.

She returned to the phone.

"Everything is locked."

"Good."

"Why are you so worried?"

"Because whoever sent that message knew where you were."

Isla swallowed.

"They could have guessed."

"No."

"How do you know?"

"Because they told you not to leave tomorrow."

He paused.

"That means they know your routine."

Isla's stomach tightened.

Her routine.

The café.

Her apartment.

The route she took every morning.

Someone had been watching her.

She sat down on the sofa.

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Stay home tomorrow."

She frowned.

"The message said the same thing."

"Then for once, listen to it."

"You're telling me to obey the person threatening me?"

"No."

Adrian's voice became quieter.

"I'm telling you to stay home because I think whoever sent that message might know something we don't."

Isla looked toward the window again.

"What if they're trying to scare me?"

"Then we find out."

"How?"

"I'll have security monitor the building."

She shook her head.

"You can't keep watching me."

"I'm not watching you."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then why do I feel like I haven't had privacy since I met you?"

There was silence.

Then Adrian laughed softly.

"Because your life became complicated the moment you saved mine."

Isla smiled despite herself.

"That's not funny."

"I know."

The smile disappeared from her face.

"Adrian?"

"Yes?"

"Do you regret meeting me?"

He didn't answer immediately.

"No."

The word came quietly.

"Not even once?"

"Not even once."

Isla looked down.

"Even though I'm putting you in more danger?"

"You didn't put me in danger."

"Then what did I do?"

"You reminded me that there are still good people in the world."

She didn't know how to respond.

Her heart felt strangely warm.

Then Adrian continued.

"And that's exactly why I'm not going to let anyone use you against me."

Isla closed her eyes.

"You're making promises again."

"I keep my promises."

"I hope so."

"So do I."

They stayed on the phone for several minutes.

Neither seemed ready to end the call.

Finally, Adrian said,

"Try to sleep."

"I'll try."

"And Isla?"

"Yes?"

"Don't open the door for anyone tomorrow."

She frowned.

"Even if it's you?"

"Especially if it's me."

She laughed.

"Why?"

"Because if I come, you'll know it's me before I reach the door."

"How?"

"I'll call you."

She smiled.

"Goodnight, Adrian."

"Goodnight."

The call ended.

Isla placed the phone beside her.

She sat quietly for a while.

Then she remembered the message.

Don't leave your apartment tomorrow.

She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more behind it.

Someone wasn't simply threatening her.

Someone was trying to control her movements.

But why?

What were they planning for tomorrow?

She stood and walked toward her bedroom.

Before going to bed, she checked the door twice.

Then the windows again.

She turned off the lights.

The apartment became silent.

Isla climbed into bed.

She stared at the ceiling.

For some reason, she couldn't stop thinking about Adrian.

His voice.

His promise.

The way he looked at her when he told her no one would hurt her because of him.

She smiled faintly.

Then the smile disappeared.

A strange sound came from outside.

She sat up.

Silence.

She listened.

Nothing.

Maybe it was a car.

She slowly lay back down.

Then her phone lit up.

Another message.

Isla grabbed it.

You should have listened.

Her breathing stopped.

A second message appeared.

Tomorrow will change everything.

She stared at the screen.

Then a photograph appeared.

It was her.

Standing outside the café.

But this photograph was different.

It had been taken from across the street.

She could clearly see herself talking to Adrian.

She zoomed in.

Adrian was standing beside her.

Someone had been watching them.

She immediately called Adrian.

He answered after one ring.

"Isla?"

"They sent another message."

"What did they send?"

"A photograph."

"Of what?"

"Me."

"Where?"

"Outside the café."

Silence.

Then Adrian asked,

"Is there anything else?"

"You're in the photograph."

His voice changed.

"Send it to me."

She did.

A few seconds passed.

"Adrian?"

"I'm here."

"What is it?"

"I know this location."

"Where?"

"Across from your café."

Her heart dropped.

"What does that mean?"

"It means someone has been watching you for longer than we thought."

Isla sat completely still.

"How long?"

"I don't know."

"Adrian..."

"I'm coming."

"No."

"Isla-"

"You said you were going to keep me safe."

"I am."

"Then don't come here."

He was silent.

"Please."

Another pause.

"Fine."

His voice softened.

"But my security team will stay nearby."

"Okay."

"And tomorrow, you're not going anywhere."

She sighed.

"Okay."

The call ended.

Isla placed her phone beside her.

She looked toward the curtains.

For the first time, she wondered if someone was standing behind them.

She didn't move.

She simply stared.

Across the street, on the rooftop of an unfinished building, a man lowered his camera.

He looked at the photograph on his screen.

Isla was visible through her bedroom window.

He smiled.

His phone rang.

"Yes?"

A voice spoke on the other end.

"Did she receive the message?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"She's scared."

"Good."

The man looked toward Isla's apartment.

"Should we move tonight?"

"No."

A pause.

"Tomorrow."

The man smiled.

"Understood."

He ended the call.

Then he looked at the apartment one last time.

"Sleep well, Miss Bennett."

He packed away his camera.

"Tomorrow, you'll understand why we warned you."

Inside her apartment, Isla finally closed her eyes.

She had no idea what tomorrow would bring.

She only knew one thing.

Someone was watching.

Someone was waiting.

And somewhere in the darkness...

A plan was already in motion.