Feelings unknown
1389 Words
Chapter 4
I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being watched.
It starts small — a flicker of movement from the corner of my eye, a shift in the shadows outside my window. I tell myself it’s nothing. Probably a stray cat or the wind blowing the tree branches. But the feeling sticks, crawling up my spine like icy fingers.
I pull my blanket tighter around me, eyes locked on the window. It's too quiet. No music, no background hum of the TV. Just the sound of my own breathing.
“Get a grip, Victoria,” I mutter to myself, rubbing my arms for warmth.
I push away from the window, determined to stop being paranoid. It’s just winter playing tricks on me. That’s all.
But then a loud knock echoes from the front door.
I freeze.
Three knocks. Not fast, not slow. Steady. Deliberate.
I grab my phone off the bed, fingers trembling as I check the time — 11:47 p.m. Who the heck is knocking at this time?
Another knock. Harder this time.
I tiptoe toward the living room, every step careful, like I’m walking on glass. My heart pounds in my chest so loud I’m sure whoever’s at the door can hear it. I peek through the peephole, expecting to see nothing but darkness.
Instead, I see him.
Neo Blackwood, leaning against the porch railing, hands stuffed in his coat pockets. His head is down, but I’d recognize that lazy stance anywhere. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“What are you doing here?” I hiss as I open the door just wide enough to glare at him.
He lifts his head, a grin already in place. “What? No warm welcome?”
“Neo, it’s midnight,” I snap, keeping my voice low so I don’t wake my mom. “Are you seriously knocking on my door like a serial killer?”
He raises his hands in mock surrender. “Relax, sweetheart. I’m here to talk.”
“Don’t call me that,” I say, stepping aside just enough for him to slip in. He does, brushing past me with that same casual confidence he always has. I shut the door behind him, locking it twice.
He pulls off his jacket, revealing a black hoodie underneath. Snowflakes melt on his hair, making it look like he’s just walked out of a Christmas movie. Too bad he’s more villain than hero.
“Why are you here, Neo?” I cross my arms, narrowing my eyes at him.
He smirks, tossing his jacket on the back of the couch like he owns the place. “Missed you.”
“Try again,” I deadpan. “The truth this time.”
He chuckles, running a hand through his damp hair. “Alright, fine. I figured you’d be up thinking about me, so I decided to make your night.”
“Neo.” I step in front of him, blocking his path to the kitchen. “Tell me. The real reason.”
For a moment, his grin falters. His eyes, usually full of mischief, shift to something more serious. He looks me over like he’s deciding whether or not to say something.
“Derek told me to stay away from you,” he says finally, his voice quieter than I’ve ever heard it. “But I’m not really good at following orders.”
My stomach twists. “Derek told you to stay away from me? Why?”
He tilts his head, a crooked smile tugging at his lips. “Because he knows I’m no good for you.”
Silence hangs between us, thick and heavy. My heart beats too fast, and I don’t know if it’s from fear, confusion, or something worse.
“Then why are you here, Neo?” I whisper, staring him down.
His grin returns, slow and sharp. “Because I’m no good at walking away, either.”
The air shifts, suddenly too warm, too close. He steps forward, and for a second, I forget how to breathe. His gaze pins me in place, and I hate that I feel it — that rush of adrenaline, the thrill of being near him.
But I won’t fall for it.
“Back up,” I say firmly, putting my hand on his chest and pushing him away. “I’m not one of your little games.”
His eyes flicker, just for a second. “I know that, Victoria.”
“Do you?” I challenge, my voice sharper now. “Because it sure feels like you’re playing me just like every other girl you mess with.”
Neo doesn’t move, doesn’t smirk, doesn’t c***k a joke. He just stares at me, his jaw tight, like I’ve hit a nerve.
“Believe what you want,” he says quietly. “But you’re not like them. You never were.”
The weight of his words sinks into my chest, but I’m not ready to let him win. I point to the door. “Go home, Neo. I’m done playing this game.”
He looks at me for a long time, his eyes searching mine for something. When he doesn’t find it, he nods once, grabs his jacket, and heads for the door.
He stops with his hand on the doorknob. “Be careful, Victoria,” he says, glancing over his shoulder. “Not everyone’s as honest as me.”
I blink, caught off guard. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
But he’s already gone, the door clicking shut behind him.
I stand there, frozen, his words circling in my head. Not everyone’s as honest as me.
I don’t know if that was a warning, a threat, or something worse.
---
The next morning, the world is blanketed in snow. I stare out the window, watching the soft flakes fall quietly to the ground. It’s peaceful, the kind of peace that only comes before something bad happens.
My phone buzzes on my desk. It’s a text from Derek.
Derek: We need to talk. Meet me at Blackwood Ridge.
My heart does that weird, traitorous flip again. Blackwood Ridge is on the edge of town, where the forest starts. It’s a quiet, private spot. People only go there if they don’t want to be seen.
Me: Why?
He replies instantly.
Derek: Just be there.
I chew on my bottom lip, debating whether to go. My brain says don’t do it, but something tells me this isn’t a request. Derek doesn’t do requests.
---
By the time I reach Blackwood Ridge, the snow has started falling harder, thick flakes swirling in the wind. I spot Derek leaning against a tree, his black coat stark against the white background.
“You’re late,” he says as I approach.
“It’s snowing, Sherlock,” I snap, pulling my hood tighter around my head. “What’s so urgent that you dragged me out here?”
He pushes off the tree, his eyes sharper than usual. “Neo came to see you last night, didn’t he?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “How do you know that?”
His jaw tenses. “He’s predictable.”
“Then why are you worried?” I ask, crossing my arms. “What’s going on, Derek? And don’t give me the ‘it’s complicated’ speech.”
He takes a step toward me, and for the first time, I see something in him that’s not calm or controlled. It’s fear.
“There are people watching us, Victoria,” he says, his voice deadly serious. “They’re watching you.”
My stomach drops. “What?”
He moves closer, so close I can feel the heat coming off him despite the cold. “I don’t know who they are yet, but Neo and I... we’re not the only ones keeping an eye on you.”
“Why?” I whisper, suddenly feeling like I’m being watched even now.
“I don’t know,” he admits, his gray eyes hard like steel. “But I’m going to find out.”
His words send a chill down my spine colder than the snow. Suddenly, I’m not sure if I’m standing in a quiet forest anymore. It feels like I’m in the middle of something much, much bigger.
And I have no idea how to get out.
- Writer
