Chapter 3: Watching
708 Words
Amara didn’t breathe.
She just stared at the photo on her phone.
It was her.
From behind.
Sitting in the café.
The timestamp showed it was taken less than a minute ago.
Her heart began pounding so loudly she was sure people around her could hear it.
Slowly — very slowly — she lifted her head.
The café suddenly felt different.
Too loud.
Too crowded.
Too exposed.
Who took it?
Her eyes scanned the room.
The couple near the window were arguing quietly.
Two students were studying.
An older man typed on his laptop.
No one looked suspicious.
But someone had been watching her.
Her phone buzzed again.
Another message.
Unknown Number:
"You have no idea who he is."
Her fingers trembled.
Who he is?
This wasn’t random.
This was about Ethan.
She stood abruptly, chair scraping against the floor. A few people glanced at her, then looked away.
Think, Amara.
Ethan told you to be careful.
He knew something.
And he left right before this happened.
Was that a coincidence?
Or was he protecting her?
Or…
Was he the reason she was being watched?
Her chest tightened at the thought.
No.
The way he looked at her — that wasn’t fake.
Was it?
Her phone buzzed again.
This time, it wasn’t a text.
It was a call.
Unknown Number.
The same one.
Her pulse raced.
She hesitated.
Then answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Just faint static.
“Who is this?” she demanded, trying to sound braver than she felt.
A low voice finally spoke.
“You shouldn’t trust him.”
Her blood ran cold.
“What are you talking about?”
A soft, almost amused exhale came through the speaker.
“He destroys everything he touches.”
The call ended.
Amara stared at the screen.
Call duration: 12 seconds.
Her mind raced.
Destroys everything he touches?
That wasn’t just jealousy.
That sounded like a warning.
Or a threat.
The café door suddenly opened again.
Her head snapped up.
Ethan walked back in.
But he didn’t look calm anymore.
He looked furious.
His eyes scanned the room quickly — searching.
For her.
When they landed on Amara, something unreadable flashed across his face.
Relief.
Then anger.
He walked straight toward her.
“Did you get a message?” he asked sharply.
Her stomach dropped.
“How do you know about that?”
His jaw clenched.
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
His eyes darkened instantly.
“What did it say?”
“That I shouldn’t trust you.”
Silence fell between them.
The air felt heavy.
Dangerous.
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, pacing once like he was fighting something inside himself.
“I told you to stay away,” he muttered.
“From what?” she snapped. “From you?”
His eyes met hers.
And for the first time since she met him…
She saw fear.
Not for himself.
For her.
“This isn’t safe,” he said quietly. “You need to go home. Now.”
“You don’t get to order me around,” she fired back. “If I’m in danger, I deserve to know why.”
He stepped closer.
Too close.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“They’re not bluffing.”
Her heart stuttered.
“They?” she repeated.
He realized his mistake the second the word left his mouth.
“Ethan…” her voice trembled. “Who is ‘they’?”
Before he could answer—
A loud crash exploded behind them.
The café window shattered.
Glass sprayed across the floor.
Screams filled the room.
Amara froze.
On the floor near the broken glass…
Was a brick.
Wrapped in paper.
Everyone panicked.
But Ethan didn’t look shocked.
He looked like he expected it.
Slowly, he walked over and picked up the paper attached to the brick.
He unfolded it.
His expression turned deadly still.
Amara’s voice shook. “What does it say?”
He didn’t answer.
She stepped closer and saw it herself.
Three words written in bold black ink:
“Last warning.”
When she looked up at Ethan…
He wasn’t looking at the note.
He was looking at the street outside.
Like he knew exactly who sent it.
And like this was far from over.
- Writer
