Chapter Four – The First Disturbance
340 Words
The following evening, the city felt heavier. Snow had softened into slush, dragged across sidewalks in gray streaks. Footsteps lingered longer than they should.
Buddy reached the hallway outside his apartment—
And stopped.
A package lay open on the floor.
Contents scattered.
Out of place.
And there she was.
Kneeling beside it, gathering things too quickly. Her movements lacked rhythm—papers slipping, objects knocking lightly against each other. Her hair fell forward, half-hiding her face as she muttered something under her breath.
Not composed.
Not controlled.
Wrong.
Buddy stepped forward.
He didn’t announce himself.
Just moved.
Bent down.
Picked up one of the heavier items before it could slide further across the floor.
Set it beside her.
“Let me.”
His voice was steady.
Too steady for the moment.
She flinched—just slightly.
Looked up.
For a second, she didn’t speak.
Then—
“Thank you,” she said, softer now.
Relief, but something else beneath it.
He didn’t respond.
Just continued—one item, then another. Precise. Efficient. Restoring order piece by piece.
Their hands almost touched once.
He pulled back first.
Too quickly.
The motion lingered longer than the contact would have.
When everything was gathered, he stood.
So did she.
For a moment, neither moved.
Her eyes stayed on him.
Not searching this time.
Not observing.
Holding.
Like she had found something she wasn’t expecting to.
Buddy gave a short nod—barely there—
and turned.
Too fast.
The door opened.
Closed.
The lock slid into place.
Click.
Silence.
But not clean.
Not complete.
He stood there, just inside.
Didn’t move further into the apartment.
Didn’t return to the routine waiting for him.
Something followed him in.
Not her.
Not exactly.
But close enough.
His hand hovered near the counter.
Didn’t settle.
Didn’t begin.
Behind him—
nothing.
And still—
he felt it.
That same shift.
Small.
Controlled.
But no longer ignorable.
His gaze lifted.
Not to the door.
To the mirror.
«О, она станет чем-то особенным.»
He didn’t look away.
- Writer
