Chapter 4
1426 Words
Chapter 4 – Olivia’s POV
Don’t move. Don’t breathe.
The gray eyes behind the glass are locked on me. Cold, sharp, and unblinking. My whole body goes still, every muscle tense. I’m crouched low on the floor, barely breathing, heart pounding so hard it echoes in my ears.
He can't see me. I tell myself. He can't see me. The curtain is closed.
But then, he tilts his head — slow, deliberate, like he knows I’m there.
No. No, no, no.
I crawl backward, every inch feeling like a mile, my eyes never leaving the spot where his face is. My mind is screaming at me to run, but I can’t tear my gaze away. My back hits the bed frame with a soft thud, and I suck in a sharp breath, praying he didn’t hear it.
The tapping starts again.
Tap. Tap.
It’s slow. Patient. Not like someone trying to get in. It’s more like… someone letting me know they’re there.
I press my hands to my mouth, swallowing down a whimper. He can’t get in. The door’s locked. I checked it. I checked it twice.
Another tap. This one louder.
"Olivia," he says, his voice muffled through the glass, but I hear it clear as day. Smooth, steady, like he’s used to people listening to him. “I know you’re there.”
My breath hitches.
“Come on,” he says, his tone almost… amused. “You’re smarter than this, aren’t you? Hiding? Really?”
My fingers grip the edge of the bed frame so hard my knuckles ache. My chest rises and falls with every shallow breath. Don’t answer. Don’t make a sound.
“You’re wasting time,” he says, tapping the glass again. Tap. Tap. “If I wanted in, I’d be in.”
Chills break out across my skin. How does he know I’m here?
“Five seconds,” he says calmly. “Five seconds to come to the door, or I come in.”
My heart lurches.
“Five…”
I squeeze my eyes shut, shaking my head. He’s bluffing. He has to be bluffing.
“Four…”
He can’t get in. The door is locked.
“Three…”
My eyes snap open, darting around the room. My phone. Where’s my phone?!
“Two…”
Do something, Olivia!
“One.”
Silence.
My heart feels like it’s about to explode. I wait for the sound of glass breaking, for the crash of footsteps. But it doesn’t come.
Nothing happens.
I slowly lift my head, my body stiff with fear. The tapping has stopped. I glance at the curtain, half-expecting to see his face still there.
But it’s gone.
I stay frozen for a long moment, straining my ears for any sound. Is he gone? I crawl slowly toward my purse, keeping my eyes on the balcony door. I reach inside, fingers fumbling until I feel the smooth plastic of my phone.
Yes.
I grip it tight, unlocking it with shaky fingers. Call someone. Call anyone. My mind is racing. Security. Call security.
I pull up the ship’s emergency contact, my finger hovering over the call button.
But before I can press it —
THUD.
I scream, spinning around. The sound came from the front door.
No, no, no.
Another thud, this one harder. It’s not a knock. It’s a hit.
I stumble to my feet, my breath coming in gasps. I back away, glancing between the front door and the balcony. I’m trapped.
Another hard thud against the door. The lock rattles, like someone’s trying to force it open.
What do I do? My mind is spinning. I grip my phone tighter, fingers clumsy as I hit the emergency call button. The phone rings once. Twice.
“Ship security, how can we assist you?” a calm voice answers.
“Someone’s trying to get into my room!” I gasp, my words tumbling out so fast I’m not even sure they make sense. “They’re at the door — and the balcony — I think they’re at the balcony, too!”
“Stay on the line, ma’am. What’s your cabin number?”
I spin, spotting the number on the inside of the door. “C-327,” I say, my voice shaking.
“Help is on the way. Stay on the line with me,” the woman says calmly. Her calm voice is a lifeline, grounding me.
The thudding stops.
Silence.
No. No, no, no. Silence is worse. I edge toward the front door, listening.
“Ma’am, are you still there?” the woman asks.
“Y-Yeah,” I whisper, pressing my back against the wall.
“Stay calm. Security is on the way. Do not open the door for anyone but our staff. Do you understand?”
“Y-Yes.”
My whole body is shaking. My eyes dart back to the balcony. The curtain hasn’t moved. He’s not there. He’s not there.
Then I hear it.
The sound of metal sliding.
My heart drops. The balcony door lock.
I whip my head toward the glass, my breath catching in my throat. The lock twists slowly, like someone’s on the other side, turning it.
“No,” I whisper. “No, no, no.”
The phone slips from my hand as I run. I grab a chair, drag it toward the balcony door, and shove it under the handle. My arms shake as I push it up against the glass.
“Stay out!” I scream, my voice raw with fear. “Stay out!”
The handle stops moving.
I freeze, my hands gripping the back of the chair so tight my fingers ache.
Silence.
My breathing is loud in the quiet room, every inhale and exhale ragged and sharp. I listen. Wait. Please be gone. Please be gone.
Then I hear him laugh.
Low, quiet, but so close it sends a shiver down my spine.
“Smart girl,” he says, his voice muffled through the glass. “But you can’t stay in there forever.”
Tears sting my eyes as I press my forehead against the chair. Go away. Please, just go away.
Heavy footsteps echo outside my front door. I jerk my head up, heart pounding again.
"Ship security! Open up!"
Relief crashes over me so fast I nearly collapse. I run to the door, pausing just long enough to check the peephole. Two uniformed guards stand outside. One of them raises his badge to the peephole.
“It’s safe now, ma’am,” he says, voice firm but kind. “Open the door.”
My hands are still shaking, but I undo the lock and swing the door open.
"Are you okay?" the older guard asks, stepping inside with his partner close behind him.
"He's—he's out there," I stammer, pointing to the balcony. “He tried to get in.”
The guards exchange a glance, and one of them moves to the balcony door. He checks the handle, then pulls the curtain aside in one sharp motion.
There’s nothing there.
“Are you sure, ma’am?” the second guard asks, looking at me with doubt in his eyes.
“I saw him!” I snap, voice rising with panic. “He was right there! He said my name, and—” I stop, hugging myself tightly. “He was there. He was right there.”
The older guard steps toward me, his voice calm but firm. “We’ll check the ship’s cameras, okay? See if anyone was on your balcony.”
I nod, swallowing down the panic clawing at my chest. They have to believe me. They have to.
The guards check the hallway, the balcony, and every corner of the room. No one is here.
“He’s not inside,” one of them says, sounding unconvinced.
“Keep your door locked,” the older one adds. “And if you see him again, call us immediately.”
I nod, but I don’t feel safe. Not at all.
The guards leave, locking the door behind them. I double-check it, then drag a chair in front of it, just like I did with the balcony.
My phone buzzes on the floor. A text.
Unknown number.
I pick it up, my hands trembling as I read the message.
Unknown: Told you. Should’ve listened.
My heart stops.
I drop the phone like it’s on fire, backing away.
I stare at it from across the room, breaths short and sharp, eyes wide with panic.
How did he get my number?
A new message pops up.
Unknown: See you soon, Olivia.
- Writer
