Chapter 6: Don’t Wear That Pendant
999 Words
Liam crossed the street so quickly that Chloe barely had time to react.
“Give it to me.”
His voice was low, but there was an urgency she’d never heard before.
Chloe instinctively tightened her grip around the silver pendant.
“What?”
“The pendant.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“Just give it to me.”
His eyes never left the small crescent-shaped charm in her palm.
For a second, Chloe wondered if he’d even noticed she was standing there.
It was as if the pendant mattered more than anything else.
“I found it on the sidewalk,” she said. “It belongs to your friend.”
“Aiden.”
“So his name is Aiden.”
Liam exhaled slowly.
“Yes.”
“I was going to return it.”
“I will.”
He reached for it.
Chloe pulled her hand back.
“No.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“No?”
“I’ve asked you question every time we’ve met, Liam.”
“And?”
“You never answer them.”
“I answer some.”
“The easy ones.”
A muscle twitched in his jaw.
People bustled past them on the sidewalk, unaware of the tension hanging between the two.
Chloe folded her arms.
“So tell me why this pendant has you acting like the world is ending.”
“I can’t.”
“You won’t.”
“There are things you wouldn’t understand.”
Her expression hardened.
“You keep saying things like that.”
“I’m trying to protect you.”
She laughed, though there wasn’t much humor in it.
“From a necklace?”
“It’s not a necklace.”
“Then what is it?”
Liam looked away, scanning the street as though expecting someone.
When he looked back at her, his voice had softened.
“Please.”
The single word caught her off guard.
He wasn’t demanding.
He was asking.
Begging, almost.
Before Chloe could answer, her phone vibrated.
It was her manager.
“Chloe!” he shouted from inside the café. “Break’s over!”
She glanced toward the entrance, then back at Liam.
“I have to work.”
“So do I.”
“Then this conversation isn’t over.”
“No.”
“It isn’t.”
She slipped the pendant into the pocket of her apron.
“I’ll give it back after my shift.”
Liam’s shoulders tensed.
“Don’t.”
“What?”
“Don’t wear it.”
“I’m not wearing it.”
“Good.”
He hesitated.
“And whatever you do…”
His eyes met hers.
“…don’t let anyone else see it.”
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Chloe watched him disappear into the crowd.
“What is going on with you?” she whispered.
⸻
The afternoon dragged by.
Customers came and went.
Coffee machines hissed.
Plates clattered.
Yet Chloe couldn’t stop touching the pendant through the fabric of her apron.
She had no idea why.
It was just a piece of silver.
Wasn’t it?
By the time her shift ended, the sun had already begun to set.
She changed out of her uniform, slipped on a light jacket, and headed toward the bus stop.
The streets were quieter than usual.
The missing hiker was all anyone seemed to be talking about.
Two women standing nearby lowered their voices.
“They found footprints.”
“What kind?”
“The police won’t say.”
“They’ve closed the trails.”
“My cousin said it looked like an animal attack.”
Chloe looked away.
People always come up with wild stories.
Florida had alligators.
Panthers.
Even black bears.
There was always a reasonable explanation.
A cool breeze swept through the street.
She shivered.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number
She answered.
“Hello?”
“Don’t go home yet.”
Liam.
She stopped walking.
“What?”
“I need to see you.”
“You’ve got a strange way of asking.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
She glanced around.
“Where are you?”
“Across the street.”
She looked up.
He was standing beneath a streetlamp, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket.
He looked exhausted.
Like he hadn’t slept.
She crossed the road.
“You’ve been following me?”
“I’ve been making sure you’re safe.”
“Liam, you’re starting to scare me.”
“I know.”
His honesty disarmed her again.
He ran a hand through his dark hair.
“I owe you an explanation.”
Finally.
She folded her arms.
“I’m listening.”
Before Liam could speak, his phone rang.
He ignored it.
It rang again.
Then a third time.
He sighed and answered.
“What?”
His expression changed instantly.
“What do you mean he’s gone?”
…
“When?”
…
“I’m on my way.”
He ended the call.
“What happened?” Chloe asked.
Liam looked at her, his face pale.
“It’s Aiden.”
“What about him?”
“He’s disappeared.”
A cold silence settled between them.
Then Liam did something completely unexpected.
He stepped closer and gently took Chloe’s hand.
“If anyone asks about that pendant…”
His grip tightened just enough for her to understand how serious he was.
“…tell them you never found it.”
“Liam—”
“I mean it.”
She stared into his eyes.
For the first time since they’d met…
She saw fear.
Not fear for himself.
Fear for her.
Then he let go, turned, and ran toward a waiting black SUV that sped away into the growing darkness.
Chloe stood frozen on the sidewalk.
Confused.
Worried.
And clutching the pendant hidden inside her jacket.
She didn’t notice the pair of glowing amber eyes watching her from the shadows of a nearby alley.
But whoever—or whatever—owned those eyes had already caught her scent.
- Writer
