# Episode 8: Someone Is Watching
821 Words
Amara read the message again.
Meet me behind Founder Hall in ten minutes.
You deserve to know the truth about Ethan.
Then...
Come alone.
Her stomach twisted.
Lily grabbed her wrist.
"Delete it."
"What if it's important?"
"If it's important, they wouldn't ask you to meet them alone in the dark."
Amara knew she was right.
Every instinct told her to ignore it.
Yet curiosity whispered louder.
What if Ethan had been lying to her about more than just another girl?
What if there was something she needed to know?
"I'll just take a quick look," Amara said.
Lily stared at her.
"You literally heard nothing I just said."
"I won't go all the way."
"I'll stay where there are people."
"I just want to see if anyone's there."
Lily sighed.
"I'm coming with you."
"The message said alone."
"I don't care what the creepy anonymous texter wants."
Before Amara could argue, Lily had already started walking.
---
From across the Night Market, Kael watched them change direction.
"They're leaving," he said quietly.
Ronan glanced up.
"They're heading toward Founder Hall."
Kael frowned.
"At this hour?"
Something felt off.
Very off.
His phone buzzed.
An alert from campus security.
Unauthorized access detected near the north gardens. Patrol investigating.
Kael's expression hardened.
"Stay here," Ronan said.
"I'll check the alert."
"No."
Kael was already moving.
"You take the north gardens."
"I'm going after Amara."
---
The lively sounds of the Night Market faded behind them.
The pathways became quieter.
The decorative lights grew farther apart.
"I officially hate this idea," Lily muttered.
"You've mentioned that."
"Three times."
"Six."
Amara smiled nervously.
"Thanks for coming."
"As if I'd let you wander around alone."
They rounded the corner toward Founder Hall.
The ancient building stood silent beneath the moonlight.
No students.
No music.
No mysterious stranger waiting.
"See?" Lily folded her arms.
"It was probably a prank."
Amara looked around.
"I guess so."
Just as she reached for her phone...
A voice drifted through the trees.
"Amara."
She froze.
It wasn't loud.
It was barely above a whisper.
But she had definitely heard it.
"Lily..."
"Did you hear that?"
Lily frowned.
"Hear what?"
"My name."
"I didn't hear anything."
The whisper came again.
Closer this time.
"Amara..."
Goosebumps spread across her arms.
---
Hidden among the trees, a hooded figure watched quietly.
Not tonight.
The order had been clear.
Observe.
Do not approach.
Do not engage.
Still...
The girl looked exactly like the old portraits.
The resemblance was impossible to ignore.
The hooded figure slowly lifted a phone and typed a single message.
Target confirmed.
Then disappeared into the darkness.
---
Kael arrived just in time to see Amara looking toward the woods.
He followed her line of sight.
Nothing.
But his senses caught something else.
A faint scent.
Someone had been there only moments ago.
Too late.
They were gone.
He clenched his jaw.
Whoever was watching her had become bolder.
"Amara."
She turned in surprise.
"Oh."
"Kael."
"What are you doing here?"
She hesitated.
"I..."
Lily answered for her.
"Someone sent her anonymous messages."
Kael's expression changed instantly.
"What messages?"
Amara showed him her phone.
He read every word carefully.
His face remained calm.
His eyes did not.
"When did you receive this?"
"About fifteen minutes ago."
"Has the number called?"
"No."
"Answered any messages?"
"No."
"Good."
He handed the phone back.
"You shouldn't be here."
Lily nodded vigorously.
"See? Even Mr. Campus President agrees with me."
Amara sighed.
"I know."
"I just thought..."
"You wanted answers," Kael finished quietly.
She looked at him in surprise.
"Yes."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Kael said something that caught her completely off guard.
"Sometimes..."
"...the people who promise answers are the ones hiding the most dangerous secrets."
His words settled heavily between them.
Amara searched his face.
There it was again.
That look.
Like he knew far more than he was willing to say.
Before she could ask another question, Ronan jogged toward them.
His expression was serious.
"Kael."
"What is it?"
"We found footprints near the north gardens."
"Student?"
Ronan shook his head.
"No."
"They start inside campus..."
"...and disappear at the barrier."
Kael's eyes darkened.
"I'll be there."
Ronan noticed Amara and Lily watching them.
He immediately changed his tone.
"Probably just someone climbing the fence."
Kael gave the slightest nod.
"I'll check it out."
He turned back to Amara.
"Walk back with the crowd."
"No shortcuts."
"No isolated paths."
She frowned.
"Are you always this bossy?"
For the first time, a genuine smile appeared on his face.
"Only when someone ignores good advice."
Amara found herself smiling back.
She didn't understand why...
But somehow, she trusted him.
Far more than she probably should.
Neither of them noticed the figure watching from the roof of Founder Hall.
A camera clicked softly.
One photograph.
Then another.
By morning...
The entire university would believe Kael Draven Vale had a new girlfriend.
- Writer
