Chapter 5: Who's that?
414 Words
Chapter 5: Who's that?
Anya jolted awake to the insistent buzz of her phone alarm. 7:00 AM. She glanced at Miguel's empty bed he’d already left for school. A sigh escaped her lips two exams loomed today. The familiar knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach. She showered quickly, the water a lukewarm comfort against the rising pressure.The school hallways felt strangely quiet as she hurried to her first exam. The questions seemed to blur, a relentless tide of information she hadn't quite managed to fully grasp. She finished, a nagging feeling of inadequacy clinging to her like a second skin. The second exam proved little better. A wave of exhaustion washed over her she desperately wished she'd had more time to review. All she could do now was hope.
Lunchtime arrived,but Liz was nowhere to be found. This was unusual Liz was always punctual, always there with her bright smile and easy laughter. Anya searched high and low, a growing unease twisting in her gut. Text messages went unanswered. The cheerful chatter of the cafeteria faded into a dull hum as Anya's worry intensified. She sent another message, a desperate plea for a response. Nothing. The weight of unanswered questions pressed down on her. With a heavy heart, she decided to head home.
The familiar scent of adobo simmering on the stove offered little solace. Dinner for Miguel, a small act of normalcy in a day that felt anything but.
The club was bustling with its usual Friday night energy. Anya moved through the crowd, a blur of motion as she served drinks and snacks, the rhythmic clinking of glasses a counterpoint to the thumping bass. Her manager’s summons to his office felt like a jarring interruption, a sudden shift in the familiar rhythm of her evening. She nodded, promising to come by later, and returned to her duties. But as she weaved through the throng of bodies, a chilling sensation prickled her skin. She felt a gaze upon her, persistent and unsettling. Turning, she scanned the room, but found nothing. Just the usual night crowd, lost in their own worlds. Or were they? As she reached for a bottle of San Miguel, a shadow detached itself from the back of the room, moving with an unnerving grace. A figure emerged, their face obscured by the dim lighting, but Anya felt a cold dread grip her heart. The figure raised a hand, a glint of metal flashing in the low light… a knife.
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