Chapter 4: Someone Is Watching
1231 Words
The next morning
Grace walked into the school premises, still shaken from the previous day's message.
Her mask and cap gave her confidence, but inside she was on edge.
She tightened her grip on her bag as she walked carefully. She kept glancing over her shoulder until she entered the classroom.
She barely noticed what was happening in class as she sat quietly.
Jack had his headset on, music blaring from it. His eyes were closed.
At first, he didn't know that Grace had arrived, but when her faint cologne hit his nostrils, he was forced to open his eyes. And he saw her.
She was visibly fidgeting.
His gaze landed on her legs, and he noticed that she was tapping her feet on the ground.
He looked at her again, and that was when another message popped in.
Grace almost dropped her phone as fear struck her. Her grip on the phone tightened. Her chest was rising and falling. She could hear her own heartbeat loud and clear.
Jack pretended not to notice, but he secretly read the message preview, The truth always comes back.
Who's threatening her? Why does she look so scared? He wondered.
Grace deleted the message quickly, but Jack already saw enough to know something dangerous was happening.
Few seats away
Marli was having a discussion with a fellow classmate. Just then, Luca showed up in front of them.
“Hey Merlin,” he flashed his usual mischievous smile.
“You're so full of mischief,” Marli shook her head while giving him a sneer.
“I know right. And that's why you like me,” Luca said.
Marli and the girl laughed.
“Says who?”
“Nobody. I just know,” Luca blinked playfully.
“Then you know nothing. You're just as dumb as ever,” Marli said dramatically.
Luca kept on teasing her until the screen came on and their homeroom teacher appeared.
“Talk to you later,” Luca said as he blew kisses playfully.
“Talk to me never. i***t!” Marli said back.
They both laughed.
Luca went back to his seat.
Short recess time
Almost half of the students had gone out for break.
Jack rested his head back, pretending to be asleep. He noticed Grace constantly checking her phone and looking around.
He quietly observed with his eyes slightly opened.
Grace dipped her hand inside her bag and fetched out the bloodstained wristwatch.
Mia's watch.
She secretly examined it again.
It's the same, she thought.
She tried to clean the blood stain, but it won't come off.
She wiped it vigorously, and just at that moment, her phone buzzed.
Merely hearing the sound, she froze.
She glanced at the screen to preview the message.
Still keeping her watch?
Her breath caught for a moment.
Her blood ran cold.
She couldn't move.
Her palms became sweaty instantly.
Someone knows I have the watch, she thought as the message glowed on the screen.
She quickly looked around the whole classroom, but no one seemed suspicious.
Then she hid the wristwatch back into her bag.
Jack saw everything.
Grace suddenly started feeling pressed, so she stood up and hurried out of the class.
Where's she going now? Jack wondered.
He thought of following her but waved it off.
A few minutes later
The door to the washroom opened and Grace stepped out. She adjusted her dress properly.
She was already walking back to the classroom when she noticed a shadowy figure watching her from a distance.
She couldn't see the person's face, but she could tell that the person was watching her.
Who is that? She wondered.
She suddenly felt the atmosphere became chilly and the cold air hit her skin.
The figure disappeared.
Her heartbeat increased, and she hurried back to the classroom.
The rest of the day passed peacefully without any drama.
Jack was at a corner, talking to his father.
“Dad I have my own house. Why should I come over to yours?” he simply asked.
“I'm your father. I have all right to tell you what to do and what not to do! Tell me, why didn't you go for the therapy session??” Mr Lachlan roared over the phone.
Jack had to take the phone away from his ear for a few seconds.
“Dad I've told you several times. I don't need a therapy. There's nothing wrong with me. I'm absolutely fine,” he replied.
“Will you shut your trap?!” Mr Lachlan barked.
“Meet me at home,”
“But dad—”
“No but. You must come, and that's final!” Mr Lachlan stated plainly and before Jack could say anything further, he hung up.
Jack closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He exhaled heavily.
“Looks like I have no choice,” he muttered as he glanced at his father's contact on the phone.
He carried his bag and was set to leave when he noticed Grace walking out of the school premises.
He decided to follow her from a distance.
Grace wasn't thinking straight.
The message and the shadow was all over her mind. Her phone buzzed again and she stopped abruptly.
Jack noticed her panicking while reading the message.
What exactly are you hiding, Grace? He thought.
Just as Grace resumed walking, Jack saw a strange man watching Grace from across the street.
Who's that? Jack thought.
Almost immediately, the man followed a thin route, and in no time, he was out of sight.
Again, Jack wondered what could be going on.
His phone suddenly rang out and he had to hid behind a big pole, so as not to be noticed by Grace.
When he checked the caller ID, it was his elder sister.
His face lit up instantly as he quickly swiped green.
“Riley!” he squealed.
“Kiddo!” a tiny feminine voice called from the other end.
“I miss you,” Jack said.
“I miss you too. Come home quickly. I'm waiting,”
Jack's eyes widened in disbelief.
“You're home?”
“Yes. I wanted to surprise you,” Riley chuckled.
“Jesus H Christ! You know what, I'm coming right away,” Jack said. His visage lighted up with a gleam.
Riley laughed softly before hanging up.
Jack suddenly remembered why he was at that spot. He looked at the direction Grace followed but she was out of sight as expected.
Maybe some other time, he shrugged.
He dialed his driver's number as he walked back towards the school.
“Meet me at the school gate,” he ordered immediately the driver picked up.
Grace's residence
She was alone in her room, sitting in front of the dressing mirror.
Her gaze was on her reflection in the mirror but her mind wasn't.
She's been thinking about the shadow and the messages.
The sound of a notification from her phone jolted her back to reality. She quickly grab her phone, only to see the most terrifying message yet.
A photo message.
In the photo, she was standing over Mia's body.
She dropped her phone in shock.
The photo was glaring in her face and she nearly screamed.
Her eyes caught the attached message, Should I send this to the police?
Her body shook in fright.
So someone was there that night? She wondered.
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