Chapter one: Uptown
850 Words
The first thing Olivia Hart noticed was the note.
It was lying on her desk when she entered Lecture Hall B.
A single sheet of paper.
Folded neatly.
No name.
No signature.
No explanation.
Her stomach tightened.
Slowly, she unfolded it.
The handwriting was sharp and deliberate.
Stay away from the scholarship competition.
Olivia stared at the words.
Then laughed.
Someone was obviously trying to intimidate her.
Unfortunately for them, Olivia Hart wasn't easily intimidated.
She crumpled the note and tossed it into her bag.
Still, a strange feeling lingered in her chest.
Who would send something like that?
And why?
"Morning, genius."
Maya dropped into the seat beside her.
Olivia slid the note deeper into her bag.
"Morning."
"You look worried."
"I'm not."
"You always say that when you are."
Olivia forced a smile.
Before Maya could ask more questions, the professor entered.
The lecture began.
But Olivia couldn't concentrate.
Every few minutes, her mind drifted back to the note.
Stay away from the scholarship competition.
The words echoed inside her head.
Whoever sent it knew she was competing.
And they clearly wanted her out.
The thought was unsettling.
After class ended, students poured into the hallway.
Olivia headed toward the library.
Studying usually helped clear her mind.
Today it didn't.
The note continued bothering her.
Halfway across campus, she felt it.
The strange sensation that someone was watching her.
She stopped walking.
Turned around.
Nothing.
Students crossed the courtyard.
Others sat on benches talking.
Everything appeared normal.
Yet the feeling remained.
Someone was there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Olivia quickly continued walking.
By the time she reached the library, her heartbeat had sped up.
"Get a grip," she muttered.
"It was just a stupid note."
The library was quiet.
Comfortably quiet.
She settled into her usual seat near the window and opened her laptop.
Hours passed.
Students came and went.
The sky gradually darkened.
Soon evening shadows stretched across the campus.
Olivia finally packed her books.
She was one of the last students remaining.
The library felt unusually empty.
As she walked through the rows of shelves, a loud crash echoed somewhere behind her.
She froze.
A book had fallen.
At least that's what she assumed.
Slowly, she turned.
No one.
The aisle was empty.
A chill crawled down her spine.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Her voice seemed to disappear between the towering shelves.
Nothing moved.
Nothing answered.
After several seconds, Olivia shook her head.
She was imagining things.
The note had simply made her paranoid.
She turned to leave.
Then stopped.
Another piece of paper sat on the floor beside her backpack.
Her blood ran cold.
It hadn't been there before.
She was certain.
Hands trembling slightly, she picked it up.
The message contained only six words.
This is your final warning.
Olivia stared.
Her heart pounded violently.
Someone had placed this here.
Recently.
Maybe only seconds ago.
She spun around.
The library remained empty.
No footsteps.
No voices.
Nothing.
The silence felt wrong.
Almost dangerous.
Olivia shoved the note into her bag and hurried toward the exit.
Outside, night had fallen over Uptown.
Campus lights illuminated the pathways.
Students walked in groups.
Laughter echoed from nearby buildings.
For a moment, Olivia felt relieved.
She wasn't alone anymore.
Then she noticed someone standing across the courtyard.
Watching her.
A tall figure dressed in black.
The person stood completely still.
As if waiting.
Olivia couldn't see their face.
The distance was too great.
Fear twisted inside her chest.
When another group of students walked between them, she looked away briefly.
Only for a second.
When she looked back—
The figure was gone.
Completely gone.
Olivia's pulse quickened.
She scanned the area.
Nothing.
No sign of anyone.
The courtyard was crowded.
Yet somehow the stranger had vanished.
A cold breeze swept across campus.
Olivia suddenly wanted to go home.
Fast.
She adjusted her bag and headed toward the bus stop.
As she turned a corner, she nearly collided with someone.
Strong hands caught her shoulders before she could fall.
Olivia looked up.
Ethan Cole.
For once, his expression wasn't cold.
It was concerned.
"What happened?" he asked.
Olivia blinked.
"What?"
"You look terrified."
She immediately stepped back.
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
The certainty in his voice surprised her.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Ethan's gaze shifted to her bag.
Specifically, to the corner of the folded note sticking out.
His eyes darkened.
The change was instant.
Almost alarming.
"You received one too."
Olivia froze.
The world seemed to stop.
"What did you just say?"
For the first time since she'd known him, Ethan looked genuinely uneasy.
He glanced around the courtyard.
As though checking whether someone was listening.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Go home, Olivia."
"What?"
"Just go home."
His jaw tightened.
"And whatever happens..."
His gaze locked onto hers.
"...don't open any messages from unknown numbers tonight."
Before Olivia could ask another question, Ethan walked away.
Leaving her standing alone beneath the campus lights.
Confused.
Frightened.
And with more questions than answers.
Far away, hidden in the darkness beyond the university gates, someone watched them both.
And smiled.
- Writer
