Ahce never expected her phone tracker to sound an alert from him, of all people.
The notification cut through her quiet evening, a sharp electronic chime that felt out of place in her small apartment. On her screen, Richard's signal flashed red, blinking in steady intervals like a slow, deliberate heartbeat.
For a moment, she only stared, confusion knitting her brows. Richard had told her he'd be busy with school for a few days, unreachable. His tone had been calm, reassuring. She believed him. She always believed him.
Something must have happened to him!
But the alert kept pulsing.
Location: Unknown Zone.
Status: Critical.
A hollow ache spread across her chest. "Why… why is he in danger?"
Logic tried to soothe her. Maybe it was a malfunction. Maybe the battery died. Maybe the connection dropped. But dread crept under her ribs the longer she stared at that tiny, stubborn red dot.
