Chapter 15:
Sleep refused to come.
Amara lay awake on the couch, staring at the faint crack on the ceiling, listening to the steady hum of the refrigerator and the occasional sound of cars passing outside. The apartment felt too quiet, like it was holding its breath. Every sound seemed louder than it should be, every shadow stretching longer in the dim light.
She turned slightly and glanced toward the bedroom door.
He was in there.
That thought alone stirred something complicated inside her—comfort tangled with unease. Having him here made her feel safer, yet at the same time, it reminded her that danger was no longer something distant. It had followed them home.
Her phone buzzed softly beside her.
Amara flinched.
She picked it up slowly, heart racing, but it was only a message notification from an unknown number. The screen glowed against the darkness.
Unknown:You should have walked away when you had the chance.
Her fingers went cold.
She sat up abruptly, rereading the message, her pulse pounding in her ears. The room suddenly felt smaller, the walls pressing in.
Another message came through almost immediately.
Unknown:Curiosity has consequences.
Amara's breath hitched. She stood up quietly and walked toward the bedroom, knocking softly before pushing the door open.
He was awake.
He sat on the edge of the bed, fully dressed, his expression sharpening the moment he saw her face. "What happened?"
She handed him the phone without a word.
His jaw tightened as he read the messages. "He knows where you live."
Fear wrapped around her chest like a tightening band. "So this is real," she whispered. "Not just warnings. Not just shadows."
He stood, running a hand through his hair. "I should've moved faster. I underestimated how bold he'd be."
Amara felt anger rise, sharp