The city streets feel different now, sharper, like every shadow is watching me. I walk from the hospital lobby to the small corner café the nurse suggested, telling myself it's just a quick coffee break. The air smells of roasted beans and exhaust fumes, and I feel exposed, every pedestrian a possible threat.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Unknown number.
Walk carefully. Someone is tailing you.
I glance around. People pass me, chatting, laughing. Nothing out of place. My pulse quickens.
Yeah, because that's so helpful, I type back. Do I call the cops or just hire a ninja?
Neither. Just stay aware.
I shove the phone back into my pocket and move faster, trying not to look suspicious. Then I feel it. Footsteps. Not close, not loud, but deliberate, following my rhythm. I duck into an alley to check, but it's empty. When I step back onto the main street, the café is just ahead, its neon sign buzzing like a warning.
Inside, I order a coffee, trying to calm my nerves. I glance out the window and see a shadow lingering across the street, moving in a way that makes my stomach drop.
Did you see him? I text.
I saw him. Keep moving. He isn't done.
I sip the coffee, trembling slightly. The warmth soothes nothing. Every sip is a reminder that I survived the fire, but danger never leaves the city. And I realize that my rescuer isn't just watching; he's guiding me, playing some invisible game of protection I don't fully understand.
The door opens behind me and someone bumps past my chair. I spin, but they're gone into the crowd. My pulse spikes again. I shake my head and laugh, sarcastic and nervous. "You're imagining things," I mutter to myself. But the text buzzes again, proving I'm not imagining anything.
You're not. Trust your instincts. Keep your head down.
I leave the café, feeling both exhilarated and terrified. The city is alive around me, but I am hyper-aware. Every corner, every reflection could hide him or the one who wants me dead. I walk faster, ignoring the stares of strangers, feeling the slow burn of tension that has settled deep in my chest.