Alisha POV
It's been a week since I started school.
And I still haven't seen him.
That dark-haired guy. The one who kept appearing everywhere I went… then suddenly vanished like he was never real.
No accidental eye contact. No quiet stares.
Nothing.
But the texts?
The texts never stopped.
Unknown number. Same sender. Same unsettling feeling.
At first, I laughed it off. Then I got curious.
Now?
It creeps me out.
I've thought about blocking the number more times than I can count. Honestly, I should have done it already. But what if it's him?
What if the moment I block it is the moment I lose my only connection to the mystery that's been haunting my thoughts?
"Ali… Ali, are you there?"
Danny's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
I blinked, realizing I was in the lecture hall. Again. My notebook lay open, untouched.
The lecturer's voice droned on in the background, but I hadn't heard a single word.
"Sorry," I whispered. "Zoned out."
Sarah shot me a knowing look. "Girl, you've been doing that a lot lately."
I forced a smile and turned my attention back to the front.
That was when my phone vibrated.
My heart skipped.
Unknown Number.
I hesitated before opening it.
Ali, I keep seeing you in my dreams.
From the moment I saw you…
I just knew you were meant for me.
My stomach twisted.
Creepy.
Very creepy.
This can't be him. The guy I saw didn't give off this energy. He was quiet. Observant.
Not… obsessive.
My fingers moved before my brain could stop them.
Who are you?
Stop texting me if you won't say your name.
The reply came almost instantly.
I'm always with you.
But you're so far away.
I locked my phone.
That was it. I was officially freaked out.
The lecture finally ended, and the tension in my shoulders eased a little. Danny leaned closer, whispering something stupid about the lecturer's accent, and Sarah burst into laughter. I joined in, grateful for the distraction.
Then it happened.
The laughter died.
The room went quiet. Not the normal end-of-class quiet. This was different. Heavy. Like the air itself had shifted.
Footsteps echoed.
Slow. Calm. Confident.
My heart started racing before I even turned around.
Then I saw him.
Standing at the entrance.
Dark hair. Sharp features. That same unreadable expression. He looked exactly the same—cool, composed, dangerous in a way that made my chest tighten.
Alex.
He stepped into the lecture hall, and for a second, I swear the world narrowed down to just him and me.
He walked forward.
Straight toward us.
My breath caught.
Did he finally notice me?
Did he come for me?
God, Alisha, calm down. I almost laughed at myself. Propose? Please.
But before I could fully process the moment…
He stopped.
In front of Danny.
They grinned at each other. Laughed. Pulled into a quick hug like brothers who'd known each other forever.
My heart sank.
So much for imagination.
I looked away, embarrassed—until I felt it.
His gaze.
I looked back up.
Alex was staring at me now.
Those eyes… they weren't cold. They weren't empty either. They sparkled, like he was holding back a thousand unspoken words.
Then—just like that—he turned and walked away.
Later, I found out the truth.
Alex and Danny had been friends since kindergarten. Apparently inseparable before life pulled them apart. And apparently, Alex came with baggage.
Rumors.
Dangerous ones.
They said he came from a powerful family. That his father was a mafia leader. That Alex himself wasn't someone you wanted to get close to.
Rumors, of course.
But still…
He barely showed up to class. When he did, people whispered. Watched. Avoided him.
And yet…
That night, back in my apartment, my mind wouldn't rest.
Alex's eyes.
The rumors.
The way his presence felt like a warning I didn't understand yet.
I told myself to sleep it off.
A sharp knock hit the door.
My heart jumped.
I hesitated before opening it.
Alex stood there.
His clothes were battered in blood—almost like he'd been beaten.
For a second, I wanted to ask what happened. Wanted to ask who did this to you.
But his face didn't give anything away. No pain. No anger. Nothing.
"Do you live with a girl named Mandy?" he asked.
"Yes," I said. "She's my roommate."
"She's my sister," he said. "I'm looking for her."
"I haven't seen her today," I replied softly.
He nodded once.
"If she comes back, tell her to call me."
My phone vibrated.
I looked down.
Unknown Number: I will have you. No matter what.
My fingers curled around the phone.
Alex didn't notice.
Didn't react.
He turned and walked away.
The door closed quietly.
I stood there alone, staring at my screen.
Because whoever was texting me…
Knew exactly when to strike.