The morning didn't feel normal.
It wasn't the light.
It wasn't the air.
It was the anticipation.
Liora stood near the window, arms loosely crossed, watching the street below. Cars passed. People moved. Everything looked exactly the same.
But inside—
nothing was.
"They'll be here in ten minutes."
Adrian's voice broke the silence.
Liora turned slightly. "You've said that three times."
"I like being prepared."
"You're nervous."
"I'm not."
She raised a brow.
"…Okay, maybe a little."
That earned the smallest smile from her.
"You'll be fine," she said.
"I'm not the one they're meeting properly," he replied.
That made her pause.
Right.
This wasn't just a visit.
It was something more.
The doorbell rang.
Both of them froze for half a second.
Then Adrian moved first.
"I'll get it."
Liora straightened unconsciously, smoothing her sleeves, her heartbeat slightly faster now.
The door opened.
Voices followed.
Warm.
Familiar.
"Adrian."
A woman stepped inside first—elegant, composed, but her expression softened instantly when her eyes landed on Liora.
"So this is her."
Liora felt her breath catch slightly.
Adrian stepped aside. "Mom, Dad—this is Liora."
The man beside her nodded, his presence calm but observant.
"Liora," he said. "We've heard a lot about you."
Not formal.
Not distant.
Real.
Liora stepped forward slightly.
"It's nice to see you again," she said.
Before she could say anything more—
Adrian's mother closed the distance and gently held her hands.
"You're even more beautiful than he described," she said warmly.
Liora blinked.
That—
she wasn't expecting.
"…Thank you," she said softly.
"And you look tired," the woman added immediately.
That caught her off guard again.
"Mom," Adrian muttered.
"What?" she said lightly. "I'm just being honest."
But her tone softened.
"You've been dealing with something, haven't you?"
Liora hesitated.
Adrian stepped in.
"We'll explain everything," he said.
The conversation didn't stay light for long.
Once they were seated, the atmosphere shifted.
Adrian explained.
The calls. The voice. The persistence.
Everything.
His father listened carefully.
No interruptions.
His mother—
watched Liora.
"You shouldn't stay here," she said finally.
The words were calm.
But firm.
Liora looked at her.
"We were thinking the same," Adrian said.
"The house is safer," his father added. "Security. Space."
Liora knew what they meant.
The mansion.
The decision wasn't dragged out.
By afternoon—
they were packing.
Not everything.
Just enough.
The apartment suddenly felt smaller.
Less safe.
Liora moved quietly, placing things into a bag, her mind elsewhere.
This was happening fast.
Too fast.
"Hey."
She turned.
Adrian stood in the doorway.
"You okay?"
She nodded.
"…Yeah."
He didn't look convinced.
"You don't have to pretend with me," he said.
That made her pause.
"I'm not pretending," she replied softly.
"Then what is it?"
She hesitated.
"…It feels like running," she admitted.
Adrian stepped closer.
"It's not running," he said. "It's being careful."
"Because of him."
The words felt heavier now.
More real.
"Yes," Adrian said.
No hesitation.
The mansion stood far from the noise of the city.
Large.
Silent.
Too silent.
As the car pulled in, Liora looked up at it.
It was beautiful.
And yet—
something about it felt… distant.
Like a place that could hide things.
Inside—
everything was perfect.
Wide halls.
Soft lighting.
Quiet elegance.
"Your room is upstairs," Adrian's mother said gently. "You'll be comfortable here."
Liora nodded.
Comfortable.
That word again.
Evening settled quickly.
Boxes remained unopened.
Voices faded.
And slowly—
the house grew quiet.
Liora stood alone in her new room.
Her phone rested on the table beside her.
Silent.
For now.
----
Far away—
in a dim room—
someone smiled.
This time—
he didn't wait.
He picked up his phone.
Dialed.
The ringing echoed softly.
Then—
it connected.
"…Mom," he said gently.
Silence answered him.
But he didn't notice.
"They moved," he continued. "Just like I thought."
His voice was calm.
Happy.
"The big house."
A pause.
"I told you, didn't I?" he murmured. "She wouldn't stay there forever."
His fingers tightened slightly around the phone.
"She gets scared easily."
Silence again.
But to him—
it wasn't empty.
"I'll go there soon," he whispered.
His smile widened slightly.
"I want to see her."
A faint crackle echoed through the line.
Unnatural.
Distorted.
But he only leaned closer.
"I've waited long enough."
Another pause.
Then—
softly—
almost like a promise—
"She was always mine."
The call ended.
He lowered the phone slowly.
The screen reflected his face.
Calm.
Certain.
And for the first time—
his name appeared.
Saved.
Caius Mercer - The person behind the calls
He would always call her number, talk to her mom. Dead mom. Who died 17 years old. He would tell her about Loira, her college classmate, not very close friend but friends, he didn't have the courage to talk to her...and now it became a serious obsession...
Back in the mansion—
Liora's phone vibrated.
She froze.
Slowly—
she turned.
Incoming call.
Unknown Caller.
Her breath stilled.
Even here—
He had followed.
And this time—
he wasn't far anymore.
End of Chapter 6