Secrets

Chapter 21 - Eye-Opener

Mia sat down heavily on the edge of her bed, her legs trembling beneath her. The adrenaline that had surged through her moments ago was ebbing away, leaving a cold emptiness in its wake. 

She couldn't stop replaying the scene in her mind: the figure's stillness, the oppressive weight of its gaze, the way it seemed to acknowledge her before disappearing.

Her fingers brushed the scar on her wrist absentmindedly, her thoughts drifting to Gabriel. His cryptic warnings felt more like riddles now, fragments of a bigger picture she couldn't piece together. 

Was that what he was talking about? Did he know something like this would happen?

The questions spiraled, each one more unsettling than the last. She needed answers, but where could she find them? Gabriel was an option, but asking him meant admitting she needed him. She clenched her fists at the thought, her pride warring with the growing dread that this was bigger than she could handle alone.

The silence in her room felt oppressive, the faint hum of the city outside barely cutting through the tension in her chest. She got up and started pacing, her bare feet padding against the floor. Her mind ran through every interaction, every cryptic word Gabriel had said to her. If you see something you shouldn't, call me.

Her phone sat on the nightstand, the screen dark and silent. She stared at it, her pulse pounding in her ears.

Should I call him? Would he even tell me the truth?

Before she could make a decision, her phone buzzed suddenly, the vibration loud in the quiet room. She jumped, her heart leaping into her throat as she scrambled to grab it. The screen lit up with a name she hadn't expected.

Gabriel.

Her hand hesitated over the screen. How does he always know? 

Finally, she answered, pressing the phone to her ear.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice sharp, though it trembled slightly.

Gabriel's tone was calm, almost amused. "Isn't that the question of the hour? But I could ask you the same thing. Did you see it?"

Her stomach twisted, her grip tightening on the phone. "See what?"

"The thing that doesn't belong," he said, his tone losing its humor. "I told you, Mia. If something felt... wrong, you should call me."

She stiffened, her frustration bubbling over. 

"How do you know about it? You knew this would happen, didn't you? That's why you called earlier."

There was a pause, and when he spoke again, his voice was quieter, almost resolute. 

"Let's just say I've been expecting this to happen for some time"

Her jaw clenched. "Why can't you just give me a straight answer for once? What was that thing? Why was it watching me?"

Gabriel sighed, the sound heavy with something she couldn't quite place. 

"It was a warning," he said finally. "A reminder that you're still been watched. The shadows are stirring, and you're standing in the middle of the storm."

Her chest tightened, fear threading its way through her anger. "What does that even mean?"

"It means we don't have time for this conversation over the phone," he said briskly, his tone shifting. "I'll be at the apartment shortly. You should prepare your little trio. We have things to discuss."