Signed, Yours Truly

Chapter Four - Betrayal

(Claire's POV)

I sat on my couch, fingering the new note absentmindedly, still trying to process what the heck just happened. He was...well, he was wonderful. I have a bad feeling if he'd hadn't showed up, I would have been in a large amount of trouble. Emily was passed out in her new bed in my spare bedroom, I don't think she would have heard Milo...

But what was that man from the Metro doing in my building? Maybe he lives here, not that it was much of a coincidence but still..

"Whats wrong?" Emily mumbled from the doorway, she surprised me so much I dropped the note.

"Oh- uh." I reached down and retrieved my fallen item. "A guy I met the other day came by, he..he tried to get in."

"Seriously?" Yep, that woke her up. "Well, what happened??"

She came and sat next to me, her hazel hair billowing down her back.

I noticed in the dim yellow light the dark circles under her eyes.

"Oh, Emily." I moaned mentally.

"Well..."

I told her what happened while she watched with wide eyes.

"And you're 100% sure this was the same guy on the train and the road?"

"I'm sure." I nodded.

"And what's that say?" She pointed to the note I was holding, making me look down.

"Oh." I cringed at her bag grimmer but it was 1:30 in the morning, I can let it slide. "Someone has been leaving me letters that's been forming a longer message. Hang on--" I reached over the couch's arm and retrieved the multiple sheets of paper with cursive writing on it in black ink.

"These all spell 'Opening night - Midnight - Majestic - Row C, Se'." I held up the newest note, scanning over it. "And...this one says..-wait...whoa.."

My dear Claire

I do apologize for the mysterious reasons of my letters, but I know you are a well versed young lady for the mystery. The entire message in a nutshell is if you would please do me the honor of meeting me in the Majestic Theatre on the opening night of your musical, which is very exciting if I do say say myself, on Row C, Seat 26. I shall be waiting for you, my dove.

-Yours Truly

"-Earth to Claire." Emily waved her hands in front of my face. "You there?"

"Huh? Oh sorry," I handed her the message and stood up, stretching my tired muscles. "And.." she mused after reading it. "You intend to actually do it??"

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Tell Jared." She said matter-of-factly. "He might be the one doing this."

"Jared can't write cursive." I deadpanned.

She made a little 'O' with her mouth. "I think you have a stalker."

I let out a long sigh. "I'm going to bed. It's too late to fuss over this now."

"I think I'll join ya." She tossed the note over her shoulder and walked into her new room. "'Night."

"'Night."

-

(Protector/Eric's POV)

"And...." her step-sister mused, watching Claire. "You actually intend to do it??"

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Tell Jared." She said matter-of-factly. "He might be the one doing this."

Yeah, over my dead body. I had rushed back to the apartment building after Milo left my place, I wanted to make sure she was okay after the incident. Thankfully, she seemed okay.

"Jared can't write cursive." She replied, turning my attention back to Claire.

"I think you have a stalker." Emily stated, I mean yeah...

Claire blew out her breath, dropping her hands and letting them swing by her hips. "I'm going to bed. It's too late to fuss over this now."

"I think I'll join ya." Emily tossed my note over her shoulder and yawned. "'Night."

"'Night."

As soon as they closed their door, I climbed up to the roof. I had one more note to deliver tonight....

Jared's place was okay, no too much, not too little. Personally, way better than mine, though. I chuckled to myself at the thought and slipped by the security lights on his garage doors. To be completely honest, these home security systems are horrible. Really a dog is the best alarm. Or a peacock.

I smirked under my mask as I eased into the room through the door.

"Alexa, shut off security alarms." I whispered, knowing for sure Jared had six Alexas in his house, I had heard him use them over the phone calls he and Claire made with each other.

Setting the note on his kitchen island, I winced as something clattered in the next room. Ducking under the cabinets, I put the hood up of my jacket and waited. Listening.

Yep. The idiot was sleepwalking. It took everything in my soul not to facepalm.

He had dropped a pencil in the other room and was rambling into the living room, barely missing the couch. I shook my head and rolled my silver eyes, easing around the corner of the kitchen and stood next to the window. Jared was mumbling something incoherent but one word caught my ear: Amy.

Cou-could it be true?? Was is so good that he was freaking cheating on Claire?? Hoo boy, would I have some fun with this...