Shadows of Influence - Villanelle

Chapter 7

As Sara came home after her late - night meeting with Eve, she was now even less able to sleep, than before. She kicked her shoes off and sunk deep into her bed once again as the familiar soundtrack of ''Sex and the City'' filled her apartment. It was her fourth time watching the show on repeat, she never got tired off the show, as she always discovered something new each time she watched.

Just as she was about to lose herself in the drama unfolding on the screen, a sharp knock on the door broke the moment, startling her from her comfortable position. With a furrowed brow she glanced at the door, wondering if it was Eve who wanted to continue the investigations.

Setting aside the Laptop, she rose from the bed and made her way to the door, her heart beating with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. As she peered through the peephole, she was surprised to see a figure standing on the other side, their features obscured by the dim light off the hallway.

With a sense of caution, Sara hesitated for a moment before unlocking the door an pulling it open, revealing the unexpected visitor at her doorstep. And as she met their gaze, a sense of recognition washed over her, sending a chill down her spine.

It was the woman from the café.

As she stood before her, a mischievous grin played on the woman's lips. She carried herself with an air of confidence and self – assurance that would set her apart of any crowd.

As she looked at Sara with her trademark grin and said ''hi'', Sara couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement mingled with a tinge of apprehension.

Sara looked at the stranger with wide eyes as she took a step back. Unable to say anything she panicked, her body completely frozen.

As the woman gaze met Sara's, she tilted her head slightly, a playful glint dancing in her eyes as she took in the young agents reaction. There was a hint of amusement in her expression, as if she enjoyed the moment, savoring the uncertainty that hung in the air between them.

For a brief moment the silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the sound of Sara's racing heartbeat. She felt a surge of panic rising within her, her mind racing with a thousand questions and possibilities. But despite her best efforts, her body remained frozen in place by an invisible force. I was as the strange woman had cast a spell over her, rendering her unable to move or speak.

As the seconds ticket by, the woman's grin widened, a sense of satisfaction evident in her expression. With a playful flick of her hair, she took a step closer, closing the distance until Sara could feel the warmth of the woman's breath against her skin.

And then, just as suddenly as she had appeared, the woman turned on her heel and disappeared into the hallway, leaving Sara standing there alone.

As her figure receded down the hallway, a surge of adrenaline surged through Sara's body, dispelling the paralysis that had gripped her body moments before. With a sense of urgency, she rushed to the door, calling into the darkness.

''Wait! What are you doing!'' she shouted, her voice echoing off the walls of the hallway.

But the woman didn't stop. Instead she continued her path, her steps confident and purposeful as she disappeared around the corner, leaving Sara standing there alone, her heart pounding in her chest.

For a moment she considered giving chase, but a voice in the back of her head told her not to. Sara couldn't shake the feeling that the strange woman's presence was like a trap. Luring her into a dangerous game with unknown stakes.

As she stood there, caught between curiosity and fear, Sara was left with a single burning question: What did this woman want with her, and what role did she play in her deadly game?

As tears welled up in her eyes, she stood in the doorway, paralyzed by a mixture of fear, confusion, and a sense of vulnerability. For a moment she was torn between the urge to run after her and demand answers, and the instinct to retreat to the safety of her apartment and pretend that none of this ever happened. Deep down, she did know that none of the options would bring her the peace her mind seeked.

As she stood there grappling with her own inner turmoil, a single tear escaped from the corner of her eyes, trailing down her cheek like a silent witness to her pain. And in that moment, Sara realized that the only way forward was confronting the truth.

She took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, and mustered the courage to walk down the hallway with light but fast steps. Her steps was quick and purposeful as she turned the corner, and spotted the woman in front off the stairs leading down to the streets below. Her back was to Sara, as she was about to move down the steps.

''Wait!'' Sara called out again, her voice stronger this time.

The woman stopped in her tracks and turned around slowly, a bemused expression on her face. She watched Sara approach, her eyes twinkled with a mixture of amusement and something else she couldn't quite place.

Sara came to a stop a few feet away from her, her breath slightly ragged. ''Why are you here? What do you want from me?'' she asked, her voice a mixture of curiosity and frustration.

The woman's smile widened slightly, as she tilted her head considering the detectives question. ''I was just curious,'' she said in a casual tone yet laced with intrigue. ''You seemed interesting. And I wanted to see for myself.''

Sara frowned, trying to make sense of her cryptic response. ''Curious about what?'' she pressed, needing more answers.

The strange woman stepped closer, her gaze never leaning Sara's. ''Curious about you,'' she replied softly, her voice almost a whisper. ''People like you... you stand out''.

Her words sent a shiver down Sara's spine, and she could feel a mixture of fear and fascination. There was something undeniably magnetic about the woman, something that drew Sara in, despite the danger she sensed in her presence.

Again feeling stunned by her presence, all Sara was able to do was stare up at the woman in front off her with wide eyes, and a slightly open mouth.

The woman reached out and gently brushed away a stray lock of hair from Sara's face, her touch surprisingly gentle.

''Don't worry'' she whispered, ''I am not here to hurt you''.

The woman's words were both comforting and unsettling, leaving Sara with more questions than answers. The woman before her was a puzzle, one that she wasn't sure she wanted to solve, but couldn't seem to walk away from either.

Sara's found herself raising her hand to the woman's, who was still lingering in her hair. The woman's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly recovered, her playful grin returning. She seemed to enjoy the unexpected intimacy, her gaze locking onto Sara's with an amused, almost predator glimt.

''Bold'' she murmured, her voice low and filled with admiration.

She gently pulled her hand away, allowing Sara's to follow. For a moment they stood there in the hallway, the tension between them almost palpable. The woman's expression was a mix of curiosity and something deeper, a hint of intrigue that made her heart pound.

With that, she took a step back, giving Sara a final lingering look, before she turned to leave. ''Maybe we will see each other again'' she said over her shoulder, as she walked down the stairs, her voice carrying a playful edge.