The Eyes On Me

Chapter 12: Shadows in the Light

The walk home from the library felt longer tonight, the air heavy and oppressive. My mind was a storm of unanswered questions, Zane’s words swirling in the chaos.

“There are forces at play that are more dangerous than you realize.”

I gripped the journal tighter in my hands as I hurried along the dimly lit street, my senses heightened. Every rustle of wind, every flicker of movement from the shadows sent a shiver down my spine.

I didn’t know what to believe anymore—Zane, the journal, or even myself.

When I finally reached my apartment, I let out a breath I didn’t know I had been holding. The familiar warmth of my space greeted me, but tonight it didn’t feel like the sanctuary it once was. I locked the door, securing every bolt, and leaned against it for a moment, letting my body sink to the floor.

I felt so... small, so lost.

I glanced at the small journal in my lap, its worn cover still etched with the ouroboros symbol. My grandmother’s journal, filled with secrets that I was only just beginning to understand.

But tonight, I didn’t feel ready to keep going. I didn’t feel strong enough to face the shadows that clung to my family’s past, or the ones that seemed to follow me now.

A soft knock on the door startled me out of my thoughts, and my heart leapt into my throat. I sat frozen for a moment, listening. Another knock, gentle but insistent.

“Emilia,” a voice called softly from the other side. Zane.

Relief washed over me, so overwhelming that I felt my eyes burn with unshed tears.

I scrambled to my feet and unlocked the door, opening it just a crack.

There he stood, his dark eyes filled with concern. "I sensed something was wrong," he murmured.

I didn’t say anything—didn’t know what to say—but I stepped back and let him in.

The moment the door closed behind him, I felt a shift, like the weight of the world wasn’t entirely mine to carry anymore.

Zane’s eyes softened as he studied me, his presence commanding but strangely comforting.

He looked down at the journal in my hands, his gaze darkening. "The journal... have you found something new?"

I shook my head, feeling the frustration and fear well up inside me. "It’s not just the journal," I whispered. "I found a note. Someone’s been here, Zane. They know about the journal. They know about me."

His expression tightened, and for a brief moment, I saw something I’d never seen before in him—fear.

He gently took the journal from my hands, flipping it open to the page where the note was written. His fingers brushed over the words, lingering, as if the very ink held some kind of threat.

"You’re getting closer," he said softly, more to himself than to me. "But you need to be careful."

I swallowed hard, the panic creeping back. "Careful of what? Who’s doing this, Zane? Why won’t you just tell me?"

Zane lifted his gaze, and for the first time, I saw raw emotion behind the mask he always wore—fear, yes, but also something deeper.

Something... protective. "I’m trying to keep you safe," he said quietly, his voice rough around the edges. "There are things you don’t know, things I wish you never had to know."

"But I can’t live like this," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I can’t keep pretending that everything is fine when it’s not.

I feel like I’m losing myself in all of this. In the shadows, the secrets... even in you."

He took a step toward me, his gaze never leaving mine. "You’re not losing yourself, Emilia. You’re finding yourself. This—everything you’re going through—it’s part of something bigger. Something that’s been hidden from you your entire life."

I wanted to believe him, but the fear was too overwhelming. My hands shook as I looked down at the journal again, feeling the weight of it in my hands. "I don’t want to be part of something bigger," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "I just want to feel safe."

Zane’s hand gently cupped my cheek, lifting my chin so I had to meet his eyes.

There was something in his gaze that made my heart ache, something almost... tender. "You are safe with me," he said softly. "I will always protect you, Emilia. No matter what."

His words hit me in a way I didn’t expect, like they wrapped around the broken parts of me and held them together

I closed my eyes, leaning into his touch for just a moment, allowing myself to believe him. To trust that, even in this world of shadows and danger, I wasn’t entirely alone.

But then his hand fell away, and I was left with the cold reality that this was far from over.

"Zane," I said, my voice thick with emotion, "whoever wrote that note... they’re not just watching. They’re trying to control me, aren’t they?"

His expression hardened, and he nodded, his jaw tightening. "They are. And they’ll do whatever it takes to pull you into their game. But I won’t let that happen."

I felt a tear slip down my cheek, the weight of everything crashing over me. "I don’t know how much longer I can do this," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I don’t know if I’m strong enough."

Zane’s arms were suddenly around me, pulling me close. His embrace was warm, solid, and for the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe again.

He held me tightly, his voice a soft murmur against my hair. "You’re stronger than you think, Emilia. You’ve survived this long, and you’ll keep surviving. I’ll make sure of it."

For a long moment, I stayed there, wrapped in his arms, letting the steady rhythm of his heartbeat calm the storm inside me.

And in that moment, for the first time in what felt like forever, I believed him.

Maybe I could survive this. Maybe I wasn’t as broken as I thought. And maybe, just maybe, Zane was right—maybe I wasn’t alone after all.