The Eyes On Me

Chapter 29: Into the Dark

We ran. The streets blurred around us as we sped through town, Zane’s hand tight in mine, pulling me forward. The night was cold, the sky bruised and heavy with clouds that promised rain. But the chill in my chest was from something far worse than the weather.

We didn’t speak, didn’t stop. The only sound was our footsteps pounding against the pavement and the occasional rush of a car passing by.

Zane had grabbed the car keys when we fled, but for now, we were on foot. The feeling of being hunted stuck to my skin like sweat, no matter how fast we moved.

Ethan was close. I could feel it.

Zane’s grip tightened as we turned down an empty alleyway, his eyes scanning the shadows, searching for threats.

His jaw was clenched, his face hard with concentration. There was no room for mistakes now. We had no time to think, only react.

As we reached the end of the alley, Zane pulled me into a narrow stairwell that led up the side of an abandoned building. He pressed me against the wall, his body shielding mine, his breathing heavy.

“We need a plan,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of my own heartbeat.

I nodded, trying to calm the panic rising in my chest. “Where can we go? Where are we safe?”

Zane’s eyes flicked to the street behind us, watching, calculating. “There’s a safehouse on the edge of town. It’s secluded, off the grid. We can stay there for a while, regroup.”

I swallowed hard, fighting back the fear threatening to take over. “Do you think Ethan knows where we are?”

Zane’s eyes softened for just a moment, a flash of concern breaking through the intensity. “He might. But we’ll make sure he doesn’t follow us. We’re going to end this, Emilia. I promise.”

His words were meant to reassure me, but the weight of the situation pressed down harder. I didn’t know if we could outrun Ethan.

He had been watching, lurking in the shadows of my life for so long. It felt like he was always just one step ahead.

Zane leaned in closer, his forehead resting against mine, and for a brief moment, everything else disappeared. His breath was warm on my skin, his presence grounding me in the chaos.

“You’re not alone in this,” he whispered. “I’m with you, no matter what happens.”

His words sank deep into my chest, filling the spaces that fear had hollowed out. For the first time in days, I felt a flicker of hope, fragile but there.

“I know,” I whispered back, my voice barely holding steady. “I trust you.”

Zane’s hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin in a gentle caress. His touch was like a lifeline, pulling me back from the edge. I leaned into it, letting myself get lost in the feeling, just for a moment.

But the moment was short-lived. A loud crash echoed from the alley, snapping us both out of our brief reprieve. Zane’s body tensed, his hand dropping from my face as he straightened up, scanning the shadows for movement.

“Stay close,” he said, his voice low and urgent.

My heart raced as I pressed myself against the wall, trying to make myself as small as possible. The alley was still, but the air felt charged, like a storm was brewing just out of sight.

Zane stepped forward, moving slowly, his body coiled with tension. Every muscle in his body was alert, ready for whatever was coming. I watched, my breath shallow, every nerve on edge.

Then I saw it. A shadow moved at the far end of the alley, too quick to make out, but unmistakable.

“Zane…” I whispered, my voice trembling.

He saw it too. His hand went to his waistband, gripping the gun he’d brought with him. “Stay behind me,” he ordered, his voice calm but firm.

I nodded, fear tightening its grip around my throat. My pulse raced as Zane moved forward, his eyes locked on the shadow. I knew it was Ethan. I could feel him—his presence like a cold hand on the back of my neck.

The seconds stretched into what felt like hours, each one heavier than the last. The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint sound of our breathing and the distant hum of the city.

Then, without warning, Ethan stepped out of the shadows.

He was calm, too calm, his face unreadable in the dim light. He took a step toward us, and my heart lurched in my chest. Zane’s body shifted, placing himself directly between me and Ethan, his gun aimed at the man who had haunted my every waking thought.

“You don’t want to do this, Ethan,” Zane said, his voice steady, but there was an edge to it—dangerous, ready.

Ethan’s lips twisted into a cold smile. “You think you can stop me?” His voice was low, dripping with contempt. “You don’t understand, Zane. Emilia belongs to me. She always has.”

The words sent a shiver down my spine, the possessiveness in his voice cutting through the air like a knife. I wanted to scream, to tell him he was wrong, but the words stuck in my throat.

Zane didn’t flinch. “She’s not yours, Ethan. She’s never been.”

Ethan’s eyes flicked to me, and for a brief second, I saw the darkness in them—the obsession, the madness. “You think you can protect her from me?” he sneered. “You have no idea what’s coming.”

He took another step forward, and Zane’s finger tightened on the trigger.

“Don’t,” Zane warned, his voice sharp.

But Ethan didn’t stop. He moved closer, his gaze locked on me, and I knew—this was it. The moment everything would change.

Before I could react, a deafening sound tore through the air.

The gun went off.

And the world shattered.