The Stalker's Game

Chapter Forty-One: A New Face

Lena's POV:

The morning felt perfect. After a good night's sleep, I woke up feeling lighter than I had in weeks. No more restless tossing and turning, no more uneasy feelings creeping in. I grabbed my iPod, my favorite escape, and headed downstairs to the warm, comforting smell of breakfast. After eating and chatting with my parents, I made my way to school with a quiet sense of excitement about the day.

As soon as I arrived, I spotted Sarah waiting for me, and instantly, a smile spread across my face. I walked over, and we started chatting as usual. Moments later, Lucas joined us, his smile easy and bright. The unease that had once gripped me so tightly had completely vanished. I felt good. For once, it felt like things were falling into place—no tension, no awkwardness, no fear. Just peace. Even when Mia walked by, waving as she chatted with her own group of friends, there was nothing but calm.

Today was going to be another peaceful day, I told myself.

Classes flew by, and before I knew it, it was lunch. Sarah, Lucas, and I sat down together, and Mia joined us soon after, bringing her infectious energy with her. I slipped my earbuds in, letting the music play softly in the background while we laughed and joked around. For the first time in a while, I felt at ease. Everything seemed to be going right, and I couldn't help but think that maybe—just maybe—things were finally back to normal.

But then, all of a sudden, the air shifted. The easy laughter at our table died down, replaced by a tense, stunned silence. It was as if a shadow had fallen over us. I looked up, thinking it had to be Ethan, creeping around and ruining the peace like he always did. But when I glanced around, I didn't see Ethan at first. What I did see was the looks on everyone's faces—Sarah, Lucas, and even Mia. Their expressions had changed completely. They looked like they'd seen a ghost.

I pulled out one of my earbuds, my heart starting to race. What was going on? I followed their gazes, turning my head toward the source of their shock. And there she was—a girl I didn't recognize. A new face. She was standing there, almost casually, but there was something about her presence that felt heavy, unsettling.

Her features were sharp, familiar somehow, though I couldn't place where I'd seen them before. Her eyes were cold yet confident, like she already knew everything about us. Her lips curled into a subtle smirk as she scanned the room, and then—finally—her gaze landed on our table. It wasn't just that she was new. It was the way everyone around me seemed to recognize her, as if she carried some unspoken history with her. Sarah shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Lucas looked like he couldn't decide whether to stay or bolt. Even Mia, always so composed, looked shaken, her face pale with disbelief.

And then I noticed Ethan, standing off to the side, frozen in place. His eyes were wide, his face drained of color. He wasn't confused. No, the look on his face was something else entirely—fear. Real, palpable fear. His gaze was locked on the girl, and for the first time ever, he looked genuinely terrified.

I couldn't understand what was happening. Who was she? Why did everyone seem so rattled by her presence? She didn't look threatening, not in the typical sense. But there was something about her that had shaken everyone to their core.

I sat there, confused and a little unnerved myself, watching as she moved closer to us with that same quiet confidence. And as she approached, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of storm she was about to bring with her....