Twisted Devotion

Chapter Seven

The wind howled outside Jess's apartment as Ava sat curled up on the couch, staring at the window. The distant sounds of the city did little to comfort her. Despite Jess's soft reassurances, Ava felt the dread gnawing at her, a constant presence in the pit of her stomach.

Jess handed her a mug of tea, sitting down beside her. "It's going to be okay," she said quietly. "The police will figure it out."

Ava nodded but said nothing. She clutched the mug tightly, its warmth barely penetrating the cold that had settled into her bones.

"Did you sleep at all last night?" Jess asked, her voice gentle, though her concern was unmistakable.

"No," Ava admitted, her eyes never leaving the window. She hadn't been able to. Every time she closed her eyes, her mind would conjure images of shadowy figures slipping through her apartment, watching her, waiting.

Jess sighed and leaned back, rubbing her temples. "You need rest, Ava. You can't go on like this."

"I'll sleep when it's safe," Ava muttered, her voice flat.

Jess gave her a sympathetic look, but Ava didn't notice. She was too lost in her thoughts, replaying the events from the night before. The blinds, the window, the feeling that someone had been there. The more she thought about it, the more questions piled up. And still, there were no answers.

As if sensing her spiraling thoughts, Jess changed the subject. "I'll stay home from work today. We'll figure out what to do next, okay? Maybe it's time to get out of town for a while. A break might do you good."

Ava shook her head. "I can't just run away from this. What if they come back? What if... what if they do something next time?"

Jess frowned, her expression conflicted. "But you can't live in fear, either. We need a plan."

The thought of running—of leaving everything behind—made Ava's stomach churn. But Jess wasn't wrong. Staying in the city, with no leads and no real answers, wasn't helping either. She had to do something. She just didn't know what.

Suddenly, Ava's phone buzzed on the coffee table, breaking the tense silence. Both women jumped at the sound. Ava reached for it, her heart skipping a beat when she saw the number.

It wasn't one she recognized.

Her hand trembled as she picked it up, her thumb hovering over the answer button. "Jess, should I—?"

"Answer it," Jess said firmly, leaning in close, her face tense with anticipation.

Ava took a deep breath and swiped the screen. "Hello?"

Silence greeted her for a moment. Then a voice, distorted and mechanical, came through the line. "You weren't supposed to leave."

Ava's blood ran cold. Her grip tightened on the phone as she stared at Jess, her eyes wide with terror. "Who is this?" she demanded, her voice shaking.

"You know who," the voice replied, cold and detached. "We're watching."

Ava felt her throat tighten, her pulse quickening. She looked at Jess, who was mouthing something she couldn't quite register. Her mind was racing too fast.

"What do you want?" Ava choked out, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst from her chest.

The voice on the other end laughed softly, a sound that sent a chill down her spine. "You'll find out soon enough. But running won't help. We know where you are."

The line went dead.

Ava's hand dropped to her lap, the phone slipping from her fingers. Jess was beside her in an instant, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her gently. "Ava! What happened? Who was it?"

Ava could barely speak. Her mouth was dry, her thoughts swirling like a storm inside her head. "They... they said they're watching. That I wasn't supposed to leave."

Jess's face drained of color. "We're calling the police again."

But Ava wasn't listening. Her eyes were fixed on the window, her mind replaying the conversation over and over. *We know where you are.*

Whoever this was, they were serious. And they weren't just watching her—they were following her. Ava's stomach turned as she realized the truth.

This wasn't about her apartment. This wasn't a random break-in or a prank.

This was personal.

Jess reached for her phone to call the police, her voice tense and urgent as she explained the new threat. But Ava barely heard her. She stood up slowly, her hands trembling at her sides.

"We need to leave," Ava whispered, cutting through Jess's call. "Now."

Jess hung up, looking at her with confusion. "They said the police would be here in ten minutes—"

"No," Ava interrupted, her voice more forceful than she'd intended. "If they know where we are, then staying here is a mistake. We need to leave the city."

Jess hesitated, clearly torn between trusting Ava's instincts and waiting for the police. "Are you sure? They said they'd send backup—"

"I'm sure," Ava said, her voice breaking. "Jess, I can't stay here anymore. I can't wait around for something worse to happen."

Jess studied her for a moment, then nodded, determination settling in her eyes. "Okay. Let's go."

They gathered their things in a hurry, throwing clothes into bags and grabbing only the essentials. Every second felt like an eternity as Ava's paranoia spiked with each sound outside Jess's apartment. Were they being watched right now? Was someone waiting for them to make a move?

Finally, with their bags packed and hearts racing, they headed for the door. Jess paused, glancing at Ava. "We'll drive out of the city. Somewhere far. You can stay with my parents. They live upstate."

Ava nodded, too anxious to argue. They stepped out into the hallway, the weight of the unknown pressing down on them as they made their way toward the elevator. Jess hit the button, and the doors slid open with a soft ding.

Ava's hands were still trembling as they stepped inside. The doors closed, and for a brief moment, the world outside felt distant, almost safe. But as the elevator descended, the familiar knot of dread tightened in Ava's stomach again.

*This isn't over,* she thought to herself.