The Silent Vigilante

Sophie Grace

"Actually," I said, feeling a pang of guilt, "there's something I haven't told you."I swallowed hard, feeling a knot of anxiety in my stomach. "I... I lied about my boyfriend," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Daniel's expression didn't change as he responded. "I know you lied," he said, his voice matter-of-fact. "I knew it from the first day. You're not a very good liar, you know."
I winced, realizing how transparent I must have been. I had thought I was being subtle, but clearly, Daniel saw right through me.
"Yeah..." I admitted, my voice coming out soft. "Mikhail's family... they're involved in some shady stuff. Illegal stuff."
I shifted uncomfortably, feeling a pang of guilt as I spoke. "But Mikhail himself is innocent," I added quickly. "He doesn't want anything to do with it."
Daniel nodded, listening intently. "I figured as much," he said. "But it's still dangerous. You can't trust someone who's associated with criminals, even if they claim to be innocent."
I frowned, knowing he was right but feeling defensive nonetheless. "Mikhail's different," I said, my voice rising slightly. "He's a good guy. He just gets caught up in all this because of his family."
"Mikhail... he's got a lot of baggage. He struggles with anxiety and... self-harming habits."
"That doesn't change anything," he said. "He's still a liability, and you still need to stay away from him."
"I've tried calling him, texting him, emailing him," I continued, my voice growing more frantic. "I've even gone to his apartment to try and talk to him. But every time, he pushes me away, he's mean and cold and it just makes me feel worse."
His gaze softened, his eyes locked into mine "It's okay, just don't go back to him" his hand reached to my arm and started rubbing it up and down. I leaned into his touch... It's gentle and soothing... "Let's have lunch together " He said with a smile. I nodded simply. He was not mad at him... I lied to his face and he knew it... I was lost in my thoughts then Daya came and start serving. I turned to Daya and said, "Daya, could you leave us alone for a bit?" Daya nodded and left the room, giving us some privacy. "Sugar" he said gently. "Why do you always call me Sugar?". He smiled and said "Don't you like this nickname?" I saw the smile tugged at the corner of his lips.. it looked genuine to me... This place feels safe but I had to go out with my friends at night and he took my phone that day and never gave me back... "Daniel, when will you give my phone back to me?"
I looked at the new phone Daniel is giving me, my expression a mix of confusion and frustration. "What happened to my old one?" I asked, my voice coming out a bit sharp. "I had all my contacts and photos on there."
Daniel shook his head, his tone firm. "I had to switch it off for your safety," he said. "That phone could have been tracked, it wasn't safe."
I crossed my arms petulantly, still feeling frustrated. "But I need my phone," I protested. "How am I supposed to contact anyone?"
Daniel's expression became stern again. "You're not supposed to contact anyone," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "It's too risky. Until this situation is resolved, you can't contact anyone."
I let out a huff of annoyance, knowing he was right but not wanting to admit it. "This sucks," I muttered, holding up the new phone in disdain.
Daniel's expression softened again, and he gave me a slight smile. "I know it's not ideal," he said, his voice taking on a more sympathetic tone. "But it's for your own good. Trust me." I rolled my eyes, feeling a pang of annoyance at his words. "Yeah, yeah," I muttered, shoving the new phone into my pocket. "Whatever you say."

I entered the room that Daniel had given me and started looking through the clothes he had provided. There were several nice outfits to choose from, but I was looking for something special for the party.
My eyes scanned the hangers, searching for the perfect dress. I wanted something that would make me feel beautiful and confident, something that would turn heads when I walked into the party.
Finally, my eyes landed on a stunning black dress. It was simple yet elegant, with a form-fitting silhouette and a slit that would show off my legs just enough. I pulled the dress off the hanger and held it up in front of me, admiring the way it hugged my figure. I knew right away that this was the dress I wanted to wear.
I stood in front of the mirror, admiring my reflection. I looked beautiful in my new dress, and I couldn't help but feel excited despite the warning signs in my mind. I knew sneaking out to the party was a risk, but I didn't care. I needed to get out and have some fun, even if it was just for one night. I tiptoed down the hallway, trying to make as little noise as possible. My heart was racing with a mixture of excitement and nervousness as I reached the front door. I gently turned the knob and slipped out, closing the door behind me as silently as I could.