Whispers of The Unseen

A Tension in the Air

It's been days since that night in the alley. Days since Jenna's blood was splattered across my shoes, since Ghostface looked at me like he could see right through my skin, past the fear, down to the wild thrill twisting in my stomach. The police came, of course, and they asked their questions. I gave them what I could, told them about the chase, about how Jenna fell behind, how he cornered us. But I kept some things to myself. Like the way he just... looked at me. Like he knew me.

Even now, I can't forget that gaze, how it made me feel like prey-except I wasn't sure if I wanted to run or step closer.

Max and Theo have been doing everything they can to keep me distracted. They've been hovering, practically taking shifts to make sure I'm never alone. I appreciate it, but I don't think they understand. They see the bruises under my eyes, the way my hands shake when I try to pick up a cup of coffee, and they think it's all fear. That I'm scared out of my mind. But there's more to it. Something I can't quite admit out loud, not even to myself.

I can't tell them that part of me is still waiting for him. Watching the shadows like I might find a familiar silhouette lurking just out of sight.

It's just past noon, and I'm sitting on the porch swing at my house, the one place that still feels like it belongs to me. Theo and Max are supposed to come over later, but for now, I'm alone. A thin layer of mist hangs over the street, making the trees look like they're fading into the sky. It's eerily quiet, the kind of silence that settles in your bones, that makes you feel like the world is holding its breath.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes, letting the cold air sting my lungs. For a second, I let myself forget about everything-the curfews, the lockdown, the stares of the neighbors who look at me like I'm some kind of walking tragedy. But it doesn't last long. It never does. My mind always drifts back to the shadows, to the shape that's carved its way into my thoughts.

When I open my eyes, the fog is still there, thick and heavy, curling around the edges of the porch like something alive. I can't help but glance down the street, half-expecting to see that mask, the one that haunts my dreams. But the road is empty. Just like every other day since the attack.

I keep telling myself it's better this way. That I don't want to see him again. But a part of me knows I'm lying. And that scares me more than anything.

The screen door creaks open behind me, and I jump, my heart lurching into my throat before I realize it's just Theo. He steps out onto the porch, giving me one of those smiles that's supposed to be reassuring, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes.

"Hey," he says, sliding his hands into his pockets. "Thought you could use some company."

I force a smile, but it feels brittle, like it might crack if I'm not careful. "Yeah. Thanks."

Theo sits beside me on the swing, the chain groaning under the extra weight. For a while, neither of us says anything, just letting the silence stretch out. It's not uncomfortable, exactly, but there's a tension in the air that I can't shake.

"How are you holding up?" he asks finally, his voice soft.

I shrug, staring at the chipped paint on the porch railing. "About as well as you'd expect. It's weird, you know? The police keep saying it's safe, that there's no sign of him. But it doesn't feel safe."

Theo's expression tightens, and he reaches out, placing a hand on mine. His touch is warm, grounding. "We're not going to let anything happen to you, Aria. Max and I... we're going to make sure of that."

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I know. It's just... I don't want you guys to put yourselves in danger for me."

He squeezes my hand, his grip firm but gentle. "You don't get a say in that."

For a moment, I think about telling him the truth-that there's a part of me that doesn't want Ghostface to disappear, that maybe I'm waiting for him to show up again. But the words stick in my throat, too heavy to push out. Instead, I just nod, letting Theo believe that his comfort is enough.

We sit there for a while longer, until the mist starts to lift and the shadows shift. Eventually, Theo goes inside to grab us something to drink, and I'm alone again. I should feel relieved, but instead, that restless energy curls tighter in my chest.

I glance down the street one more time, my eyes catching on a shadow that seems too still, too deliberate. But when I blink, it's gone. A trick of the light, probably. Or maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see.

I shiver and pull the blanket tighter around my shoulders, my heart pounding in my ears. Maybe it's safer not to know the truth. To keep pretending that everything can go back to normal, that the shadows will leave me alone if I just ignore them long enough.

But deep down, I know that's not how this works. He's out there. And he's waiting. Just like me.