Over the next few days, they formulated a plan. Emma would reach out to Lisa under the pretense of wanting to reconnect. They would arrange to meet at a local café, and Mason and Sarah would keep a discreet distance to monitor the situation.
The morning of the meet-up, Emma's nerves frayed as she dressed. She chose a simple outfit, hoping to project a sense of calm that she didn't feel. Her reflection in the mirror revealed a woman on the edge, eyes wide with uncertainty. "You can do this," she whispered to herself, forcing a smile.
When Emma arrived at the café, the warm aroma of coffee enveloped her, but the familiar comfort felt foreign today. She spotted Lisa sitting at a corner table, tapping away at her phone.
Emma's heart raced, and she took a deep breath before approaching."Lisa?" she said, forcing a smile.
Lisa looked up, her expression unreadable. "Emma. It's been a while." Her voice held a coolness that sent a chill down Emma's spine.
"Yeah, I've thought about reaching out for ages," Emma replied, settling into the chair opposite her. "I wanted to see how you've been."
Lisa set her phone down, crossing her arms. "I've been fine. Busy, but fine. How about you?" Emma's heart raced as she navigated the conversation, careful to mask her true intentions. "I'm okay. Just... trying to make sense of everything that's happened since college." Lisa's expression shifted slightly, a hint of something darker flashing in her eyes. "You know, some people never really move on. They hold onto grudges like they're trophies." Lisa said while crossed her arms Emma swallowed hard, the weight of Lisa's words settling heavily between them. "I guess we all have our demons," she replied, trying to keep the conversation light. "I just wanted to reconnect, you know? I thought maybe we could put the past behind us." "Put the past behind us?" Lisa echoed, a smirk tugging at her lips. "That's rich coming from you. You've always been the one who took everything from others." Emma's stomach dropped, the tension palpable. "That's not how I see it, Lisa. I made choices that were right for me. I didn't mean to hurt anyone." "Sure, keep telling yourself that," Lisa shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "But it seems like you've got a lot of people who don't share your view." The conversation quickly escalated, emotions flaring as they navigated the turbulent waters of their shared history. Emma felt the walls closing in, and it was becoming clear that Lisa harbored deeper feelings than mere resentment. "You can't seriously think I'm responsible for your unhappiness," Emma said, her voice rising. "Maybe not directly," Lisa replied, her eyes narrowing. "But you're a part of it. You have always been." As tensions mounted, Emma's instincts kicked in. She had come here to gather information, to understand what Lisa knew, but now it was clear that the conversation was spiraling out of control. She needed to tread carefully. Just then, from the corner of her eye, she noticed a figure entering the café—Mason and Sarah, keeping a watchful distance. Emma felt a surge of relief but knew she couldn't reveal their presence just yet. "I'm not here to fight, Lisa," Emma said, attempting to diffuse the situation. "I just want to know why you've been talking about revenge online. What's going on?" Lisa's demeanor shifted again, her expression turning cold. "Maybe I'm just tired of people thinking they can walk all over me. Or maybe I'm just sick of pretending everything's fine when it's not." Emma pressed on, sensing a vulnerability beneath the bravado. "If there's something bothering you, let's talk about it. Maybe we can find common ground." For a moment, Lisa hesitated, her guard wavering. But then her expression hardened once more. "Common ground? I don't think that's possible. Some things can't be forgiven." As the conversation continued, Emma felt the tension escalating. Lisa was clearly on edge, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. Emma had hoped to reach her, to find a way to connect, but it seemed like the chasm between them was too wide. Suddenly, Lisa leaned in closer, her voice low and threatening. "You don't know what you've done, Emma. You don't understand how deep the scars go." Emma's heart raced. This was no longer just a conversation—it was a confrontation. "I want to understand, but you have to let me in." Before Lisa could respond, Emma's phone vibrated on the table, causing both of them to jump. She glanced at the screen, and her heart dropped. A message from Mason read: "We need to go. Now." Emma felt a rush of panic as she looked back at Lisa, who was watching her intently. "I think I need to—" But before she could finish her sentence, Lisa's expression shifted, an unsettling smile creeping across her face. "Looks like your little friends are worried about you," she said, glancing over Emma's shoulder. "What are they afraid of?" At that moment, Emma's instincts kicked in. She needed to get out of there. "I think we're done here," she said, standing up abruptly. Lisa laughed, a chilling sound that sent a shiver down Emma's spine. "You're running away? Typical."Ignoring the taunt, Emma turned and made her way toward the exit, her heart pounding in her chest. She spotted Mason and Sarah at now outside
YOU ARE READING
Whispers in the Dark
Mistero / ThrillerIn a seemingly ordinary life, a woman finds herself thrust into a chilling nightmare when she begins recieving a series of threatening letters. As the days pass, the messages grow increasingly sinister, leaving her feeling lost and vulnerable. Despe...
