More Than Friends

Chapter 13: A Growing Threat

Nicole's heart raced as she stared at the new message on her phone. I warned you. You're not safe. The words echoed in her mind, sending waves of fear coursing through her. This wasn't just a random prank. Someone was watching her—someone knew too much.

Her hands trembled as she quickly blocked the number again, but the damage was done. She wasn't sure what to do next. She couldn't keep this to herself any longer. It was time to get serious about figuring out who was behind this.

Nicole grabbed her jacket and rushed out the door. She needed to see Devin.

At Devin's Apartment

Devin answered the door within seconds, his expression turning to concern the moment he saw the look on her face. "Nic? What happened?"

Nicole handed him her phone, showing him the latest message. "I got another one," she whispered, her voice shaky.

Devin's eyes darkened as he read the text, and his jaw clenched. "This is gettin' outta hand. Whoever this is, they're not just messin' with you—they're tryin' to scare you."

"I know," Nicole said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know why this is happening. I haven't done anything to anyone. Why would someone come after me like this?"

Devin shook his head, pacing the floor as he tried to make sense of it. "I don't know, but we need to get to the bottom of this. We can't just let it go."

Nicole felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. The fear and confusion were overwhelming, and the more she thought about it, the more helpless she felt. "I just don't understand... why me?"

Devin stopped pacing and stepped closer to her, his voice softer now. "We'll figure this out, Nic. I promise. You're not alone in this."

Nicole nodded, grateful for his presence, but deep down, the fear still gnawed at her. This wasn't something they could just talk through. Whoever was behind this was serious, and the more time passed, the more danger she felt creeping in.

Later That Night

Nicole didn't want to go home alone, not after that second message. Devin offered to let her stay at his place for the night, and although part of her felt hesitant, she couldn't deny the comfort of having him close by. She knew she wouldn't sleep well, but at least she wouldn't be alone.

As they sat on the couch, the television playing softly in the background, Nicole's thoughts kept spiraling. "Do you think it's someone we know?" she asked, breaking the silence.

Devin looked over at her, his face tense. "I don't know. But if it is, we need to figure out who. People don't just send threats like that without a reason."

Nicole shivered, pulling her knees to her chest. "I just don't get it. Everything was fine until now."

Devin's eyes softened, and he reached out to place a hand on her knee. "We'll get through this. I'll make sure of it."

She felt a warmth spread through her at his words, but it was quickly overshadowed by the fear that still lingered in her chest. Whoever was behind this wasn't going to stop. And the idea that someone close to them might be involved? That was terrifying.

The Next Morning

Nicole barely slept that night. Even with Devin nearby, her mind wouldn't let her rest. She kept replaying everything over and over again in her head, trying to figure out who would have a reason to target her. She didn't have any enemies, at least none that she knew of.

When she finally got out of bed, Devin was already up, sitting at the kitchen table with his phone in hand, his expression serious.

"What's goin' on?" Nicole asked as she joined him.

"I've been thinkin'," Devin said, his voice low. "I think we need to go to the cops."

Nicole's heart skipped a beat. "The cops? You think it's that serious?"

"I don't know what this person's planning, but I'm not waitin' to find out," Devin said, his eyes meeting hers. "These messages are threats, Nic. They're not just gonna stop on their own."

Nicole felt a lump form in her throat. She hated the idea of involving the police, but deep down, she knew Devin was right. Whoever was behind this wasn't going to stop until they got what they wanted. And Nicole had no idea what that was.

"Okay," she said softly, her voice trembling. "Let's go."

At the Police Station

Sitting in the small, cramped office of the local police station, Nicole felt like the walls were closing in. Devin sat beside her, his presence a steadying force, but the whole situation felt surreal. She never thought she'd be in a place like this, reporting threats from some unknown stalker.

The officer across from them took notes as they explained the situation, his expression neutral but attentive. "We'll look into it," he said, his voice calm and measured. "But unfortunately, without more information, there's not much we can do just yet. We'll trace the number and see if we can find anything."

Nicole's stomach churned. The thought of waiting, of being in limbo while this person was still out there, made her feel sick.

Devin squeezed her hand gently, giving her a reassuring look. "We're not gonna let this go."

The officer nodded, his expression softening slightly. "In the meantime, be careful. If anything else happens, call us immediately."

That Night

Back at Devin's apartment, the weight of everything finally hit Nicole full force. The fear, the uncertainty—it all came crashing down. She sat on the couch, staring at her phone, waiting for the next message that she knew was coming.

Devin sat beside her, silent but steady. His presence was the only thing keeping her grounded right now.

Her phone buzzed.

Her breath caught in her throat as she looked at the screen, her hands trembling. The message was short, but it made her blood run cold.

You think the cops can protect you?

Nicole's heart raced as the realization hit her: whoever this was, they knew she had gone to the police. They were watching her.