Conflicted Hearts

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫-2(𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑)

I stared at my phone, my heart racing like crazy. "Who is this?". I wondered. The text on my screen sent shivers down my spine: "Meet me at the old cafe at midnight. Come alone".

My mind was flooded with questions. Who knew about Emma? What did they want?

As the clock ticked towards the midnight,

I threw off my blankets and jumped out of bed, my heart pounding in my chest. I grabbed my coat from the cupboard and snatched my purse, my hands shaking. Without wasting another second, I stepped out into the rainy night, the cold wind slapping my face.

As I made my way to the old café, my heart raced with each step. The rain fell steadily, each drop hitting me like a reminder of my worries. The streets were eerily quiet, and the only sound was the soft patter of rain on the pavement.

It felt like the world around me was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease; the café was a place I had visited countless times, but tonight it felt different—almost haunted.

When I finally reached the old café, I stood in front of the door, my heart pounding in my chest. Thoughts swirled in my mind like a storm—questions about Emma and what I might discover. The café looked just as it always had, with its faded sign and warm glow from within, but the silence surrounding it felt heavy.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. This was it. I had to step inside and see what awaited me.

With determination, I pushed open the old, creaky door and stepped into the dimly lit café. Raindrops clung to my hair like tears, making me feel cold and uneasy.

The smell of stale coffee mixed with the scent of worn leather filled the air, heavy and thick.

Flickering fluorescent lights above cast strange shadows on the walls, making everything look a bit spooky.

I looked around the room, letting my eyes adjust to the low light. In the far corner, a lone figure sat with a hood pulled up, hiding their face. The atmosphere felt tense, almost like the café itself was holding its breath.

"Who are you?". I asked, trying to sound brave, even though my voice shook a little. My heart raced in my chest, pounding loudly.

The figure slowly stood up, moving with purpose. "I've been waiting for you".  they said in a low, gravelly voice that sent chills down my spine.

I tightened my grip on my purse, feeling a mix of fear and curiosity. "How do you know me?". I asked, my eyes darting around the empty café, looking for a way out if I needed it.

The figure stepped closer, their intense gaze locking onto mine. My heart raced even faster. The air felt electric, thick with tension.

"Who are you ?". I asked again, my voice steady but still showing my unease. My palms were getting sweaty.

The figure pointed to an empty chair at their table."Sit".  Their commanding tone made me shiver. I hesitated, my mind racing with thoughts.

The lights above flickered again, casting deeper shadows that danced across the walls. The rain outside drummed against the windows like a heartbeat, loud and unsettling.

As the figure’s hood slipped back slightly, I caught a glimpse of their piercing eyes, which seemed to see right through me.

"You're looking for answers about Emma's death ?" they asked, their voice dripping with an unsettling familiarity that made my stomach twist.

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Emma. "What do you know ?" I stuttered, my palms now clammy with anxiety. I felt like I was standing at the edge of a cliff, ready to leap into the unknown.

The figure leaned in closer, their icy breath brushing against my skin. "I know what happened to Emma....and I know you are in danger".  Their words hung in the air like a dark cloud, filling me with dread.

Fear wrapped around me like a tight blanket, making it hard to breathe. "What do you mean?". I managed to ask, my voice trembling and barely above a whisper.

The stranger's eyes seemed to pierce right through me, revealing my deepest fears.

Memories of Emma rushed back, flooding my mind: her bright smile that could light up any room, her laughter that was like music to my ears, and her warm hugs that always made me feel safe.

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as I thought of her.

The stranger's voice interrupted my memories, cold and mocking. "You are next".  it whispered, a twisted smirk spreading across its face, sending shivers down my spine.

My heart raced wildly in my chest. "NO". I cried softly, a spark of determination igniting within me. "No! I won't let that happen." My fists clenched tightly at my sides, ready to fight back against this terrifying threat.

Suddenly, I felt like someone was behind me. I wanted to see who it was, but I was so scared that I couldn't move at all.

Then I thought I should look, I needed to do something.

But just as I was about to turn around, the stranger who had been sitting in front of me suddenly stood up and grabbed my throat. I couldn't understand what was happening.

I wanted to see who the other person was, but all I could see were the eyes of the stranger who was closing in on me.

I felt both fear and anger. My heart was racing, like he wasn't going to let me go. All I could think was that I needed to escape, I had to do something, but I was so terrified that I didn't know what to do.

Stranger's grip tightened around my throat, cutting off my air. "I wanted to see you lose control, ISHIKA. " it growled, its laughter echoing through the café like a haunting melody.

I struggled to scream, but my voice was trapped, muffled by the pressure. Panic surged through me as my eyes widened in pain.

My airway felt like it was closing in on me, and I fought desperately against the darkness creeping in.

My vision started getting blur. I felt myself slipping away, and in that moment, I knew I had to fight for my life.

Then Everything went black.......

TO BE CONTINUED......