Whispered Shadows

Chapter Seven

Shadows and Secrets

Noa

The walls in the dorm are pressing in tighter than usual. I lock the door behind me, sliding the chain into place for an extra sense of security. My bag drops to the floor with a thud, but I don't even bother picking it up.

My back slides against the front door. My legs are shaking too hard to keep me steady. Piper heads straight for me, but I can't give her the attention she wants. My thoughts run a mile a minute as I grab the burner phone Ryder gave me.

I hate this. The fear curling in my chest, the icy grip of knowing someone is out there watching me. I hate it even more that I'm about to call Ryder and admit it.

"Noa?" His voice is sharp, already on edge.

"Hi to you too," I say, forcing a lightness I don't feel. "You always answer like someone's breaking down my door."

"Noa." His tone is firmer now. "What's going on?"

I pull my legs as close as I can to my chest, staring at the cracked ceiling. "Something weird happened today," I start, trying to sound casual. "Not a big deal, really. Just... thought you should know."

I can feel myself automatically forcing myself to take deeper breaths trying to postpone the hyperventilating my body wants to do. I can not have a panic attack especially right now.

Ryder's sigh is audible through the phone. "Stop stalling."

I roll my eyes. "Fine. I was at the library earlier, and someone was standing outside the window. Watching me."

"What do you mean 'watching you'?" His voice sharpens. "Did you see their face?"

"No. They were too far away. Just standing there, staring. They disappeared before I could get a better look."

He pauses, a tense silence crackling over the line. "And you're just telling me this now?"

The panic is starting to subside. I'm fine. I have to believe that I am going to be fine otherwise I will loose my damn mind and I can't afford that.

"I wasn't going to bother you over something that might be nothing," I say, twirling my hair between my fingers trying to pretend this isn't a big deal. "Besides, it's not like they did anything."

"You can't be serious." Ryder's voice is cold now, clipped with barely contained frustration. "Noa, someone was watching you. That's not nothing."

I sit up, frowning. "I can handle someone creeping around outside a library window, Ryder."

I can hear him grunt into the phone, "No, you can't. When are you going to treat this for what it is? I know you hate me Noa and that's fine hate me, but you and I both know this is a bigger deal than you are telling yourself. Why else would I be here?"

Anger flows inside of me. Who the fuck does he think he is. I don't give a damn if he is the FBI or not. I know damn well what is at stake here. I know firsthand. Ryder took off. He left this place while I had to stay staring at every corner of this godforsaken town haunted by Gia's memory.

"I know what's at stake here Ryder." I grit through my teeth.

He sighs, "I know I'm sorry. I told you to call me immediately, and you didn't. We will meet up tomorrow and go through everything you saw."

"So should I wait to tell you about the texts then or?" I ask.

"What texts Noa?" Ryder says like I am a child which only ticks me off.

"I may or may not have received a few texts from an unknown number."

I hear something slam on the other end of the line, "Damnmit Now, What part of contact me immediately do you not understand."