a fortiori

...Chapter 9...

The weeks me and Cole spent together were unforgettable.

We went to the beach and to more clubs. He would come with me to get my medication and to my doctors appointments. He was always there for me. Not to mention I was always there for him.
One day I had woken up, at his apartment, and I noticed a shadow move outside. He was still sleeping, but I had gotten up to scope up the movement. There, not even 20 feet away was a figure. It wore a brown leather jacket and had a matching brown hat on too. He was wearing boots that only went to where his calf started. He was simply leaning against a tree. Not stalking the residents, like one may think at first, but it looked like he was in deep thought.
As smart as I am, I grabbed my coat and walked out the door. It was common sense not to talk to mysterious figures, but I was just so intrigued. I walked through the hallway and into the lobby. There was no one attending the front desk and the usual door man had probably retired to his room for the night. After all, it was two o'clock in the morning. I carefully opened the tall doors and walked around to the back of the building.
In the back I saw the same tree, but I did not see the figure. I walked curiously over to where he used to be leaning and I saw two foot prints. They seemed to be exactly where he was standing.
Once again I let my curiosity get the best of me.
Looking up the tree I noticed markings.
They looked like small mazes. They obviously weren't though. They were more like symbols. I traced my finger along the branded tree. As I turned to go to back to Coles apartment, I went into complete shock.
My body jumped back at least 7 feet and my heart started racing. There was the shadow. Finally I gained control of where I stood and I opened my eyes.
Nothing.
"What the heck?" I said to myself quietly. "I know you're there, come out where I can see you." I demanded. I suddenly heard a familiar voice from above me.

"Oh Liv, you did always like to get your way."