CHAPTER 8: Is that same person?

Nate exited the bar, unaware of the figure of a hooded man melting into the shadows by the elevator.

They waited for the lift. The illuminated arrow remained stubbornly pointed downwards. Nate glanced at his watch, a flicker of impatience crossing his face, adjusting his coat. Then, finally, a soft beep announced the elevator's arrival.

The silence stretched, making Nate uneasy. Then, a distorted, almost metallic clang echoed from the elevator shaft. The doors creaked open.

They stepped inside, the silence amplifying the gentle hum of the machinery. Kim pressed the button for the parking level.

Hiding in the shadows by the stairwell, the hooded figure scrolled through the photos on their phone. Each picture showed Nate in some moment, and after a quick look, they hit the "send" button, and he added, "My Job has been done". He texted while the notification popped up that the payment was credited.

The photos quietly vanished into cyberspace.

A phone, its screen a dim beacon in a darkened room, chirped with a notification. The message was received.

Back in the parking area, Nate glanced around as if something was amiss. He shrugged it off and got into the car. 

He loosened his tie and unbuttoned his first button, a sigh of tiredness escaping his lips. "I'm exhausted today," he murmured, more to himself than Kim.

Kim nodded, watching the rearview mirror as he pulled out of their parking spot. "Fancy a good restaurant?" he asked.

"Yeah," Nate replied, sinking into the back seat.

 Kim, already behind the wheel, pulled out of the parking lot.

As the car left the parking lot, the hooded figure, now maskless, slid into their vehicle nearby.

In the dark room, their muscular build was manifest even beneath the dark fabric of their clothes. The dim light from a nearby lamp briefly illuminated a thick hand gripping the phone lightly. Inked on the skin, a dragon covered his whole hand. His profile showed that he had a short haircut, almost a buzz cut, which highlighted his strong jawline. 

 The screen reflected in his eyes a predatory look. A smirk played on their lips. "Interesting," he murmured, the word laced with a hint of danger after the screen went dark.

The room, with its grey walls and white trim bathed in the soft glow of dim white lights, felt calm and ordered. Aaron sat on the edge of his bed, his school photo, a reminder of simpler times, resting face up on his hand. He watched the picture, a faint smile touching his face, after he picked up his incoming call. "Hi, Eve," he said.

"Hello," Evangeline answered.

"How was your day? You seemed a little confused," he asked over the phone.

Evangeline wrapped a towel after her long bath and dried her hair as she slipped into her night clothes. She placed her phone on the cupboard. "Not bad......." she replied, a slight hesitation in her voice.

 While she was speaking casually, she suddenly glanced towards the window. A figure in a black hoodie stood without any action, remaining still in the shadows outside the street, their face covered by the hood. She froze, glancing back at the person.

"Hey, Eve...?" Aaron's voice, now muffled, called from the phone on the cupboard.

The night outside was completely black, with a thick veil of blackness pressing against her window. A figure stood vertically below, wearing a black hoodie with the hood pulled down, covering their face. They didn't move or flinch; they simply stared directly at her room.

Her chest felt tight, and she remembered her past trauma. Her cold hands trembled as she grabbed the curtain. A cold went up her spine, causing goosebumps. She wanted to look away other side, but she was frozen in fear.

The figure stayed motionless, its shadow stretching until eternity. When they finally turned and walked away, it felt like a drowning person finally breathing again. Relief washed over her, but the fear remains. She stepped back from the window, her thoughts racing. Who was that? What did they want? why again?

The sharp ringing sound of her phone pulled her back to reality. She pulled back, and with shaky hands, she picked it up and answered. 

"Eve? Are you there? Is everything okay?" Aaron's voice came through, steady and familiar. 

"Y... yeah, Aaron," she falters, her voice breaking. 

"Are you okay?.... I couldn't hear you, so I called back again."

Brief pause,

"You sound... weird. What happened?" Aaron asked.

She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the phone. The words felt heavy on her tongue. "I... I saw someone. Outside my window. just standing there, staring at my room. For like three minutes. Maybe more." 

"Hey, hey...., relax, okay," Aaron said, his tone soft but firm. "Your room is locked, right?

"Mm."

"Hey, no need to worry! Your house has bodyguards keeping it safe. If you're still feeling scared, just give your brother a call—he’ll be there for you!

"No...., Aaron. No way," she said quickly, "I don't want to make a scene. You know how it is if I tell them…" 

"Alright.......," he said after a brief pause. "Is that everything okay, or do you want me to come over?" he asked with concern for her.

"Um......" she laughed inside, blushing outside. "It's okay. I can manage," she replied.

"Just make sure to lock your room tightly. Everything's going to be Okay......" His reassurance gave her a little bit of hope.

"Okay," she whispered.

After the call ended, Evangeline walked to the bed, hugging her pillow tightly. She was covered by the blankets but felt cold. She glanced at the window from her bed, the figure's stare lingering in her mind. Suddenly, she got up and covered the window with a screen.

"Not... again," she whispered to herself. She tried to convince herself that it was over. After a few minutes of struggle, she slept like a baby, hugging her teddy.

Sunlight came through the blinds the following morning, creating golden designs on the ceiling. The warmth, though, did not help to relieve the weight on Evangeline's chest.

. 

Evangeline sat up, rubbing her eyes. She sighed and removed the blanket, then headed to the bathroom. The cold shower shocked her body after brushing, but it did not wash away the tiredness clinging to her.

After drying off, she wears her favorite lined skirt and white top, the familiar comfort of the outfit grounding her. She sat at her vanity, applying a little natural makeup, just enough to give her worn-out face some vitality.

Once ready, she made her way downstairs to the dining hall, where breakfast had already been placed. Her bodyguard was seated across from her, eating in silence. 

Without hesitation, she took her seat and started eating. She never saw the point in keeping a distance from them. "They're human, just like me," she had told her family once, much to their dismay. Titles didn't matter to her. 

The meal passed quietly, but the unease in her chest never fully faded. No matter how much she tried to focus on the day ahead, one thought refused to leave her mind.

Evangeline managed to mask her inner thoughts with a smile because she couldn't reveal it. 

After an hour, the Business Communication class was filled with murmurs of excitement. The class was eager to find out what the professor, Mrs. Anabella, had in store for them. 

"Alright, students! You have one month to submit your project. But before you start panicking, I have a fun little game for you," she announced, keeping a glass jar in her hand.