Chapter 9 – The Mysterious Man.

The footsteps grew clearer, a slow yet steady thud echoing behind her. Amora turned sharply, her wary gaze sweeping the length of the corridor. But still, there was no one there.

“Am I just hallucinating?” she murmured, trying to steady herself.

Her fingers tightened around the doorknob, ready to enter the competition room. But suddenly, a deep voice echoed from behind her.

“Not everyone can walk this far, Amora.”

Amora’s body tensed. She spun around quickly. A man in a black suit stood only a few meters away, his face half-hidden by the corridor’s shadows. His eyes were sharp, piercing.

“Who are you?” Amora’s voice trembled, though she tried to sound firm.

The man took a slow step forward, his tone cold. “You don’t need to know. I’m just following orders!”

“Orders?” Amora’s brows furrowed faintly. “Who ordered you?” she pressed.

“Someone who knows who you really are,” the man replied firmly.

Amora stepped back. “What do you mean? I don’t even know you. Don’t try to scare me, or I’ll scream.”

A thin smile appeared on his lips. “Scream if you want. No one will hear you. This place was meant to be empty.”

Amora swallowed hard. “What do you want?”

“You,” the man said simply, his answer sending chills down Amora’s spine.

Before she could ask anything more, the door beside her opened. A staff member appeared, looking at her with a questioning expression. “Miss Elisha Guendwarda?”

Amora nodded faintly as the new name rolled off the staffer’s tongue. Yes—she and her mother had agreed to bury her old identity, to leave the dark past behind.

“We’ve been waiting. Please, come in,” the staffer said, giving her way.

But Amora glanced back. When she looked toward where the mysterious man had been standing, he was gone—vanished like a shadow.

.

Inside the grand hall, Amora tried to calm herself. Soft music floated through the air; contestants busied themselves with makeup and final preparations. Jessica waved from the audience seats, cheering her daughter on.

Amora drew a deep breath and stepped onto the catwalk. Camera flashes greeted her. For a moment, all her unease melted away. She walked gracefully, like a professional model, a faint smile etched on her face.

Applause erupted—cheers of admiration from several judges.

“She’s stunning… what’s her name?” one of the judges whispered to the staffer.

“Elisha Guendwarda.”

The name echoed through the room, swelling Jessica’s chest with pride. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

But amid the cheers, Amora noticed something. From behind the stage curtains, a pair of sharp eyes watched her—the very same eyes she’d seen in the corridor.

.

After the performance, Amora hurried backstage. Her heart still pounded—not from stage nerves, but from the sense of being watched.

Jessica followed, her face beaming. “Amora! You were incredible! I’m so proud of you.”

“No, Mommy. Elisha was the incredible one,” Amora murmured, shaking her head.

“Elisha Guendwarda Shane, thank you for giving your best performance,” Jessica teased lovingly, hugging her daughter briefly.

Amora tried to smile, but her voice dropped to a whisper. “Mommy… someone’s been following me.”

She thought she should tell her mother about the mysterious man.

Jessica frowned. “What do you mean?”

“In the corridor earlier, there was a strange man. He knew my name. And then I saw him again, from behind the curtain while I was walking the catwalk.”

Jessica immediately gripped her daughter’s shoulders. “Maybe it was just nerves, honey. You’re stressed.”

“No, Mommy. I didn’t imagine it,” Amora said firmly.

Jessica went silent for a few seconds. The worried look returned to her face—the same one she’d worn in the taxi earlier. She then took Amora’s hand. “We’re leaving now.”

“But the results haven’t been announced yet.”

“I don’t care.” Jessica’s eyes filled with anxiety. “Your safety is more important.”

Amora fell silent, confused, but unable to do anything except follow her mother. One thing was clear: something was being hidden from her—something that terrified her mother.

.

That night, on the apartment balcony, Amora stood alone, clutching a cup of hot coffee. The cold wind bit at her skin, but her thoughts felt even colder. The mysterious man’s words still echoed in her ears.

“Not everyone can walk this far…” Amora whispered the line again, setting the cup down on the small table beside her.

She hugged her own arms, staring blankly at the city sky glittering with lights.

Moments later, Jessica arrived with exciting news. Her face lit up as she held out her glowing phone screen.

“Look, Amora! Your name is in the top five model picks. Next week is the final round to decide who wins the ad project with one of America’s biggest companies. Elisha Guendwarda’s name will shine even brighter if you can beat Chelsea!”

“Mommy… Chelsea’s really talented. I’m sure she’ll win the project,” Amora said softly, her face weary.

“Hey, you’re even more talented. Believe me, sweetheart,” Jessica encouraged, refusing to let her daughter drown in pessimism.

But their conversation was abruptly cut short by the ringing of Jessica’s phone. Without a word, she stepped away from her daughter and left the room.

In a place she felt safe enough, Jessica answered the call.

“Hello, Sir.”

A deep voice came from the other end, making Jessica’s body stiffen.

“You’ll never escape me, Jessica!”