Chapter 19

Morning came too quickly.

Eli barely slept.

He sat at the edge of his bed, staring at his phone, the faint glow reflecting in his tired eyes.

That dream again.

No—

Not just a dream.

It felt too detailed.

Too… familiar.

Eli rubbed his face.

“…Why does it feel like I’ve seen that before?”

His gaze drifted toward the door.

Half-expecting it to open.

Half-expecting—

Nothing.

He shook his head.

“…I’m overthinking.”

His phone buzzed.

Eli glanced down.

Charlotte: Good morning , did you get home safe?

A small smile formed despite everything.

Eli: Yeah. Just woke up.

The reply came almost instantly.

Charlotte: Liar. You sound like you didn’t sleep.

Eli huffed softly.

Eli: Maybe a little.

Charlotte: Take care of yourself, okay?

Eli stared at that message for a second longer than necessary.

Then typed:

Eli: I will.

He hesitated.

Then added:

Eli: Are we still meeting later?

A pause.

Then—

Charlotte: Always.

Eli’s chest felt lighter.

“…Yeah.”

That.

That was real.

That made sense.

“Eli!”

His mother’s voice echoed from downstairs.

“Coming!” he called back.

He stood, stretched lightly, and grabbed his phone before heading down.

The smell of food hit him immediately.

Warm.

Comforting.

Normal.

His father sat at the table, already eating.

“You’re up late,” he said without looking up.

Eli frowned.

“…It’s morning.”

“You’ve been waking up earlier these days,” his father replied.

Eli paused.

“…Have I?”

His mother set a plate in front of him.

“You have,” she said gently. “And going out more too.”

Eli sat down.

“…Is that a problem?”

“No,” she said quickly. “Just… different.”

His father glanced at him briefly.

“You’re distracted.”

Eli picked up his fork.

“…I’m fine.”

A beat.

Then his mother spoke again.

“Is it that boy?”

Eli nearly choked.

“…What?”

“The one you’ve been meeting,” she continued carefully.

Eli froze.

“…How do you—”

His father cut in.

“We notice things.”

Eli looked between them.

Suspicion flickering.

“…You’ve seen him?”

A pause.

Too long.

His mother smiled faintly.

“Not exactly.”

That wasn’t reassuring.

“…Then how do you know?”

His father set his fork down.

“Because you’ve changed.”

Eli frowned.

“…That doesn’t answer the question.”

His mother placed a hand over his.

“You don’t have to tell us everything,” she said softly. “But be careful, okay?”

That again.

Be careful.

Eli pulled his hand back slightly.

“…Everyone keeps saying that.”

His father’s gaze sharpened just a little.

“Then maybe you should listen.”

Eli sighed.

“…I’m not a kid.”

“No,” his father agreed. “But you’re not untouchable either.”

Silence settled over the table.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Eli looked away first.

“…I’ll be careful.”

It wasn’t a promise.

But it was enough.

For now.

Outside—

Not far from the house—

Two figures stood hidden in the shadows.

Watching.

“Is that him?”

The voice was low.

Curious.

The second figure didn’t answer immediately.

Just stared.

“…Yes.”

A pause.

“He doesn’t look like much.”

“He doesn’t need to.”

The first one tilted their head.

“…So it’s true? Kieran marked him?”

Silence.

Then—

“Yes.”

The air shifted.

Uneasy.

“That’s dangerous.”

“Everything about him is.”

A faint smile appeared on the second figure’s face.

“…This might be more interesting than we thought.”

Eli stepped out of the house later that day.

Phone in hand.

Texting.

Eli: I’ll meet you at the same place.

He hit send and slipped the phone back into his pocket.

Then paused.

That feeling again.

Subtle.

But there.

He turned slightly.

Scanning the area.

Nothing.

Just the quiet street.

“…I hate this.”

Still—

He couldn’t shake it.

Like something was watching.

Not close.

But not far either.

Eli clenched his jaw.

“…If this is you again—”

“It’s not.”

Eli turned sharply.

Kieran stood behind him.

Of course he did.

“…You need to stop doing that,” Eli said.

“You need to stop being unaware,” Kieran replied.

Eli frowned.

“…So it is you.”

Kieran shook his head slightly.

“No.”

Eli paused.

“…Then what?”

Kieran’s gaze shifted briefly—

Past Eli.

Scanning.

Sharp.

Alert.

“…You’re being watched.”

Eli’s stomach dropped slightly.

“…By who?”

Kieran didn’t answer immediately.

Which was already a bad sign.

“…Kieran.”

His voice lowered.

“Not here.”

Eli scoffed lightly.

“…You always say that.”

“Because it’s always true.”

Eli crossed his arms.

“…Then say something useful for once.”

Kieran’s gaze snapped back to him.

“You shouldn’t go out today.”

Eli stared at him.

“…No.”

“Eli—”

“I said no,” Eli cut in. “I’m not cancelling again.”

Kieran stepped closer.

Frustration slipping through.

“This isn’t about you anymore.”

Eli laughed once.

“…It was never about me to you.”

That—

That hit.

Kieran’s expression hardened.

“You don’t understand the situation.”

“Then make me understand!”

Silence.

Again.

Always silence.

Eli shook his head.

“…Exactly.”

His phone buzzed.

He pulled it out.

Charlotte: I’m already here 

Eli exhaled.

“…I’m going.”

Kieran’s voice dropped.

“If you go, I’m coming with you.”

Eli looked at him.

“…No, you’re not.”

“I am.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Eli stepped closer.

Frustration clear now.

“You are not coming on my date.”

The word lingered.

Date.

Kieran’s gaze darkened immediately.

“…Then I’ll stay close.”

Eli shook his head.

“…You’re impossible.”

“And you’re in danger.”

Eli held his gaze.

“…Then protect me from a distance.”

A pause.

Then—

“…Like you always do.”

Kieran froze.

Just slightly.

Eli didn’t notice.

But that line—

It landed.

Deep.

Kieran’s voice came quieter.

“…You don’t know what you’re saying.”

Eli frowned.

“…Then explain it.”

But Kieran didn’t.

Of course he didn’t.

Eli sighed.

“…I’m leaving.”

He walked past him.

This time—

Kieran didn’t stop him.

But his eyes followed.

Sharp.

Calculating.

From the shadows—

The two figures watched.

“…He’s going out.”

“…Good.”

A faint smile.

“Let’s see how far this goes.”