Chapter 3: A new start

Someone is watching me.

 

Again.

 

I sigh quietly at my own paranoia.

 

This is what happens when you watch too many horror TikToks before bed. Suddenly every creaking floorboard becomes a ghost and every shadow turns into a lurking spirit waiting to drag you into the darkness.

 

Still…

 

The feeling won’t go away.

 

I glance toward the closed bathroom door. Behind it stretches the narrow hallway that leads to my bedroom. The light there has been broken for months. No matter who my sister calls to fix it, the stupid thing refuses to work.

 

Which means that every time I walk through that corridor at night, I have to do it in complete darkness unless I bring my phone, which I often forget.

 

It’s the perfect setting for a horror movie.

 

I’m convinced there’s a ghost living in that hallway. Some angry little spirit that watches me whenever I pass by. I can almost feel it glaring at me now.

 

Behind me, the bathroom window stands open to let the steam escape. Cool night air drifts inside, brushing over my skin. The soft baby-blue towel wrapped around my body feels warm and comforting as I run my fingers slowly through my damp hair while studying myself in the mirror.

 

My face is covered in a dark green layer of muddy face mask. My body lotion is slowly drying into my skin, leaving a faint floral scent in the air.

 

Everything should feel relaxing. Peaceful.

 

But the sensation of being watched lingers like a whisper crawling across my skin.

 

My heart beats a little faster than it should. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up. My skin prickles with awareness.

 

It’s been like this for weeks now.

 

Every now and then that strange sensation creeps up on me, like invisible eyes following my movements.

 

As always, I try to ignore it.

 

I rinse the mask from my face and pat my skin dry before rubbing moisturizer into my cheeks. Then I work some gel through my curls, scrunching the strands so they’ll behave tomorrow morning.

 

When I’m done, I step toward the open window and lean slightly forward, letting the cold night air cool my flushed face.

 

The quiet street outside is dark and still. Only a few cars are parked below me.

 

I close the window with a soft sigh and turn toward the bathroom door. The hallway beyond waits in silent darkness.

 

If only I had a handsome man to protect me.

 

Instead, when I open the door—

 

“Jesus!”

 

I jump back so violently I nearly trip over my own feet.

 

My sister is standing there. Right outside the door. Her face is buried deep in her phone.

 

Clutching my chest, I stare at her with wide eyes while my heart attempts to escape through my ribs.

 

She slowly lifts her head, completely unfazed by my near-death experience.

 

“Finally,” she says calmly. “I’ve been waiting here for twenty minutes.”

 

I blink at her. “In the hallway?” I hiss. “Are you trying to kill me? It’s creepy out here. You could’ve knocked.”

 

The old wooden floor creaks under my bare feet as I step into the dark corridor. The cold boards immediately make me shiver.

 

“I figured you could use the time to enjoy yourself,” Zara says as she casually steps into the bathroom behind me.

 

She pauses.

 

Then she raises one eyebrow while surveying the battlefield of skincare products scattered across every available surface. “Well,” she says slowly. “I guess you did.”

 

Her gaze sweeps over the endless collection of bottles. “Was there a sale at Lush or something?”

 

I stick my tongue out at her.

 

“They sent me the wrong order,” I explain. “Apparently someone bought half the store and somehow used my name and address.”

 

Her other eyebrow lifts.

 

“They told me to keep everything,” I add proudly.

 

Zara stares at the mountain of lotions, tonics, masks, candles, bath bombs and hair products surrounding the sink.

 

“That’s…” she begins. Her eyes widen slightly. “…very generous.” She gestures vaguely at the display. “This is hundreds of dollars worth of stuff.”

 

“And I’m thoroughly enjoying it,” I sing happily as I skip down the hallway toward my bedroom.

 

The floor creaks beneath my steps as I flick on the light inside my room. My oversized sleeping shirt is draped across the chair beside my bed, and I pull it over my head before dropping the towel onto the floor.

 

Oversized shirt. Granny panties. Best sleeping outfit in existence.

 

And I will absolutely die on that hill.

 

I grab my phone from the bedside table and smile when I see the group chat lighting up with messages.

 

Apparently my friends are just as excited for tomorrow as I am.

 

Delilah: what are our outfit plans? Sam: a sexy red dress Tessa: Sam, you're gay. Why would you care about a sexy red dress? Sam: I’m interested in the drama it will bring. I want to see Nick sweat when he sees Delilah.

 

I huff softly at the screen.

 

Nick. Delilah’s ex-boyfriend.

 

He dumped her right before summer break and spent the entire summer partying like he’d just escaped prison. His I*******m has been flooded with photos of random girls and dramatic quotes about “toxic exes.”

 

Meanwhile Delilah spent weeks crying on my couch.

 

I type quickly.

 

Raven: I vote sexy red dress. Show him what he’s missing.

 

I toss the phone onto my bed and walk over to the window to close the gray curtains.

 

Just as my fingers reach the fabric—

 

A sudden flash catches the corner of my peripheral vision. Like a camera flash.

 

I freeze.

 

The light comes from somewhere down the street. It’s bright enough that it momentarily blinds me, leaving white streaks dancing across my vision. I blink rapidly and look outside.

 

The street is quiet. Almost ghostly.

 

A thin layer of mist is beginning to settle between the trees across from our house. A few parked cars line the curb, their surfaces gleaming under the streetlights.

 

A black cat strolls lazily between them.

 

Otherwise…

 

Nothing. No movement. No light. No person standing there watching.

 

I stare for another few seconds.

 

Still nothing.

 

Finally, I pull the curtains closed.

 

A moment later I crawl into bed, pulling the warm blankets up to my chin. The light clicks off. Darkness settles gently around the room. Slowly, as sleep begins to pull me under, that strange feeling fades. The sense of being watched disappears…

 

Just as I drift into dreams.

 

--

 

The door falls shut behind me with a sharp click. I don’t move.

 

Instead, I stand there in the driveway, frowning at my car.

 

Something feels… wrong.

 

My eyes drift slowly toward the tires. Did I always have those?

 

I take a step closer, squinting slightly.

 

The pattern in the rubber is intricate, far more detailed than I remember. The grooves cut deep and sharp across the surface, the kind designed to grip icy roads.

 

My frown deepens.

 

I swear they used to look… simpler. Cheaper.

 

“What the fuck?” I mutter under my breath.

 

Slowly, I crouch down beside the wheel. My fingers brush over the rubber.

 

Clean. Completely clean. No mud. No dust. No rain residue. It looks like the tire has never even touched the road.

 

And then I realize something else. They’re winter tires. My stomach twists slightly.

 

I definitely did not buy winter tires.

 

Did Zara do this? But when? And why would she replace all four tires without even telling me?

 

I straighten slightly and check the license plate just to be sure. Yep. Definitely my car.

 

I remain crouched there for several seconds, staring at the wheel while my brain tries to make sense of it.

 

Nothing. No explanation comes.

 

Finally, I sigh and stand up before sliding into the driver’s seat.

 

The car smells faintly like leather and vanilla air freshener. I fasten the small black belt around my lightblue-colored high-waisted jeans and tug my white shirt neatly into place.

 

Simple. Comfortable. Not too revealing, but fitted enough to look good.

 

My favorite diamond necklace rests lightly against my collarbone, catching the morning light. The fake diamond clips in my hair hold my thick curls in place. A little sparkle never hurt anyone.

 

I flip down the mirror and touch up my nude lipstick before starting the engine. A few minutes later I’m pulling onto the road.

 

Despite the rain still lingering on the asphalt, the car doesn’t slip or swerve even once. Not a single wobble. The tires grip the road perfectly.

 

Maybe an angel sat on my shoulder last night and secretly replaced them for me. Maybe I would’ve died without them. The thought makes me snort quietly as I drive toward campus.

 

Soon the familiar university buildings come into view. The parking lot is already filling with cars. Students returning after the summer break, backpacks slung over shoulders, coffee cups clutched in sleepy hands.

 

I drive toward my usual spot. It’s one I haven’t used in weeks. Just as I pull in, I notice a sleek sports car parked beside it.

 

Flashy. Expensive. The kind of car that looks like it belongs in a movie.

 

I slow down immediately, concentrating hard while parking beside it. The last thing I want is to accidentally scratch something that probably costs more than my entire house.

 

When the engine finally shuts off, I glance at the vehicle again. My frown returns. Whose car is that?

 

I step out carefully, making sure my door doesn’t even come close to touching the glossy black surface beside me. The paint gleams like polished glass. Definitely expensive.

 

I sling my bag over my shoulder—

And immediately get tackled.

 

“Raven!”

 

Two squealing girls crash into me from the side. “I can’t believe you’re alive!” Delilah shrieks happily into my ear.

 

“Working all summer long!” Tessa wails dramatically. “You wasted the best months of your life!”

 

Their arms wrap around me as if they’re afraid I might disappear again. I burst out laughing. It’s true. I did spend the entire summer working.

 

I basically had no social life and only saw the inside of the diner and the inside of my house.

 

Not exactly glamorous.

 

But Evee needed the help. So I showed up.

Every single day.

 

“But look at my new car!” I protest proudly, sliding my hand across the sleek red paint of my Audi.

 

A loud whistle cuts through the moment. “Well, that IS nice,” Sam says, raising his eyebrows as he approaches us. He circles the car like a judge inspecting a show horse. “I guess you’re the designated driver now.”

 

“You wish,” I shoot back, sticking my tongue out at him before pulling him into a hug. “I’ve been working all summer,” I add. “Now it’s my time to unwind.”

 

I lean back slightly, studying their faces. “I heard some house parties are already being planned?”

 

Sam’s grin widens. “That’s correct,” he says, tapping my nose playfully. “And the first one will be mine.”

 

His chest puffs up with pride. “I’m throwing the best house party this university has ever seen. It’s going to be the perfect way to start the new academic year.”

 

Tessa makes a dramatic gagging sound. “Show-off.”

 

Sam flips her off with elegant precision before throwing an arm around my shoulders. “Come on,” he says, steering us toward the main building. “Class is about to start.”

 

As we walk toward the entrance, I glance back once toward the parking lot. The black sports car sits silently beside mine. The windows are dark. Impossible to see through. I wouldn't know if someone is sitting there.

 

For a brief moment, the strange sensation creeps back up my spine.

 

That same feeling.

 

Like someone is watching me.