3

I couldn’t shake the feeling he’d left behind, like an invisible presence still lurking in the shop, even though he was long gone.

I stepped outside, locking the door behind me, and breathed in the cool evening air.

Mexico City was always alive, buzzing with energy.

But tonight, something felt different.

I glanced around, feeling uneasy again.

There was no one there—just a few people hurrying home, the distant sound of cars and street vendors packing up for the night.

But it was the same feeling I’d had before, like someone was watching.

Stop being paranoid, I told myself. It’s just your imagination.

I pulled my coat tighter around me and started walking down the street toward my apartment.

The sky was a deep shade of blue, stars barely visible through the city lights.

Usually, I loved this time of day—the way the city quieted down, the way the streets felt familiar and safe.

But tonight, nothing felt safe.

My thoughts kept returning to the man.

He hadn’t done anything wrong, really.

He was just another customer, someone passing through.

But there was something in his eyes, something that made my skin crawl.

They were so intense, like he could see right through me, past my walls, straight into my soul.

I turned down the narrow alley that led to my apartment, my heart beating a little faster than usual.

The alley was dimly lit, but I’d walked this way a hundred times before.

It was safe.

Or at least, it had always felt safe.

Halfway down the alley, I paused, glancing over my shoulder.

There was nothing there.

Just the quiet street behind me, the occasional hum of a car passing by.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling.

Someone was watching.

8

AMIR

From the shadowed corner of the alley, I watched her.

She walked with purpose, her eyes flicking nervously over her shoulder every few steps.

She knew.

Even if she didn’t understand what she was feeling, she knew something was wrong.

Good.

The fear would help.

It would bring her closer to me, make her realize she needed me to keep her safe from the things she didn’t understand.

I’d seen it a hundred times before—innocence shattered by the weight of the world.

But with her, it was different.

I wasn’t just breaking her for the sake of control.

I wanted her to see me, to know that I was the one watching, the one protecting her in the shadows.

I stayed back, out of sight, letting her feel the unease but never showing myself.

Not yet.

She wasn’t ready.

But soon, she would be.

She turned into her building, disappearing from my view.

I lingered a moment longer, watching the light flicker on in her window.

She was home, safe, for now.

Pulling my coat tighter around me, I stepped back into the shadows.

I wouldn’t be far.

Not ever.

9

MARIANA

I closed the door to my apartment and leaned against it, exhaling a shaky breath.

I was being ridiculous, letting my imagination get the best of me.

But the feeling of being watched wouldn’t go away.

I locked the door, double-checking the bolts before moving into the tiny living room.

My apartment was small but cozy, filled with books and soft lighting.

It should have felt comforting, like a retreat from the chaos of the city.

But tonight, it felt like the walls were closing in.

I glanced out the window, my eyes scanning the street below.

Nothing.

Just the usual cars, the occasional pedestrian.

But still, the feeling gnawed at me.

Shaking my head, I turned away and grabbed a book from the shelf, settling onto the couch.

Reading always helped calm my nerves.

But as I tried to focus on the words, my mind kept drifting back to him.

The man with the dark eyes, the way he’d looked at me, the way his presence had filled the room.

I didn’t even know his name, but I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

I closed the book, frustrated.

Why was he still in my head?

Maybe I was overreacting.

Maybe he was just a customer, a stranger who happened to have an intense stare.

But something told me there was more to it, something I couldn’t explain.

And that scared me.