Novel & Cerita Ghosted

TENANT GROUP CHAT: 2D (Luca): oh look the newlyweds are online 3A (Ester): does that mean they survived 4C: if they start knocking boots during the storm I am using earplugs I swear to god Ember nearly threw her phone across the room. “Ghost,” she hissed, “fix this.” He leaned over her shoulder just far enough to read the screen. “No,” he said simply. She stared at him like he’d grown a second head. “No?” Another message pinged. Luca: did he carry you bridal style or what

The speed at which Esra got there. And now, I'm bored again. Unknown Number: Hey! There is a ghost on your side. Me: Oh? Ghost your face! Do you like to be a ghost? I told you not to text, did I? You waste my time. Unknown Number: If I wasted your time, why are you replying to me anyway? Me: Bored. Unknown Number: Hope all bored. : D Me: You know your passion for emoticons. Unknown Number: For more feelings.

Subtle, but I notice everything. Klaus de Luca. He didn’t see me as he entered a room alone. I didn’t hesitate. Silently, smoothly, I followed. The door was just starting to close when— CRASH! A vase flew at my head. I ducked instinctively, the ceramic shattering against the wall behind me. I straightened slowly, blade already drawn. Then I heard his voice. Low. Calculated. “So... you’re the Ghost Knife. The woman with no past. No future. Who sent you ? .”

I almost jumped out of my chair as I snatched my phone off the desk. Zane: Hey Cinderella. My face screwed into a frown but it barely held its form as I typed. Me: You decided to ghost me after pleading for me to respond to your text. Not cool, fairy godmother. The three dots bounced and his chat bubble appeared. Zane: Sorry. Had been tackling something. He sent a sticker of a person violently pleading. A soft smile brushed my lips. Me: So what are you doing? An image filled our dm with a caption that just woke up.

Ghost’s fingers flew across the keyboard, screens reflecting off his glasses in rapid flashes of blue and white. Every camera feed in the city was up. Every traffic cam. Every toll booth. Every intersection. And none of it was enough. “She’s in a black sedan,” Ghost muttered. “Tinted windows. No plates. They knew what they were doing.” I paced behind him, chest tight, hands shaking. I couldn’t sit. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.

June Miller did not like silence. In the Lower District, silence usually meant someone was holding their breath before a fight. She sat in the back of the neon-lit deli, tapping her fingernails against a chipped plastic table. Lydia was three hours late. Lydia was never late. June pulled out her phone. She sent a tenth text. If you’re ghosting me for that suit from the bar, I’m stealing your shoes. No reply. The "read" receipt didn't even trigger.

Still disconnected. Fuck. Come on Zoey pick up. Pick up please.

I call him predictable. I pull out my phone and type a quick text. Me: 'Where are you? Been waiting ten minutes. It's about to rain'. I wait. Three dots don't appear. Nothing. Of course. I scroll up to our last conversation. Three days ago. He sent me a meme about medical school burnout. I sent back a picture of my half-eaten sandwich. Normal sibling stuff. Now he's ghosting me when I need a ride. Typical. I call him. It rings once. Twice. Then....

Wendy was stunned when the call disconnected. It was the first time I'd ever ended the call on her. And why did I do it before even explaining myself properly? She still didn't know where I was. She called me again, only to hear the robotic voice telling her, "The number you have dialed cannot be reached at this moment. Please try again later." Wendy tried to text me, but when the messages didn't go through, her mind went blank.