***

Although I hesitated, curiosity won me over.

I needed to know who the stalker was. If they were Charlie's killer... I wanted to get justice.

I sent Jace a quick message about how I would be helping Lucas with something and will be home later. He didn't respond and I took it as him being busy.

Some students glanced our way as I swung my leg over the back of Lucas' black motorcycle, but we sped off before any whispers could catch up to us.

The ride to Ashfield was faster than when I had my moped, but two hours on the back of a roaring bike was torture. Every bump in the road sent sharp jolts through my lower body, making me bite my lip to keep from wincing. My legs ached and the vibrations weren't doing me any favors either.

But I didn't complain.

By the time we pulled up in front of my childhood home, the late afternoon sun was dipping lower, casting long shadows across the familiar worn-out driveway. I swung my leg off the bike, but my knees nearly gave out.

Lucas snorted, watching me with a smile.

"You act like we rode for twenty hours instead of two."

"My legs..." I groaned, rubbing my thighs. "They... feel weak."

He chuckled at that.

"Now how did that happen?"

My face burned as I quickly looked away.

"Maybe you should wait here while I check the fort," he offered.

"No." I straightened, ignoring the ache in my hips. "I want to see for myself."

He studied me for a moment, fingers running absently through his bleached hair. His dark roots were growing out again.

"Even when we retrieve the camera, it'll take days to go through all the footage," he said. "We don't know exactly when the stalker showed up."

"I don't care," I said. "I still want to see."

Lucas sighed, then smirked as he turned toward the trees.

"Alright then, Starling," he said. "Let's go."

With that, the two of us stepped into Blackthorn Forest, the towering pine trees quickly surrounding us. The deeper we walked, the more eerie it felt. The only sound that followed was the rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig beneath our feet.

Memories stirred with every step. The days spent running through these woods, barefoot and wild. I missed it more than anything.

I pulled my coat tighter around myself, glancing at Lucas. The late sunlight filtering through the trees caught the dark roots growing in at the base of his white hair.

"Your dark hair's coming back," I said.

He ran a hand through it.

"Yeah. Haven't had time to fix it."

"Are you going to bleach it again?"

"Maybe." He shot me a look. "What do you think?"

I hesitated before answering.

"I... like your dark hair."

He chuckled at that.

"You probably just want me to look like Charlie."

My brows lifted.

"No, that's not—"

"Relax." He waved me off, his voice light, but I saw the shadow cross his expression. "I don't blame you. The reason I dyed my hair after he went missing was because every time I looked in the mirror, for a second I thought it was Charlie." He sighed, kicking a rock as we walked. "I still see his face everything. In strangers too. It would get my hopes up. Like... Is that him? Was this all a mistake? Was it someone else in that river?"

I looked at him, my throat tightening.

Lucas gave a humorless chuckle.

"Even though it was his sports bag, and he wore that necklace he never went without... I really wanted it to be a mistake."

He pushed a low-hanging branch out of the way, letting me pass first.

"You know my dad was a forensics officer," he continued. "I grew up listening to case files at the dinner table. It was fascinating. Solving crimes. Finding patterns. But when Charlie became a case... I think I lost my mind a little. Dad too. I mean, he's retired but I could see it still hurt."

I swallowed.

"Lucas..."

He shook his head, stuffing his hands in his hoodie pockets.

"When the DNA came back as his, it really crushed all the hope I had with me. Now every time I glimpse someone that looks like him... It just feels cruel."

I didn't know what to say to that.

"Your face, by-the-way," he said suddenly, glancing at me. "It looks kinda swollen. Did something happen again?"

"Oh..."

My hand went up to touch the spot on my cheek. The swelling had dropped a lot since last night, but I suppose it was still a little noticeable.

"I bumped my head," I lied with an awkward smile. "Pretty boring, right?"

"Hm."

Lucas didn't press further. Just watched me a moment longer.

We fell into silence, walking deeper into the forest. The trees thinned just enough to reveal the old fort.

It looked smaller than I remembered. A weathered shack nestled between two thick trunks, the wood warped and cracked with time. Moss clung to the edges, and one of the walls was half-collapsed, exposing the inside to the elements.

A lump formed in my throat as I stared at it.

The three of us built that.

How many nights had we sat inside, dreaming of a life away from everything?

"Let's run away, Lucy," Charlie would grin at me. "Just the two of us. We'll live in the forest where no one can find us."

"Isn't that scary?"

"It's okay. I will take care of you," he said, hugging me. "We don't need anything else. I'll hunt and find food, and you can grow a garden. How's that?"

"Can Lucas come as well?"

Charlie stopped smiling.

"It will just be us, Lucy," he said. "You and me. Forever."

I stared at the ruined fort as the memory faded.

Lucas went to retrieve the hidden camera, crouching near the base of a tree where he had concealed it. I barely noticed, too lost in the past.

Everything here felt haunted now.

But maybe it wasn't the forest.

Maybe it was me.

Lucas dusted off his black jeans as he straightened, the small hidden camera now secure in his hand. He turned to me with a satisfied grin.

"Well, that's that. We can head back now."

I nodded, but a strange weight settled in my chest. I glanced back at the ruined fort, a piece of my childhood decaying before my eyes. It felt wrong to leave it behind again, like I was abandoning the past all over.

Lucas must have noticed the shift in my mood because he nudged my shoulder playfully.

"Come on, Starling. Don't look so heartbroken. You know, I was thinking—" He smirked. "Remember that time we tried to build a second floor? Nearly got ourselves killed?"

A small laugh escaped me.

"I still have the scar on my ankle from that fall, thanks to someone daring me to climb higher."

"Don't worry, Charlie gave me a scar to match," he chuckled. "I deserved it."

I rolled my eyes, but my chest felt a little lighter as we walked out of the trees. The sight of the open sky greeted us, painted in hues of gold and red as the sun sank behind the horizon.

The warmth of the moment, however, was short-lived.

A sleek red car pulled up the gravel driveway, its headlights cutting through the dimming light. My breath caught in my throat as the driver's door swung open.

Jace stepped out.

He looked completely at ease, a small, casual smile playing on his lips as he lifted a hand and waved me over. The red glow of sunset made his sharp features even more striking.

Lucas stiffened beside me.

"What the hell is he doing here?"

Jace strode toward us with his usual calm confidence, closing the space between us before draping an arm over my shoulders.

"Hello, Luce. I trust my girlfriend had a fun little trip?" he smiled.

"Hey, why are you here?" Lucas asked, blue eyes narrowed.

Jace glanced toward him, the red of the sunset glinting in his eyes.

"Luce told me where she was going," he said smoothly. "I was worried, so I came to pick my girlfriend up."

His tone was light, but there was a subtle bite to it.

Lucas scoffed.

"She's fine. We were just heading back."

Jace's arm was still around me, his fingers faintly tracing my side.

"Even so... I don't feel comfortable with my girlfriend spending so much time alone with another man. You understand, don't you?"

Lucas' expression darkened, his jaw tightening.

"I didn't think you were the jealous type," he scoffed.

Jace smirked.

"Jealousy implies I want something someone else has," he said. "To me, that sounds like the person wandering with another man's woman."

Lucas's hands flexed and in turn, Jace's grin grew.

"Well, I'll be off then." He turned to me, kissing my head. "Let's go home, Luce."

Jace's hold on me tightened, just slightly, before he led me toward his car.

"Ah, goodbye Lucas," I called out, smiling as I waved at him.

He waved back but didn't return the smile.

The moment I slid into the passenger seat, Jace buckled me in and shut the door behind. Still smirking, he got in the driver's side and drove us off.

For a while, neither of us spoke. The town blurred past, the sky darkening by the minute.

Then, I glanced at him.

"How did you know exactly where I was?" I asked.

Jace chuckled softly, one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on my thigh.

"Come on, Luce. You got a new phone. Of course, it has a tracker."

I blinked.

"You... put a tracker on my phone?"

"Just in case you get into trouble," he said smoothly. His tone was so nonchalant, like he had done nothing out of the ordinary.

Though I suppose tracking someone was low on his list of questionable acts.

I should have been more bothered by it. Maybe a part of me was. But another part, one much more present, felt warm at the thought.

Unlike before, when he had barely reacted to me spending the night with Lucas, this time, he had shown up. No hesitation.

I loved this small act of possession.

It really felt like I belonged to him.

And that he wanted me.

Even though I knew it was probably just an act, it was working.

Classical music filled the car as we drove back to New Hale, Blackthorn Forest passing us, stretching on forever.

"You know," Jace suddenly said, startling me. "I don't really want you hanging around Lucas anymore."

I looked at him.

"What?"

His eyes stayed on the road, but his grip on the wheel tightened slightly.

"I don't want you hanging around any guys, actually."

A small laugh escaped me.

"Jace, Lucas and I are friends. It's fine to have friends, isn't it?"

His brows furrowed.

"Friends of opposite gender don't usually want to stay friends," he said.

I scoffed.

"That's silly. You have female friends, too, you know."

He glanced at me with a raised brow.

"Like Cindy," I said, watching him. "You two seem... close."

He chuckled at that and returned his attention to the road.

"Do we?" he mused.

I frowned.

"Well, you are... She... She told me herself. She said she thinks of you as an older brother." My eyes stayed pinned on Jace for a reaction. "At Halloween she even said she'd kill me if I hurt you. Seems pretty... close to me."

Jace tapped a finger on the wheel as he hummed.

"Did she now?"

Nothing about his reaction told me if Cindy could be his partner.

I exhaled and leaned back against the seat. The silence between us stretched as the ride continued. My phone vibrated in my lap, breaking me from my thoughts.

I glanced down. A message from my mom.

Mom: I thought the police was going to pay me for talking to Doctor Whitlock? They called me in like they were, and I talked to this woman, but then they said I'm not getting compensated? I even bought a new outfit for this so I can look nice. Now I'm short on money.

My eyes widened.

That's right... This week, Dr Whitlock was talking to my family about me. I nearly forgot because of Lucas.

I hope it wasn't too much stress for Mom...

Without hesitation, I opened my banking app and wired her some cash. I still had a lot left after all my sessions with Wikus. This was nothing.

Jace glanced over.

"Who was that?"

I locked my phone.

"Uh, my mom just told me about her day. She had to see Doctor Whitlock. They still have me as a suspect, so they have me attend the psychology sessions twice a week. This week they're talking to my family."

Jace nodded at that.

"I suppose with all the missing cases, the police are having a hard time."

"Yeah..."

He didn't add anything else, and the rest of the drive passed quietly.

When we finally pulled up in front of my apartment, Jace walked me to my door but stopped before coming in.

"I want to stay," he murmured, his fingers idly tracing my coat sleeve.

I tilted my head.

"Then stay."

He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head.

"Can't. I have work to take care of. And in the morning, I have to leave for a trip. My parents aren't in the country right now, so they asked me to attend the board meeting for them this week."

I frowned slightly.

"How... How long will you be gone?"

He watched me, his eyes seeming genuinely regretful.

"I'll be back around Friday," he said.

My smile faded.

"Oh..."

"Hey, I heard Heather invited you for the fundraiser Saturday," he said, lifting my chin up with a charming smile. "How about we go together? It's a formal event so you get to dress all pretty."

My eyes lit up.

"As a date?" I asked.

He chuckled, ruffling my hair.

"Exactly."

I melted at the offer, already imagining him in a tux.

"That would be perfect," I smiled. "I'd love it."

"Then I look forward to it," he grinned. He leaned down, kissing me briefly but sweetly on the lips before pulling back. "I'll say goodbye now. Eat something and sleep early, okay?"

I rolled my eyes but smiled.

"Yes, sir."

"Good girl," he murmured with a smile, and left

I stepped inside my apartment, locking the door behind me. Almost instantly, my three friends trotted over, their tails high as they meowed in greeting.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm back," I smiled, bending down to scratch behind Chaucer's ears before heading to the kitchen.

I filled their bowls with food, listening to the soft sound of them eating as I leaned against the counter. My stomach rumbled, but I felt too lazy to cook anything complicated. After a moment of deliberation, I grabbed a bag of frozen fries and tossed them in the air fryer. Simple enough.

While waiting for them to cook, I grabbed one of the cat toys and began playing with Eliot who always seemed to have too much energy. I laughed at the way his body contorted every time he pounced at the toy, black paws reaching for dear life.

Once the fries were ready, I threw them onto a plate and grabbed some ketchup before stepping onto the balcony. A cool breeze kissed my skin as I settled into one of the chairs, popping a fry into my mouth.

The quiet streets stretched out before me, cars passing leisurely in the dark. I chewed slowly, as I glanced around the small balcony.

How many pots could I fit in here? Would it be possible to grow a little herb garden? Maybe some tomatoes?

I swallowed another fry, my gaze lazily shifting down toward the street below.

My eye almost instantly caught onto something strange.

A cold breeze ruffled my hair, goosebumps slowly spreading down my arms.

There, standing across the street, a figure stood. Their gray hoodie pulled up, face obscured.

Watching me.

My breathing stilled.

I sat frozen, fingers tightening slightly around my plate. My heart picked up, thudding against my ribs.

Was it... the stalker?

What do I do? Do I go inside? Call someone?

Maybe it was just a regular person? Didn't the stalker wear a black hoodie? This one was gray... Maybe it wasn't them. Maybe I was just paranoid.

With all these thoughts, I wasn't thinking straight as I lifted my hand and waved at the figure.

"Hello," I called with a smile, not sure if they could hear me from so far away.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then, the figure turned sharply and walked away, disappearing into the night.

I exhaled, shoulders sinking.

It was probably just a regular person.

Still, I stayed outside for another few minutes, scanning the street, before finishing my fries and heading back inside.

Shaking off the weird feeling, I washed my plates, took a shower, and crawled into bed. My plushies lined up neatly against my pillows, their stitched eyes watching over me.

As I pulled the blanket up to my chin, my cats jumped onto the bed, curling up beside me. Chaucer nestled near my legs, Eliot against my back, and Orwel, as always, settled onto the pillow beside me.

With their warmth surrounding me, my body relaxed.

The last thing I remembered before sleep pulled me under was the image of that hooded figure, standing in the dark.

Watching.

***

One moment, I was lost in the warmth of my bed, wrapped in the soft fur of my cats and the lingering scent of Jace's cologne. The next, I was standing by my apartment door, staring at the handle as if waiting for it to turn on its own.

I knew this place. I knew this day.

It was that day.

I turned away from the door, moving down the hall with quiet, careful steps. I didn't want anyone to see me. My heart pounded with the same nervous energy I'd felt back then.

George's room was unlocked. It always was.

I slipped inside and grabbed one of his hoodies, tugging it over my head. It was big on me, the fabric swallowing my frame as I pulled the hood up.

Good. If I really was going to go through with this... It was important that nobody sees me.

Leaving the apartment was easy. I knew how to avoid the creaky spots in the floor, how to close the door without a sound. The moment I stepped outside, I kept my head low and walked down the curb.

I knew where to go...

A shrill ringing shattered the dream.

I gasped awake, heart pounding.

The room was dark, my plushies skewed, the warmth of my cats still lingering against the blankets. I barely had time to process the dream before I heard it again — my phone ringing loudly against the nightstand.

Still half-asleep, I rolled onto my side and squinted at the screen.

Mom.

My heart pounded even louder. What time was it? Why was she calling past midnight?

I fumbled to answer.

"Mom?"

She was sobbing. Hysterical. I sat up so fast, my vision blurred.

"Lucy— Lucy, you have to come! Now! The hospital! It's David—"

My stomach dropped.

"What happened?" I threw the blanket off, already moving.

"He— He's badly hurt, Lucy! These men came out of nowhere. These thugs! Oh God, I don't know what to do! Get here right now! We're at New Hale Hospital."

It wasn't far from here at all.

"I'm coming!"

I hung up, heart slamming against my ribs. My hands shook as I pulled on the first clothes I found, yanking a coat over my shoulders before grabbing my keys.

The cats meowed as I rushed out, but I didn't stop.

I raced down the stairs, barely registering the cold as I hopped onto Pepper and sped into the night. The wind stung my face, my hands gripping the handles so tight my knuckles turned white.

The streets blurred past me. By the time I screeched into the hospital parking lot, my body was thrumming with adrenaline.

Inside, I spotted my mom immediately. She was a wreck — mascara smudged, hands clutching at her blond hair as she sobbed into a tissue.

"Lucy!" she choked out. "What took you so long!? David is— David—"

"Mom!" I grabbed her arms, trying to steady her. "What happened? Who did this?"

"I— I don't know!" She shook her head frantically. "They weren't loan sharks! I swear! I've never seen them before. But they—" She hiccupped through a sob. "They were criminals, Lucy! You could see it in their eyes! They didn't even steal anything! They just beat him."

My insides twisted painfully.

Macey was sitting nearby in the waiting area, hunched over her phone, fingers moving rapidly over the screen. She looked fine, but I couldn't stop myself from worrying.

I rushed over.

"Macey? Are you okay?"

She barely glanced up, flipping her beautiful brown hair over her should.

"I'm fine."

She kept typing.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of her screen and the messages.

Rory: You're so pretty. I really wanna meet you.

Macey: Soon ig?

Rory: When is soon?

Macey: Don't rush so much. You might not like what you see.

Rory: But you're so pretty... :(

Something about it made my skin crawl. But I couldn't focus on that now.

"Where's George?" I asked, glancing around as if he could appear.

Macey scoffed, eyes still on her screen.

"George moved out after we got back from the trip. Didn't say where he'll be staying."

I frowned.

Was he alright?

This really was a lot to take in...

I sighed and turned back to my mom.

"How bad is it? Will David be fine?"

She wiped at her face.

"Broken bones... bruised ribs..." Her voice wavered. "But the real problem is the hospital bills, Lucy. We can't afford this."

I didn't hesitate.

"I'll pay."

My mother's tear-filled eyes met mine, pure relief shining across her face.

"Oh good," she whimpered, sinking into the waiting seat. "This really is too much stress on me."

I stayed at the hospital for as long as I could, checking in on David. He looked awful. His face swollen, bruises covering his arms, bandages wrapped around his ribs. Seeing him like that made my hands shake with worry.

He was asleep when I sat by his bedside, my mom curled up in the chair beside him, exhausted from all the crying. Macey sat in the corner, still glued to her phone.

I wanted to ask her about the messages. About who was texting her.

But not now.

Once I was sure they were stable, I forced myself to leave.

By the time I got home, it was nearly three in the morning. The city outside was quiet, wrapped in that eerie stillness that only came with the dead of night.

I knew I should sleep.

But I couldn't.

My thoughts kept racing. Flashes of David's bruised face, my mom's tears, Macey's distracted expression. It was too much.

So instead, I cleaned.

I scrubbed the counters, broomed the floors, mopped, did the laundry, reorganized the fridge, and even wiped down the windows. Anything to keep my hands busy.

By the time the sun rose, my body ached with exhaustion. But at least the apartment was spotless.

I collapsed onto the couch, phone in hand.

I felt terrible about leaving my family like that.

After a moment of hesitation, I wired my mom more money.

Lucy: Use this for whatever you need. Make sure everyone is taken care of. I'm sorry I'm not there.

She didn't reply right away, but I knew she would accept it.

I sighed, rubbing my eyes.

Macey's texts still nagged at me. The man messaging her... Who was he? If she met him on a dating app, wasn't he too old for her? How did she even get on there?

I needed to talk to her soon. One-on-one.

But for now, I had to get through the day.

Just as I was about to get ready to head out for class, my phone suddenly rang again. Worried mom would need me again, I answered too quickly to read the name.

"Mom?"

"Luce," Jace replied.

"Oh, Jace. What... What's wrong?"

I sat up a little straighter.

"I'm leaving now for the trip. But I was thinking... Don't you want to come with?"

I blinked as I listened.

"With?" I asked. "To the meeting?"

He chuckled on the other side.

"No, I'll be staying in a hotel and attend the meetings in the afternoon. I was thinking you could come along and stay with me. We could spend time together when I'm not working."

My heart fluttered with excitement.

A trip? With Jace?

I opened my mouth to immediately agree but paused.

What if something happened to my family again? David was still in the hospital... What if something went wrong?

"I really appreciate the offer, Jace," I smiled. "But I can't go this week. I got a huge assignment, and it would really make me happy to do well on it."

I waited a moment for Jace to reply, worried he'd insist.

"Mm, alright then," he sighed. "I only asked on a whim. Stay safe then, Luce. I'll see you for the fundraiser."

"I can't wait," I grinned.

***

The week crawled by in a blur of worry and exhaustion.

I attended my classes, but I hardly absorbed anything. My notes were half-written, my attention drifting to my phone every few minutes.

Lucas texted a couple of times, updating me about the footage, saying he was still combing through it. But for once, I couldn't bring myself to care.

Every spare moment I had, I spent at the hospital, checking on David and Mom.

He was healing, but slowly. His face was still swollen, his ribs bandaged up tight. My mom was always hovering, her nerves frayed, her eyes tired from crying. Macey stayed glued to her phone, barely speaking.

And as if this wasn't enough, every time I stepped outside, something felt... off.

It grew by the day...

This feeling of being watched.

I glanced over my shoulder more times than I could count but never saw anyone.

I couldn't afford to let paranoia consume me. My family needed me.

Friday finally came, and I was more distracted than ever.

I had just finished class, my mind too fogged up to even register what the professor had talked about. As I walked to my moped, my phone buzzed in my hand.

Dr Whitlock: I'm sorry to hear your stepfather can't come to today's psychology session. I hope everything is okay. It's quite strange he got attacked the night after your mother spoke to me...

I frowned, staring at the message.

Before I could think too much about it, a sudden voice jolted me out of my thoughts.

"Boo!"

I gasped, nearly dropping my phone.

A warm, playful laugh filled the air, and I whipped around.

Cindy.

She stood there with a bright smile, her wavy cinnamon-brown hair cascading over her shoulders, hazel eyes sparkling with amusement.

Instantly, Lucas' words echoed in my mind.

My pulse quickened, but I forced a smile.

"Hey, Cindy."

"Sorry, did I scare you?" she giggled, her freckles crinkling as she grinned.

"Just a little," I admitted, gripping my phone tightly.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her expression open and friendly.

"I heard Heather invited you to the fundraiser!"

I nodded slowly.

"Well," Cindy said, linking her hands behind her back. "We should go dress shopping together! I don't have cheerleader practise today so we got all the time in the world."

I stared for a moment.

Dress shopping. With Cindy?

It sounded like something I would have loved under normal circumstances. I'd always wanted to do something like that — shopping with a friend, trying on dresses, laughing over silly accessories. Bianca and I only went shopping a couple of times in the past.

But after Lucas' strong theory...

I felt Cindy was most likely Jace's partner.

And I didn't know how to feel about that.

Was she a threat to my family?

I suppose the only way to be sure, was to find out more about her.

I swallowed and forced a smile.

"That sounds fun," I said.

She grinned, her perfectly straight teeth gleaming.

"I'm so happy! We gotta make Heather jealous. It's so easy to play with her her. Let's find you the best dress. Something to die for."

Giggling, she took my hand and led me away.

***