nt. But now, every time she lifted it to her eye, the lens felt like a barrier between herself and reality. She had stoppe

everything that had come after it-the feeling that something had

n't the way a teacher should look at a student. Not the way someone should look at anyone, really. She had felt it-a ti

seemed to notice anything these days, too lost in her own world of wine

r mind, telling her she wasn't imagining things. S

on the photography competition. Lily had signed them up for it, and maybe, just maybe, it would be the dist

felt that old, familiar chill creep up her spine. The

e even saw him. His presence was a

nt another shiver down her spine. "I didn't expec

ng a smile. "Just loo

eyes lingering on her just a little too lon

e knot forming in her stomach. She wanted to leave, but sh

continued, his tone light, but there was

Yeah, I was just... try

s presence filling the space. "Trying new

ge of the table. "

s eyes. "Just remember, the world isn't as simpl

in. "Right," she said, standing up and quickly

eart thumping in her chest. She couldn't shake the feeling that somethi

nd her, but she barely noticed them. All she could think about was the look in

se? Her hands shook as she stuffed them into her jack

didn't bother to say anything. It was always the same. She grabbed her camera from the hallway, hoping to

ands but her mind elsewhere. The window was cracked open, and t

window. The street outside was emp

out the way the shadows played across the pavement

the edge of the street, partially hi

r throat as her camera

to stand still, as if holding its breath. She didn't know who i

backed away from the window. She didn't need to ch

she reached for her

rembling. "I need you to come

od at the edge of the street like a presence she couldn't escape. It felt as though the air around her had thickened, pulling everything into

igure did

r eyes were locked on the shadow outside, unwilling to look away for even a

throat. She was overthinking this. It was just some random perso

needed to get away from the glass, needed to break the connection, but her feet felt glued to the fl

. And then another. It was as though the figure was aware of her gaze, ac

h ragged. For a moment, she stood there, frozen in the dim l

rself to believe it wasn't true. But the feeling that had crawled up

the stillness. She jumped, her h

ckly. "Lily," she said, her voice trembling.

s thick with sleep but laced with

s. "I-I think someone's been following me. I saw someone outside

. Then Lily spoke, her tone more serious now. "You'

other sat, lost in her usual haze. "She's here. But she'

ock all the doors. I'll come

gh Lily couldn't se

ezing the air from her lungs. She walked over to the door and bolted it shut, then did the same with the windows. There wa

ompson at the park felt so distant now, a mere prelude to something far darker. She couldn't shake the mem

now,

at the door. Her heart lurched. It

ing to keep her breathing steady, but every s

his time louder

reamed at her to open the door, but her body was frozen in place, caught betw

r engine roaring to life outside startled her. She

arly-pulled out of the driveway. The car sped off,

sted. It couldn't ha

napped her to attention. The sound was jarring, violent. Her first instinct was to bolt-to run

ival mode. She grabbed the phone agai

t's your

t in a breathless rush. "Someone's trying to break in. I t

need you to stay calm. Can

scrambled to find a safe place. The house was old-ther

p is on the way. Stay in a safe place, and if yo

ophia whispered, h

d for the lock. Every nerve in her body screamed that she w

d still hear the unmistakable sound of