Someone Is Watching - chapter 2

Elena’s back was still pressed against the wall.

The man hadn’t moved.

One arm rested beside her head, his body blocking the only path away from him. Rainwater dripped slowly from the ends of his dark hair, sliding down the collar of his coat.

Yet he looked perfectly calm.

Like breaking into her apartment in the middle of the night was the most natural thing in the world.

Elena forced herself to speak.

“Who are you?”

His gaze studied her face carefully, almost thoughtfully.

“You’re asking the wrong question,” he said quietly.

Her heart pounded.

“Then what should I be asking?”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

“How long.”

The word sent a cold shiver through her.

Elena frowned. “How long what?”

His eyes darkened with something almost amused.

“How long I’ve been watching you.”

Silence filled the room.

Then slowly, deliberately, he stepped away from her.

The sudden space felt almost disorienting.

The man walked toward the small table near the window.

Where the black envelope had been.

But Elena’s breath caught when she realized something new sat there now.

A thick leather folder.

It definitely hadn’t been there before.

Her stomach twisted.

He gestured toward it casually.

“Go ahead.”

She didn’t move.

“Open it,” he repeated softly.

Elena approached the table slowly, her pulse echoing in her ears.

The folder felt heavy when she picked it up.

Too heavy.

Her fingers hesitated before opening it.

The first thing she saw was a photograph of her.

Sitting at a café table with a book in her hand.

The date written in the corner.

Eight months ago.

Her chest tightened.

She flipped to the next photo.

Another picture.

Elena walking out of a grocery store.

Six months ago.

Another.

Her sitting on a park bench, laughing with a friend.

Five months ago.

Her hands began shaking.

Page after page.

Dozens of photos.

Hundreds.

Each one carefully labeled.

Dates.

Locations.

Observations written in neat handwriting.

She orders the same coffee every Thursday.

She reads when she’s nervous.

She bites the inside of her cheek when she’s thinking.

Her breathing turned shallow.

“How—”

Her voice cracked.

“How long?”

The man leaned against the wall behind her, watching quietly.

“Two years.”

The words hit like ice water.

Elena turned to stare at him.

“Two—”

She couldn’t finish the sentence.

Two years.

Two years of someone watching her without her ever knowing.

Her hands trembled as she flipped another page.

This time it wasn’t a photo.

It was a page from her diary.

Her stomach dropped.

“That’s impossible,” she whispered.

She recognized the handwriting immediately.

It was hers.

A line she had written months ago stared back at her.

Sometimes I feel like someone is watching me.

Her heart raced.

“You broke into my apartment.”

His smile returned slightly.

“Many times.”

The casual way he said it made her chest tighten.

Another page.

More diary entries.

More notes.

Even small details she had never told anyone.

Her favorite book.

The music she listened to when she couldn’t sleep.

The name of the stray cat she secretly fed behind the building.

Elena’s voice was barely a whisper.

“You’re insane.”

His expression didn’t change.

“No.”

He stepped closer again.

Slow.

Controlled.

“Just… attentive.”

Her back hit the table when she tried to step away.

He stopped right in front of her.

Too close.

“Elena,” he said softly.

The way he said her name made her stomach twist.

Like he had practiced it.

Over and over.

“You should be more careful with your secrets.”

She swallowed.

“How do you know so much about me?”

His eyes softened slightly.

“Because you’re the only interesting thing in this entire city.”

The statement sent a chill through her.

She shook her head.

“This is sick.”

His gaze sharpened slightly.

“You say that now.”

His hand rested on the table beside her.

Trapping her between his arm and the wood.

“But you haven’t asked the most important question yet.”

Her throat felt dry.

“What question?”

His voice dropped lower.

“Why I chose you.”

The room felt colder suddenly.

Elena forced the words out.

“Fine.”

She met his eyes.

“Why?”

The man studied her quietly for a long moment.

Then he reached into his coat pocket.

And pulled out another photograph.

He handed it to her.

Elena looked down.

Her heart nearly stopped.

The photo was from three years ago.

A crowded subway platform.

In the picture, Elena stood near the edge reading a book.

Completely unaware.

But behind her—

A tall figure stood only a few feet away.

Watching her.

Watching her the way he was now.

Her hands began to shake.

“That day,” he said quietly.

“You looked at me.”

Elena looked up in confusion.

“I don’t remember that.”

His smile returned.

“I know.”

He leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper.

“But I’ve remembered it every day since.”

The rain outside grew louder.

And for the first time, Elena realized something truly terrifying.

This wasn’t random.

This wasn’t new.

This obsession had been growing in the dark for years.

And now it had finally stepped into the light.

Part 3 coming soon...