TW: if i give too many warnings it'll spoil the chapter so just be careful!

I know where you live. Watch your back.

I had been staring at the text for the past half hour. Of course, along with all the others.

I'm coming for you.

Just wait.

Count your days.

You can't hide from us.

Us. Whoever was behind that unknown number, there was more than one of them. And I was starting to think it was seriously a real threat.

Ding.

I looked over at my phone again, hoping and praying it was just my friends.

Unknown: What's so interesting on that phone?

Following it was a picture of me staring at my phone. Me, in the clothes I was wearing all day, sitting in the exact same spot I had been for around an hour. It was clearly taken through the window.

I rushed over, looking outside to see nobody. There was no one there. And from the angle, they would've had to been on the tree that Keefe used to get in.

Maybe they had taken it a while ago, left, then sent it? That would make the most sense. But, it still freaked me out. I made sure my window was locked and drew the curtains shut. Usually I enjoyed the natural light, but not at the cost of some stalker taking pictures of me, or being able to see me at any hour of the day.

Unknown: Shut the curtains? Did you finally realize this isn't your pathetic little ex?

Holy crap. Okay no they didn't leave, they're still there. I backed up against the wall across from the window, staring at where the curtains were still shut. My heart was trying to break free from my chest and I got that tingly, dreadful feeling in my stomach.

I crawled over to my door, wanting to stay low. Whoever it was wouldn't be able to peak through my window anyway, but I didn't want to risk it. I didn't want them to see me.

Ding.

No no no no nononono. Please no.

Unknown: Don't move another inch. If you tell anybody about this, I'll kill them.

I moved back to the wall, sandwiching in the corner between it and the foot of my bed. I curled into a ball and threw a blanket over me, completely hiding me from view.

How did they know I was moving? They shouldn't have been able to. Fear clouded my vision as I came to a realization. The only way they would've been able to see is if they were in my room. Or, had a camera.

I looked around frantically, tearing my books off the shelves and the sheets off my bed. I looked through every single trinket on my dresser and shelves, tossing them onto the floor after clearing them. There was nothing behind my posters, nothing in the lightbulbs, nothing on the walls or in my drawers or under my bed. Nothing was there. Nothing I could find.

Unknown: whatcha looking for

I was having trouble breathing, my chest was constricting and it was too hot. I clawed at the collar of my shirt, then my neck, then my hair. I threw my hands around and refused to wipe my tears or dripping nose. I didn't know what to do. What could I do? What could I do? What could I do?

Nothing. The stalker could still see me and I couldn't find how. Both my windows were closed and-wait.

All the texts had previously had capitalization and punctuation. This one had neither. Either whoever was on the other side was trying to throw me off, or one of the other people included in "us" sent that.

But what did it change? I was still being watched, and from who knows where! I couldn't tell anyone or they'd probably die. The stalker(s) could've been bluffing, but no way in hell was I going to risk it. Somehow they were watching me and I didn't know from where. I could do anything about it.

I walked over to my bed, fixing the sheets and blankets. After I finished, I laid down, continuing to read through all previous texts until I got called down for dinner. I was reluctant to go but went anyway. They would notice something wrong, I knew they would.

"I made grilled cheese!" Edaline told me when I got down the stairs. It was my favorite comfort food, which was good. I needed something comforting.

I sat down at the table, grabbing a sandwich from the pile on a plate in the center of the table. It was just us there for dinner, Dizznees by themselves too.

"Are you okay honey? Your neck is a little red." Edaline asked me. I brought my shaky hands up to where I had been scratching earlier.

"Yeah, it was just itchy." Notice the lie. Notice I'm not okay. Please please please.

"Oh okay. You should try out some of that new lotion I got, it works really well for my dry skin."

"Yeah sure, I'll try it out." No, no. Notice please. Know I'm not okay.

Throughout dinner I didn't talk, just staring at my food. They'd have to notice, after all the times I yapped their ears off.

"Are you okay, you're quiet tonight?" This time it was Grady. Him and Edaline had been talking about some vacation they wanted to go on, finally noticing my silence.

"Yeah, just tired." I'm lying. I'm lying and you need to know. Please dad, I need help.

"Make sure you get some rest, maybe go to bed a little earlier tonight." I nodded, moving my attention back to my food. They didn't notice. How did they not notice I'm not okay? I thought I was making it so obvious.

Maybe they just didn't care enough. I wouldn't be surprised. Unknown had even been commenting on some of my friends, saying how they didn't actually like me, they'd just tolerate me.

Notice how quiet they get after you talk? They were just waiting for you to shut up.

They sent that a few days ago. I had been paying more attention, and it really did seem like it. Their laughs wouldn't sound real, they seemed annoyed. Maybe they all didn't care, and maybe my parents didn't either.

I put my plate in the dishwasher, going back up to my bedroom and laying on my bed. I started going through the texts again. There had to be some sort of clue. I heard a small thud but didn't look up. It was just Dex. Wait, when'd that window get unlocked? I had it locked.

I just locked it. I know I did. I locked both my windows, closed both the curtains. He shouldn't have been able to get through. How did it get unlocked?

Suddenly I felt all of Dex's weight on top of me. I rolled, pushing him off.

"Ugh, get off! Not right now Dex, can you just leave me alone?" Something's wrong, I'm not okay. Pay attention, Dex. See it. Please.

I kept staring at my phone, not even looking at him. I wanted him to take it from me, see everything. Maybe if it wasn't me who told him, he wouldn't get hurt. Then I could get help because it wasn't my fault that someone saw.

"Hey, what's up? You haven't acted like this in a long time." Close, you're so close Dex. Please please please please please.

"I just want to be alone, please." I never want to be alone. He has to know that. He had to know I'm lying. He moved over so he was sitting on the ground near the top of my bed. He had to know.

"You'll talk to me, right? Something's wrong, you'll come to me? It doesn't have to be right now, I just want to know what's going on and how to help." Stop respecting my boundaries! I looked up, ready to hit him with a look so he would know I'm not okay, when I noticed his red eyes, making the periwinkle in his irises brighter.

I laid my phone down and propped myself up. "Were you crying?" I would kill whatever made him cry. Whatever gave him that pained expression, it would never get near him again.

"Psh what? No! I don't cry!" He scrubbed his dry eyes, giving it away immediately.

"Your eyes are all bloodshot and the iris is brighter, like when you've been crying. Plus you just tried to wipe away tears. So yeah you were crying, what happened?" I moved to put my back against my headboard and patted the space in front of me. He scrambled up, sitting with his legs crossed. I gave him my full attention.

"Tanner and I broke up." That son of a- "I wanted to break up with him, it was a mutual decision. It's just hard." Oh. Oh.

"He was your first boyfriend." He acted the exact same way about his first girlfriend, and I was the same way with my first boyfriend. Dex didn't actually want him back, he was just sad that he lost his first boyfriend.

"Have you gotten any sleep?" Oh right, I have a mission here. He needed to know so I came up with the best lie ever. He'd see right through it.

"Not really. Drank a bunch of Pepsi." We didn't have any Pepsi in either house, hadn't since we moved.

"Oh, nightmares. Just don't drink Pepsi?" No! Nonono that was supposed to be the one. He was supposed to figure it out.

"Screw you." I kicked him off the bed and turned away from him. Maybe he didn't want to notice either. Like Grady and Edaline. He couldn't help me. I'd just have to help myself.

Unknown: I know what you're trying to do. They won't notice. They don't care about you.

It was like Unknown could actually read my thoughts at that point. I didn't even have it in me to be scared. I just wanted to cry. Nobody noticed when something was actually wrong with me. Nobody noticed. Nobody.

Actually, maybe Keefe would. Maybe Keefe genuinely cared, otherwise why would he be dating me. He had to be the one to notice.

He didn't notice.

I got no sleep that night, too busy looking around frantically, trying to find where I was being watched from. The same happened for the last few days of break. When I got to school, I was already really tired. My feet were dragged and my eyes looked like a raccoon's. I could practically feel Dex wanting to make some drug addict joke, but he refrained.

Keefe seemed to notice something was wrong, it was quite obvious, but he didn't ask me anything. Why did the two people who actually noticed something was really wrong have to respect my boundaries? I wanted them to pester me until they found out for themselves.

My boyfriend was walking me to my health class. He kept looking over at me and holding onto my arm tightly. He'd drag me out of the way of incoming people. I just wanted to tell him what was happening. I wanted to tell him. I really really wanted to tell him. Instead, I let him sit me down in my seat and pretend to not notice him asking Audric and Carter to watch over me.

Ding.

I'm done. Please, I'm done, I give up.

Unknown: break up with ur bf

Screw you. I can't. I really really can't please don't make me. I don't want to.

Me: why?

Unknown: do it or i'll kill him and that little cousin of yours

Unknown: isn't her name bex

Unknown: she adores you

Unknown: imagine if you were the reason she died

Me: why are you doing this to me?

He was typing, then stopped, then started typing again. I felt like I couldn't breathe. I would never be able to forgive myself if Bex died because of me. It would break me. And Lex and Rex would never be the same. Dex would be heartbroken. I couldn't let her die. I couldn't let Keefe die either. I kinda partly loved him. Plus he was the only heir to the throne.

Unknown: You'll find out soon enough.

I did not like the sound of that. I laid my head down to hide my tears from Audric and Carter. I could feel their gazes on me. I passed out before long.

When I woke up it was dark out. I didn't even remember leaving fifth block. I was assuming I got taken home, there was really no other explanation. I felt pretty well rested, but more scared than ever. Why did they want me to break up with Keefe?

I had to do it, I knew that already. I couldn't risk his life or Bex's. But how do I do it without breaking his heart or making him suspect something? With the way I practically threw myself on him when confessing, he's not going to think I just broke up with him after a few days. I have to make it convincing. I have to save him.

The next morning I woke up really early, trying to think something up. I didn't know what to do, I didn't know anything. I hated everything.

I drove to school without Dex, needing some time without him looking concerned. When I got there, almost nobody was on the campus. Granted it was 6:30 but still. I went over to the weeping cherry tree and sat down.

"Hey!" Some random redhead girl walked up to me. I checked the time and saw there was still forty minutes until school started.

"Hi." I responded, wary. Was she working with the stalker? Her eyes had a slightly malicious gleam, her smile conniving. She was planning something. She had to be working with them. This is it, I'm going to die.

"I heard you're dating Keefe." Okay... weird thing to say to someone you're about to kill.

"Yeah." I knew she could see the confusion on my face perfectly, I didn't exactly try to hide it.

She kicked my leg, hard.

"Ow. What was that for?" Honestly it didn't hurt that much after the actual kick, so my 'ow' was pretty bland.

"Bitch. I'm gonna be queen some day, not you." Now I knew she could see the reaction on my face to her craziness.

"Huh?" I jutted my head out. "We're literally in school, I'm not going to be queen. It's a high school relationship."

"So what you're saying is you don't want him?" What is this girl on? I really didn't need this.

"No, I still want to date him. But it's just a school relationship right now. If it lasts, it lasts. But it's not like we're getting married tomorrow. Chill out you psycho." She kicked my leg again then stormed away.

"Crazy." I muttered under my breath. I had pretty much forgotten that Keefe was actually a prince, no one really treated him that way.

Ding.

I hadn't gotten any messages since asking what they wanted from me. I thought maybe they'd leave me alone for a bit. I just wanted them to leave me alone.

Unknown: i'll kill that little bitch if you want

What the fudge nuggets? No I don't want that, I don't want anyone to die.

Me: no, don't kill her. don't kill anyone.

Whoever was on the other side of the messages didn't respond. I had no idea what was going on. First it seemed like they wanted to hurt me, now they wanted to hurt a girl who hurt me.

Wait, hold up... they saw that happen. They were watching me at that very moment. My eyes wandered around without moving my head. I could feel that flutter in my chest and stomach again. My brain felt icy but my forehead was warm. My lungs tingled with every single breath.

"Foster. Foster!" Icy blue eyes were in front of my own. They were worried. "What's up?"

"Huh?" His words swimmed around my mind before I finally realized what he said. "Oh, nothing really. Just sitting here."

"Okay... you sure? You were kinda just sitting there and not responding."

"Yeah, yeah. Tired is all." He pulled me to my feet and walked me to where the rest of our friends were. I just leaned into his side while he talked to them. He gently squeezed my shoulder from where his arm was wrapped around me. I felt my phone buzz in my back pocket.

Unknown: do it

Unknown: break up with him

Me: not right now, give me more time

Keefe was looking at me questioningly when I hid my screen from his sight. I just pretended not to notice.

I went through the day relatively peacefully, Dex even sending me some really sweet song lyrics. I didn't know how to respond. He just made me want to come clean even more. I shut off my phone and tried to move on.

At the end of the day, Keefe walked me to my car. I had gotten several more texts, more threats, I had to break up with him.

I just really, really, really didn't want to.

"Keefe?" I turned to face him when we got to my car.

"Yeah?" God, I loved his eyes. His smile. His dumb hair that he was oddly proud of.

"We need to break up." Please please please please.

"What? Why?" His face dropped immediately. I wanted his smile back.

"I'm sorry, I can't be with you anymore." Come on plan, what was my plan? How did I forget my plan? I thought it up all day!

"Why not? Did I do something?" Oh, right! Right...

"No! No, it wasn't you. It could never be you. Well, it's partly you but not something you can control. I've been getting harassed by a bunch of girls because I 'stole you' from them. I really can't deal with that right now. I don't want to do this, but I can't keep going." It was an exaggeration, a lie, but necessary. I wouldn't let him die. I didn't know it was possible for his face to look even sadder. I felt like I just kicked the most adorable baby on the planet in the face. Except worse.

"Oh. Okay." No no don't believe me, please. "I'm sorry. I should've thought of that. I'm so sorry they treated you that way because of me. If breaking up is what you really want to do, then I'll respect that."

"Thank you." I could see how hard he was trying to keep from crying, I didn't even try at all. I slammed my car door in his face and left. I drove and drove and drove.

I parked outside of the main part of the kingdom, surrounded by a lot of trees and wilderness. I got out of my car, needing the fresh air, needing the walk.

Eventually, I came across a cave. I turned on my flashlight and walked inside. Maybe I'd find something cool to take my mind off everything. Maybe I'd find something dangerous and everything could be set right.

I sat down and turned off my flashlight, wrapping my arms around my knees and burying my face away. I let the tears come once again. Finally alone where no one could find me.

At least, until I felt an arm wrap around my throat and another around my midsection, holding my arms to my body. The person yanked me up while I flailed and kicked. They moved the arm around my next to my face, covering my mouth and nose with a cloth. Drugs.

Get away get away get away.

"Finally gotcha, Moonlark." It was a male voice, deep. He sounded at least in his thirties, and I could tell his arms were jacked. Fear clouded all my other senses when I realized what he said.

I tried to make a noise, any noise, but his hand and the cloth were blocking it from escaping.

He knew I was Moonlark. He knew.

I scrambled to get away harder. I should've told someone where I was, I want to be found. Why didn't I tell anyone?

"Stop struggling. You're not winning this." I did stop, but not because I wanted to. I couldn't breathe.

He started dragging me out of the cave. I saw a few other figures, fading away into a fuzzy darkness.

I'm just gonna... 🚆🤸