chapter twenty: fears

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚

Adora's breath caught in her throat as she heard Stu's voice on the other end of the line. Her mind reeled for a moment, unsure of what to say. She had almost forgotten that Stu was one of the few people she could actually trust in this madness. But the fear still gripped her, and she didn't want to drag him into this nightmare.

"Stu..." Her voice trembled. "I... I don't know who this is, but they keep calling me. they've been watching me. I think they're watching all of us." Adora's voice was barely above a whisper, the weight of her fear making her words feel fragile and small.

There was a sharp intake of breath from Stu's side of the phone. "Adora... just listen to me. Don't panic, okay? Don't respond to any more calls, and don't answer if they reach out again. We're coming over. Right now."

Adora squeezed the phone tightly in her hand, her pulse quickening. She tried to calm herself, but the fear wouldn't stop crawling up her spine. "Stu, I... I don't know what to do. I think they know things—things they shouldn't know. You shouldn't come here. I don't want to put you in danger."

Stu's voice was firm, cutting through her panic. "Adora, we're not going to let this go. You're not alone in this. We'll handle it. You need to stay put and lock up. Don't answer any calls, don't open the door for anyone. We're coming, and we'll figure this out together."

Adora's heart hammered in her chest as she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to steady her breath. The thought of someone out there, watching them, made her feel exposed, vulnerable. She hated feeling so powerless.

"But what if he's already here?" she whispered, her voice cracking. "What if he's watching right now?"

Stu's voice softened, but there was an undeniable edge to it now, a protective urgency. "If they are, we'll deal with it. You're not facing this alone, Adora. Stay calm, stay safe. We're on our way. Just hang tight, okay?"

Adora swallowed, her throat dry. "Okay," she breathed out, but even as she said it, she wasn't sure she believed it. Would staying calm even matter if whoever was behind this was really as close as they seemed?

The line went quiet for a moment, and she couldn't shake the gnawing feeling in her stomach. She glanced over at Sidney and Tatum, still asleep, unaware of the growing danger. She didn't want to scare them, but she couldn't keep this from them much longer.

"Stu," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "what if... what if they're not just after me? What if they're after all of us? I don't know if I can protect anyone if they're this close."

"Adora, listen to me." His voice was low but steady. "We don't know who's behind this yet, but I can promise you, we'll find out. And I swear, I won't let anything happen to you."

She felt a small sense of reassurance in his words, but the fear still clung to her like a shadow. She wasn't sure how long she could hold it together, how long she could pretend that everything was fine when everything felt so wrong.

"I'll wait for you," she said, her voice trembling. "Please hurry."

"I'm already on my way, just stay calm. We'll take care of everything."

Adora hung up, her hands shaking as she set the phone down. She locked the door again, then checked the windows, peering into the dark night. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, that someone was waiting, hidden just out of sight. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as she listened to the silence of the room, the stillness broken only by the faint sound of her breathing.

Her mind raced, her thoughts tangled. Who was behind this? And why were they targeting her, or anyone? She needed answers, but most of all, she needed to keep her friends safe.

Adora glanced at Sidney and Tatum again. They were still asleep, blissfully unaware of the danger that was creeping closer. She couldn't bear the thought of something happening to them. She had to protect them, no matter what.

A soft noise from outside made her freeze. She turned her head toward the window, her heart pounding. Was it just the wind? Or was it something else?

The sound came again—a faint tapping against the glass.

Adora's breath hitched, and she stepped back from the window, her pulse racing. She didn't want to look. She didn't want to know if someone was out there, but the curiosity gnawed at her, pushing her to move closer.

She hesitated, then slowly moved toward the window, her hand trembling as she reached for the blinds. Her mind screamed at her to stop, to turn away, but her body was already in motion.

Adora peered through the blinds, her breath caught in her throat as her eyes scanned the dark street.

Nothing.

Her heart sank, the relief almost as terrifying as the fear. Maybe it was nothing after all. Or maybe it was just the beginning of something far worse.

The sound of a car engine in the distance made her jump, and she quickly backed away from the window. She glanced at the clock—Stu would be here any moment. She could feel the tension in her chest easing just a little, but she wasn't sure it would be enough to calm the storm raging inside her.

She heard the distant screech of tires again and immediately stood up straighter, her pulse picking up once more.

Adora stepped back into the living room, her eyes scanning the room in search of anything out of place. Her thoughts were a whirlwind, the sense of being watched never leaving her.

She had to hold it together. For Sidney. For Tatum. And for herself.

And then, she heard a small ticking against her window. She looked over to see small stones flying against it and she knew Stu was here.

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Katherine x

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WORDS: 1064

POSTED: SATURDAY MARCH 29, 2025

WRITTEN: SATURDAY MARCH 29, 2025