The night pressed close around the city like a secret it refused to share. Chicago's skyline shimmered beyond Courtney's window, its lights blurred by the fog creeping over the streets. She hadn't slept since the message arrived.
Someone is watching you.
Those four words replayed in her mind like a broken record, each repetition digging deeper into her nerves. The apartment—once her small sanctuary—felt unfamiliar now, its corners darker, its silence heavier. Every creak of the walls, every car horn outside made her flinch. She'd pulled the curtains closed hours ago, but still she swore she could feel eyes on her.
Her phone sat on the coffee table, screen dark. She'd thought about calling Sean, but the thought made her stomach turn. He'd already crossed every line. The memory of his voice, of the cold warning in his eyes before everything went black, sent a shiver through her. No. He was the last person she could trust now.
