-------Sebastian's car glided through the night, its headlights illuminating the dark streets as he drove Lisa and Erica back to their dorm. The ride was quiet, the only sound being the soft hum of the engine and Lisa's occasional sniffles. Erica sat beside her, her arm around her shoulders, trying to offer comfort.As they pulled up to the dorm, Erica turned to Sebastian, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Sebastian. For everything." She helped Lisa out of the car, holding her by the shoulder as they walked towards the entrance.Sebastian watched them go, his eyes lingering on Lisa's fragile form. He knew she was still in shock, and his heart went out to her. He wished he could do more to protect Erica, to keep her safe from the stalker's clutches.As Erica and Lisa disappeared into the dorm, Sebastian's thoughts turned to the stalker. Who was this person, and what did they want from him? He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, even now, as he stood alone i
--------Sebastian waited outside his apartment, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of the stalker's return. The car that had tailed him was nowhere in sight, and the silence was eerie. He checked his phone for what felt like the hundredth time, his thumb hovering over the screen.Just as he was starting to breathe a sigh of relief, he heard the sound of a car approaching. His head snapped up, and he tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for his phone. The car pulled up to the curb, and Sebastian's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.But as the driver's side door opened, Detective Jake emerged, his familiar face a welcome sight. Sebastian's tension eased slightly as the detective approached him, his expression serious.Detective Jake nodded at Sebastian, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Thanks for calling me. I've got a team on the way to watch your place. We'll get to the bottom of this."Sebastian nodded, his eyes still scanning the area, his gri
—-----The phone rang, shrill and insistent. Sebastian hesitated for a moment before picking up. "Hello?" he asked, his voice cautious.But instead of Sarah's voice, Erica's spoke up. "Sebastian, it's me, Erica."Sebastian's eyes widened in surprise as he shot up from the chair, his movements swift and urgent. "Erica? Why are you using Sarah's phone?" he demanded, his mind racing with questions.Erica's voice was hesitant, her words laced with uncertainty. "Sarah showed up at my doorstep, Sebastian. She claims she needs to speak with you urgently."Sebastian's gaze narrowed, his eyes piercing with intensity. "Put her on the phone," he commanded, his voice firm and authoritative.But before Erica could respond, Sarah intervened, her voice dripping with sweetness. "No, Erica, don't bother. I'll talk to him myself."Erica's eyes locked on Sarah, who stood in the hallway, her gaze fixed on Sarah's phone with an unnerving intensity."Sebastian, I think we need to talk in person," Sarah con
—-----After Sebastian ended his conversation with Erica, he slammed his fist onto the car's roof, the metal creaking in protest."Damn it!"The sound echoed through the parking lot, causing a few passersby to turn their heads. Detective Jake's eyes widened in concern as he hurried over to Sebastian. "What's going on, man?" he asked, his voice low and urgent, his hand instinctively reaching out to calm him.Sebastian's face twisted in anger, his eyebrows furrowed and his lips curled into a snarl, as he relayed the details of his conversation with Erica."Sarah had the nerve to show up at Erica's apartment, uninvited, and insulted her, Jake. She's still playing her twisted games." His voice was laced with venom, his eyes blazing with fury, their blue color almost black with intensity. He clenched his fists, his knuckles white with tension, as if he was struggling to keep his anger in check.Just then, Sarah emerged from the dorm, her eyes locking onto Sebastian from across the parking
--------Meanwhile, at Erica's dorm, she paced back and forth, her eyes fixed on her phone, her footsteps echoing off the walls. Lisa sat on the bed, watching her with a concerned expression, her brow furrowed.Erica stopped pacing and turned to face Lisa, her eyes darting towards the phone again, her hand reaching out to grab it as if willing it to ring. Lisa raised an eyebrow, her head tilting slightly to the side."Thirty minutes, Erica," Lisa pointed out, her voice soft but firm. "You've been wearing a hole in the floor for thirty minutes."Erica shrugged, her shoulders rising and falling in a jerky motion, her eyes avoiding Lisa's gaze. She began pacing again, her feet carrying her across the room in quick, nervous strides.Lisa sighed, her breath escaping in a soft whoosh, and swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet thudding against the floor. She stood up, her movements fluid and graceful, and crossed the room to where Erica was pacing."Hey, hey, slow down," Lisa sai
~At the Cafe~-------Erica dialed Mark's number again, her fingers flying across the keypad as she waited anxiously for him to pick up."Hey, this is Mark. Leave a message……" his voicemail greeting sounded cheerful, but Erica was anything but cheerful as she listened to it yet again."Ugh!" she groaned, her frustration palpable. "Mark, where are you? Pick up, pick up!" she spoke into the phone, as if willing him to answer.But, just like the last five times she had tried, his phone went straight to voicemail. She growled in frustration, her eyes flashing with worry, and tapped her foot impatiently on the floor of the cozy cafe.Connor, who was sitting opposite her at a small table by the window, folded his arms across his chest and shook his head. "I told you, Erica, I've tried calling him several times. It's like he's vanished into thin air."Erica kept trying Mark's number, her eyes fixed on the screen as she waited for a response that never came. She drummed her fingers on the tab
--------Erica placed her phone on the table, her fingers drumming against the surface as she waited for Detective Jake to arrive. She crossed her legs, her eyes fixed on Connor, who sat opposite her.Connor didn't meet her gaze, instead, his eyes scanned the cafe, his brow furrowed in concentration. He sipped his coffee, his movements slow and deliberate.Erica's eyes narrowed, her voice firm. "Why did you follow Mark's advice and start following me?" she asked, her gaze piercing.Connor's eyes snapped back to hers, his expression guarded. "I told you, Erica. Mark was worried about you. He thought something was off."Erica's eyes flashed with anger. "And you just went along with it? Without even questioning his motives?"Connor shrugged, his shoulders rising and falling in a casual motion. "Mark was my friend. I trusted him."Erica's eyes rolled, her skepticism evident. "Trusted him? He sent you to spy on me and find out who I was with, and you went along with it!" She threw up her h
------Meanwhile, one male and one female, intrepid hikers, are making their way up the trail head of a hot springs canyon. It’s a tough climb; it’s a tough climb as the trail is still muddy from the winter’s rain and hasn’t been cut back on by the forest service since the fall. But they'd wanted to get out for over a month, and they’re experienced, so they plunged along, breaking trail if they had to. Jack, their black lab, races ahead of them, then behind them, then ahead of them again.They keep to one side of the stream. It’s running full and has been since before Christmas too full and fast to cross. The rocks you’d normally use as stepping stones are either submerged or too slippery to step on. A fall and you'll be wet, cold, and likely injured.The trail switches back, and they climb in single file, the actual width no more than two feet, barely wide enough to traverse. The dog, Jack, running ahead, is barking loudly, racing up and down in a small circle near where a piece of t