The afternoon sun was bright, casting golden hues over the city as Emma strolled through the shopping district. The streets weren't as busy as usual, which she found odd for a weekday, but she welcomed the quiet. It gave her time to think.
Last night's events still haunted her. The dream about the Prophetess, the eerie warning, and most of all, the strange woman standing outside her window. She had barely slept, too rattled to even close her eyes for long without picturing that pale, ghostly figure watching her.
Maybe it had been a coincidence. Maybe she was overthinking everything.
Emma exhaled deeply, trying to shake the unease from her mind.
She had come out for some fresh air and a bit of shopping, an attempt to distract herself. She wandered into a boutique, running her fingers over the racks of soft fabrics, pretending she was in the mood to buy something. But even the vibrant colors and stylish designs didn't help.
Her thoughts kept drifting back to Daniel.
His kindness. His certainty. The way he had made her feel so safe, so… wanted.
She smiled to herself, recalling the way he had watched her until she was safely inside her apartment, the goodnight text he had sent afterward. It was all so new to her, this kind of treatment from a man. She had never been with someone who cared about the little things, and it terrified her how much she liked it.
Lost in thought, she stepped out of the boutique and back onto the street. That was when she saw her.
Emma's blood turned to ice.
Standing across the street, partially hidden behind a lamppost, was her.
The woman from last night.
Her hair was tangled and unkempt, her skin ashen and sickly. She looked almost lifeless, as if she had been drained of all vitality. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her lips were slightly parted, her gaze locked onto Emma like a predator sizing up its prey.
Emma's pulse spiked.
Her first instinct was to look away, pretend she hadn't seen her, but she was frozen in place. The woman was staring so intently, so eerily, that it sent a deep chill down Emma's spine.
Then the woman took a step forward.
Emma's breath hitched.
Oh God, she's coming toward me.
Her body kicked into action. Without hesitation, she turned sharply and started walking away. Not too fast, she didn't want to seem paranoid, but fast enough to put distance between them.
She weaved through the narrow street, passing by small cafés and street vendors. Every few seconds, she glanced over her shoulder.
The woman was still there.
Still following her.
Emma's chest tightened. Okay, stay calm. Maybe she's just going in the same direction. Maybe—
Then the woman picked up her pace.
Panic flared inside Emma.
Her heart pounded as she increased her speed, her breath coming out in short gasps. The street was quiet. She cursed under her breath, realizing she had wandered into one of the less crowded areas.
Then, suddenly,
A cold hand grabbed her wrist.
Emma screamed.
Her whole body jerked as she tried to yank her arm away, but the woman's grip was firm. Her fingers were ice-cold against Emma's burning skin.
"I'm sorry," the woman said, her voice trembling. "But I just wanted to beg you."
Emma's breath came in harsh pants. Her heart was hammering, her body rigid with terror.
Beg me?
"What?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The woman's grip tightened. "Please."
Emma swallowed hard. "I don't understand. Beg me for what?"
The woman's face twisted with desperation. Her lips quivered, and her eyes, dark and hollow, gleamed with an emotion Emma couldn't quite place.
"Daniel," she murmured. "I love him."
Emma blinked, taken aback.
The woman continued, her voice strained, filled with raw pain. "I've loved him for so long, but ever since he met you. He seems… interested in you. And I, I can't let that happen."
Emma's head spun. This was too much, too sudden.
She shook her head. "Who are you?"
The woman's expression darkened. "You don't need to know that."
Emma's stomach twisted into knots.
Before Emma could process the insanity of it all, the woman took a step closer, her grip still firm, her nails now digging slightly into Emma's skin.
"Just leave him," she whispered, her voice suddenly low and menacing.
Emma stiffened.
The woman's gaze became sharp, almost predatory. "Because if I lose him to you…"
A slow, eerie smile spread across her face.
"…I will kill you."
Emma's heart nearly stopped.
A cold, suffocating dread wrapped around her, making her stomach lurch.
The woman let go of her wrist, taking a slow step back. Her expression was unreadable, a disturbing mix of pain and madness. Then, without another word, she turned and walked away, vanishing into the narrow alley.
Emma stood frozen in place, her hands trembling. Her knees felt weak, her breath uneven.
Had she really just been threatened?
Her mind was reeling, struggling to comprehend what had just happened.
Who was that woman? How did she know Daniel? Was she his ex? A stalker? Someone obsessed with him?
Emma's skin crawled at the thought.
Her trembling fingers fumbled as she reached for her phone, her heart still racing. She needed to tell someone, anyone.
She needed to call Daniel.
Her hands were shaking so badly that she almost dropped the phone. She swallowed, forcing herself to take a deep breath before dialing his number.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
Then—
"Emma?" His deep voice filled her ears, calm and reassuring, but right now, nothing could soothe her.
She let out a shaky breath. "Daniel…"
"What's wrong?" His tone immediately shifted, laced with concern.
Emma's lips parted, but for a moment, she didn't know how to explain. Finally, she whispered, "I think someone's stalking me."
There was silence on the other end.
"Where are you?" His voice was sharp now, demanding.
Emma glanced around, hugging her arms tightly. "Near the shopping district, but I…"
"I'm coming to get you."
The call ended.
Emma clutched the phone to her chest, her body still shaking.
She didn't know who that woman was. She didn't know what she was capable of.
But one thing was certain. She'll be back.