By the next morning, Amara had had enough.
She stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her outfit, her expression firm.
"I'm going out."
The words felt rebellious.
Necessary.
Behind her, the bedroom door opened.
Ethan stepped in.
"No, you're not."
Amara turned slowly.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
She folded her arms.
"You don't get to decide that."
Ethan walked further into the room.
"This isn't about control. It's about safety."
"And I've told you already," she shot back, "I'm not going to stay locked in this house like some prisoner."
"You're not a prisoner."
"Then stop treating me like one."
They stared at each other.
The tension between them was immediate.
Sharp.
Unyielding.
"I have things to do," Amara continued. "My life didn't suddenly disappear because of your problems."
Ethan's jaw tightened slightly.
"This isn't just my problem anymore."
"Exactly," she said. "Which is why I need to keep living like a normal person before I completely lose my mind."
Silence.
Then Ethan exhaled.
"Fine."
Amara blinked.
"Fine?"
"I'll assign security."
She rolled her eyes.
"Of course you will."
"You're not leaving without them."
She hesitated.
Then sighed.
"Fine."
An hour later, Amara stepped out of the car in front of a small boutique cafe in the city.
Two security men remained nearby, trying not to look obvious.
Amara adjusted her sunglasses.
"I feel like a celebrity," she muttered.
"You're safer this way," one of the guards replied.
She gave a half smile.
"Let's hope so."
Inside, the cafe was warm and inviting.
Soft music played in the background.
For the first time in days, Amara felt…normal.
She ordered coffee and sat by the window.
People walked past.
Cars moved along the street.
Life continued.
And for a moment, she almost forgot everything.
Until she noticed a car.
A black sedan.
Parked across the street.
At first, she ignored it.
But something about this felt…off.
The engine was still running.
No one got out.
Amara frowned slightly.
She took a sip of her coffee, trying to stay calm.
You're overthinking, she told herself.
But then,
The car's headlights flickered.
And for a brief second…
She saw movement inside.
Her stomach tightened.
She quickly looked away.
Don't panic.
Don't jump to conclusions.
But the uneasy feeling didn't go away.
Instead, it grew stronger.
A few minutes later, she stood up.
"I think I'm done," she told the guards.
"Already?"
"Yes."
They exchanged a glance but nodded.
As they stepped outside, Amara tried not to look toward the car.
But she couldn't help it.
It was still there.
Still watching.
"Do you see that car? She asked quietly.
One of the guards followed her gaze.
"The black one?"
"Yes."
He frowned slightly.
"It's probably nothing."
Probably.
That word didn't reassure her.
They got into a car.
And just as they pulled away…
The black sedan started moving too.
Amara's heart skipped.
"It's following us."
The guard in the front seat immediately became alert.
"Stay calm."
"I am calm," she said, though her voice betrayed her slightly.
The car behind them kept a steady distance.
Not too close.
Not too far.
But always there.
Amara's pulse began to rise.
"This isn't a coincidence."
The guard nodded.
"I know."
He reached for his phone.
"I'm calling Mr. Blackwood."
Ethan arrived faster than she expected.
Their car had stopped near a quieter part of the city.
Amara stepped out just as another sleek black car pulled up.
Ethan got out.
His expression was dark.
Dangerously dark.
"What happened?" He demanded.
Amara crossed her arms.
"I told you I was fine."
"You were being followed."
"And I'm still fine."
Ethan stepped closer.
Too close.
"You shouldn't have left."
"I wasn't going to stay locked up."
"You could have been hurt."
"But I wasn't."
The tension between them snapped tight.
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated.
"Do you have any idea how reckless that was?"
Amara's eyes flashed.
"Reckless? I went to a cafe, not a war zone."
"You were followed by an unknown vehicle!"
"And whose fault is that?" She shot back.
The words hung between them.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Ethan's expression shifted slightly.
But before he could respond,
The guard spoke.
"The car is gone."
Both of them turned.
The street behind them was empty.
No black sedan.
No sign of it ever being there.
Amara's stomach dropped.
"It just disappeared?"
"Yes."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"That's not random."
Amara looked at him.
"What does that mean?"
"It means they didn't want to be seen."
A chill ran through her.
Back at the estate, the tension hadn't faded.
If anything, it had grown worse.
Amara stood near the window again.
"I hate this feeling," she admitted quietly.
Ethan walked up beside her.
"What feeling?"
"Like someone is watching me."
He didn't dismiss it this time.
Instead, he said,
"They probably are."
Amara turned sharply.
"That's not funny."
"I'm not joking."
Her chest tightened.
"Ethan…"
His voice lowered.
"Whoever is behind this attack…they're observing us now."
The words sent a shiver down her spine.
"Why?"
"To see how we react."
Silence.
Then Amara asked softly,
"And what are they going to do next?"
Ethan looked at her.
His gaze was intense.
"That depends on what they want from me."
Before she could respond,
His phone buzzed.
He glanced at it.
And his expression immediately changed.
"What?" Amara asked.
He didn't answer right away.
Instead, he slowly turned the screen toward her.
Amara read the message.
And her blood ran cold.
"Project Helix has been breached."