Pov Josiane....
I didn't stop walking.
Even when my heart told me to run.
Even when my mind screamed to go back.
Stay normal.
Linux's words echoed in her head.
But nothing about this felt normal anymore.
Her fingers tightened around her phone.
That message—
Let's make it harder.
"What does that even mean…"she whispered.
"Maybe you'll find out."
Josie froze.
That voice—
It wasn't in her head.
Slowly—
She turned.
The person ( I think I have seen this before)
Standing just a few steps behind her now.
Closer than before.
Her heartbeat spiked.
"Who are you?" she asked,
trying to keep her voice steady.
The person smiled.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"Does it matter?"they replied.
"Yes," Josie snapped. "It does."
A soft chuckle.
"You're interesting," they said.
"Most people panic faster."
"I'm not most people."
"Clearly."
Silence.
Josie's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You've been watching me."
"Observing," they corrected.
That word again.
Her chest tightened.
"So you're part of this?" she asked.
The person tilted their head.
"Part of what?"
"Don't play games with me," she said sharply.
Another small smile.
"I'm not the one playing," they replied.
"You're the one inside the game."
That sent a chill down her spine.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"To see how far you go," they said simply.
"Before what?"
A pause.
"Before you break."
Josie's jaw tightened.
"I'm not going to break."
The person stepped closer.
Now only inches away.
"We'll see."
Suddenly—
A hand grabbed Josie's wrist.
She gasped—
"Back off."
Linux.
He stepped between them instantly.
His grip firm.
Protective.
The tension in the air shifted.
The unknown person didn't step back.
Didn't look scared.
Instead—
They smiled.
"So this is the famous Linux,"they said.
Linux's expression didn't change.
"Leave."
"Or what?" they challenged.
Silence.
Then—
Linux took a step forward.
Closer.
Dangerously calm.
"I won't repeat myself."
That was enough.
The person raised their hands slightly.
Mock surrender.
"Relax," they said. "I'm not here to hurt her."
"Then you shouldn't be here at all."
A pause.
Then the person looked at Josie one last time.
"See you soon."
And just like that—
They walked away.
Gone.
But the feeling stayed.
Josie's breathing was uneven.
Her heart still racing.
"What was that?"she asked.
Linux didn't answer immediately.
His eyes were still fixed in the direction the person left.
"…Trouble," he said finally.
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have right now."
She ran a hand through her hair.
Frustrated.
Scared.
Confused.
"They know everything," she said.
"They know I'm pretending."
Linux looked at her.
Serious.
"Then we adapt."
She blinked.
"What?"
"If they're testing you," he said,
"then we make sure you pass."
Her heart was still racing.
"And how do we do that?"
Linux stepped a little closer.
Lowered his voice.
"By staying one step ahead."
Silence.
Josie let out a shaky breath.
"I hate this."
A small, almost invisible smile appeared on his face.
"I know."
A pause.
Then—
His tone softened.
"Are you okay?"
She looked at him.
Really looked.
"…No," she admitted.
And for a second—
Everything dropped again.
Not the fear.
Not the danger.
Just her.
"I thought I could handle it," she said quietly.
"But this… this is different."
Linux didn't interrupt.
Didn't rush her.
Instead—
He stepped closer.
Just enough.
"You don't have to handle it alone," he said.
Her chest tightened again.
"I'm already in too deep," she whispered.
"Then we go through it together."
That made her pause.
Not because of the words.
But because of how real they felt.
For a moment—
The chaos faded.
And it was just—
Him.
Standing there.
Steady.
Certain.
Josie nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
But deep down—
I knew something.
This wasn't just a test anymore.
It was a game.
And someone—
Was enjoying every second of it.
To be continued…