Classes ended, but the uneasy feeling didn't.
It stayed.
Like a shadow that refused to leave no matter how hard I tried to ignore it.
"Let's just go home," I said, stretching my arms as we stepped out of the building.
"Finally," Kiara replied dramatically. "I thought I'd die of boredom in there."
"You almost did during lunch."
"Worth it."
I sighed.
Meera walked beside me, unusually quiet.
That was… rare.
She was normally the one trying to keep things calm.
"Are you okay?" I asked her.
"Hm?" she looked up. "Yeah… I'm fine."
She smiled.
But it didn't reach her eyes.
Luna, on the other hand, was completely different.
Her gaze kept moving.
Left.
Right.
Behind us.
Like she was tracking something invisible.
"You're still thinking about that, aren't you?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied without hesitation.
"That's not comforting."
"It's not supposed to be."
"…Great."
We walked in silence for a while.
Even Kiara wasn't talking much now.
Which meant—
Something was definitely off.
We reached the main gate of the college.
Students were leaving in groups, laughing, talking, completely unaware of anything unusual.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
"Alright, I'm heading this way," Kiara said, casually flipping her hair. "Try not to die before tomorrow."
"Very reassuring."
"I try."
Meera gave a small wave.
"See you tomorrow, Ayaan."
"Yeah… see you."
One by one, they left.
Kiara disappeared into the crowd.
Meera walked toward the bus stop.
Luna…
Stayed.
She didn't move.
Her eyes were still scanning the surroundings.
"You're not going?" I asked.
"I will," she said.
"After I confirm something."
"…You say things in a very scary way, you know that?"
She didn't reply.
Of course she didn't.
I exhaled.
"Whatever. I'm leaving."
No response.
Typical.
I turned and started walking down the road alone.
For the first time that day—
It felt quiet.
Peaceful.
No Kiara teasing me.
No Luna saying something creepy.
No awkward tension.
"…Finally," I muttered.
But that peace didn't last.
Because a few steps later—
I felt it.
That sensation again.
A gaze.
Watching me.
My steps slowed.
"…Not again."
I turned my head slightly.
Nothing.
Just people passing by.
Cars moving.
Everything normal.
"Get a grip," I whispered to myself.
"You're just overthinking."
I started walking again.
Faster this time.
But the feeling didn't go away.
If anything—
It got stronger.
Like something was getting closer.
My heartbeat picked up.
"This isn't funny…"
I glanced at the glass window of a nearby shop.
And that's when—
I saw it.
For a split second—
A figure.
Standing right behind me.
Tall.
Still.
Watching.
My body froze.
I turned around instantly.
Nothing.
No one.
"…What the hell?"
I looked around again.
There was no one there.
No one close enough.
No one who could have been that figure.
"This is bad…"
My voice came out lower than I expected.
For the first time—
I felt it.
Not confusion.
Not irritation.
Fear.
Real fear.
Because this time—
There was no one around me.
No Luna.
No Kiara.
No one.
Just me.
And something…
I couldn't see.
I swallowed hard.
"…I need to get out of here."
I started walking faster.
Almost rushing now.
Not looking back.
Not stopping.
But deep inside—
I knew.
Whatever that was…
It was real.
And it had seen me.