Julian stared at the screen.
The words didn't change.
They didn't disappear.
If you're seeing this, don't trust him.
His fingers tightened around the phone.
A strange, cold feeling crept up his spine.
Don't trust him?
Who?
Silas?
That didn't make sense.
…Did it?
Julian swallowed hard, his heart starting to beat faster.
The room suddenly felt too quiet.
Too still.
Like something was watching him.
A soft sound outside the door.
Footsteps.
Julian froze.
Silas.
Panic hit instantly.
Without thinking, Julian shoved the phone back into the drawer and slid it shut.
Too fast.
Too obvious.
His breathing went uneven as he quickly pulled his hand back to the bed, forcing himself to look normal.
Calm.
Act normal.
Act normal.
The door opened.
Silas walked in.
And stopped.
His gaze landed on Julian immediately.
Sharp.
Observing.
Too observant.
"Hey," he said softly.
Julian forced a small smile. "Hey."
Silas didn't move closer this time.
He stayed near the door.
Watching.
Something about the way he looked at him—
It felt different.
Less soft.
More… aware.
"Did something happen?" Silas asked.
Julian's stomach dropped.
"What? No."
Too fast.
Again.
Silas tilted his head slightly, studying him.
"You look tense."
Julian let out a small, awkward laugh. "I just woke up in a hospital with no memory. I think I'm allowed to be tense."
A pause.
Then Silas smiled.
But again—
It didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Fair enough."
He walked closer this time, setting a small bag on the table.
"I brought you food."
Julian nodded. "Thanks."
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Silas' gaze shifted.
Slowly.
Toward the bedside table.
Julian felt it.
His chest tightened instantly.
No.
Don't look there.
"Did the nurse come back?" Silas asked casually.
Julian shook his head. "No."
"Did anyone else?"
The question was light.
Too light.
Julian forced himself to meet his eyes.
"No."
Silas held his gaze.
For a second too long.
Like he was trying to see through him.
Julian's fingers curled slightly under the blanket.
Stay calm.
Stay normal.
Silas exhaled quietly and pulled the chair closer again, sitting down.
Closer than before.
"Eat first," he said.
Julian hesitated but nodded, reaching for the food just to have something to do.
Something to distract himself.
Something to avoid that stare.
Silas watched him the entire time.
Every movement.
Every reaction.
Like he was waiting.
For something.
"Julian."
Julian looked up.
Silas' voice had changed.
Softer.
But heavier.
"You know you can trust me, right?"
The words hit differently now.
Not comforting.
Not warm.
Julian's grip tightened around the spoon.
The message flashed in his mind again.
Don't trust him.
His heartbeat quickened.
"I…" he hesitated.
Just for a second.
But that second—
Silas noticed.
Silas leaned forward slightly.
"Julian."
There it was again.
That intensity.
That pressure.
"Look at me."
Julian's breath caught, but he did.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Silas' eyes locked onto his.
Dark.
Unreadable.
"Whatever you're thinking," he said quietly, "you can tell me."
Julian's chest felt tight.
Like the air had been pulled out of the room.
"I'm not thinking anything," he said.
A lie.
And they both knew it.
Silas didn't respond immediately.
He just…
Watched him.
Then—
Slowly—
He reached out.
His fingers brushing against Julian's wrist.
Light.
Gentle.
But it sent a sharp chill through him.
"Don't shut me out," Silas murmured.
His thumb pressed slightly against Julian's pulse.
As if he could feel how fast it was beating.
Julian forced a small nod.
"I'm not."
Silas studied him for a moment longer.
Then smiled again.
Soft.
Beautiful.
Wrong.
"Good," he said quietly.
But his hand didn't move away.