The church doors closed behind the last mourners, leaving faint whispers of shock in the air. Lena remained in the shadows, her eyes moving carefully across the street. She kept her distance from the man who had seen her alive, yet she couldn't stop watching him.
He stood across from her, observing the crowd as it slowly dispersed. Tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair catching the sunlight and deep brown eyes that seemed to notice everything. His movements were calm but alert, as if he sensed more than he showed.
Lena forced herself to focus. She had survived, but the danger still felt close. Her attention shifted from him to the people near the church. A woman stood by the steps, whispering to a man who kept glancing around in a way that didn't feel natural. Their behavior was quiet, but intentional.
Her heartbeat quickened. Someone had planned this. Someone wanted her dead. She didn't know who, but the tension in the air made it hard to ignore.
The man moved slightly, and their eyes met for a brief second. Lena quickly stepped behind a pillar, steadying herself.
He had seen her alive. She didn't know what he thought or how much he understood.
Lena took a slow breath. For now, she needed to watch, to listen, and to gather pieces of the truth before making any move. Every whisper, every glance around her could matter.
Staying hidden was still her safest choice.