Eyes

Chloe tossed herself onto the bed, sinking into the mattress with a long sigh. "Ugh, I'm beat," she groaned, stretching her arms above her head. "I'm taking a nap. We're gonna be up all night at the lake anyway, right?"

Emily nodded as she rummaged through her bag for a fresh set of clothes. "Good idea. I'm gonna hop in the shower and freshen up. We still have a lot of partying ahead of us," she said with a playful smirk, heading toward the bathroom.

Tyler, who was leaning against the wall near the room's small window, glanced at Chloe. She was already drifting off, her back to him, unaware of his movements. His gaze shifted to the bathroom door, which was ajar, steam beginning to waft out and fog up the mirror above the sink. From where he stood, he could see just enough through the gap—Emily's silhouette under the running water, her skin glistening in the heat.

His breath hitched for a moment. It was like an unplanned invitation, and the sight stirred something in him. He took a step closer, his curiosity overtaking his caution. The faint aroma of her floral shampoo filled the air, and his pulse quickened as he leaned closer to the gap.

Emily, her eyes closed as she tilted her head back under the stream, noticed the shadow in the doorway. When she turned and saw Tyler standing there, peeking in, she didn't react with shock or anger. Instead, a soft chuckle escaped her lips, and she reached a hand out, motioning for him to come in.

"You gonna keep watching from there, or are you coming in?" she teased, flicking some water toward him with a grin.

Tyler hesitated for a second, a smirk forming on his face. "So, you're saying you left the door open for me?" he asked, stepping inside and kicking the door shut behind him.

"Maybe," Emily replied, her voice playful as she let the water cascade over her shoulders. "Or maybe I'm just too tired to care."

She moved to the side, making space for him under the stream. Tyler didn't need another invitation. He stepped closer, his shirt already soaked through as he leaned in to capture her lips. The first kiss was hesitant, testing the waters, but it quickly deepened into something more heated. Her hands slid up to his neck, pulling him against her as the kiss intensified, tongues meeting in a passionate exchange.

His fingers traced her wet skin, trailing down the curve of her back as the water streamed over them. The steam fogged up the glass, and all the world outside that shower seemed to blur and disappear. Tyler's heart raced as his hands moved lower, pulling her even closer, her bare skin pressed against his soaked clothes.

"You're not supposed to be shy," she murmured, nibbling at his lower lip. "Not when you're the one who came in here."

"Trust me, I'm not shy," Tyler said, his voice low and rough. "Just… appreciating the view."

Emily chuckled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Then why don't you join me properly?" she whispered, tugging at his wet shirt. As she began to peel it off, her eyes flickered over his shoulder, and that's when she saw it—a faint glint in the cracked tile on the wall, like a small, dark eye staring right at them.

She froze. Her body stiffened, and her eyes widened in alarm. "Tyler…" she breathed, pushing him back slightly. "There's—there's someone watching us."

Tyler turned, scanning the bathroom wall where she was pointing. His brows knitted together as he squinted at the crack she was staring at. "Where? I don't see anything," he said, pressing a hand against the tile. "It's just old grout. There's no one there."

"I swear, I saw an eye!" Emily insisted, her voice trembling. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering despite the hot water. "It was right there, looking at us."

Tyler exhaled, running a hand through his wet hair. "Babe, you're just tired. It's been a long drive. Your mind's probably playing tricks on you," he said softly, moving closer to comfort her. "Look, there's nothing there." He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Emily's gaze remained glued to the crack in the wall. She couldn't shake the eerie feeling that had come over her, like cold fingers trailing down her spine. "Maybe…" she mumbled, trying to convince herself that it was just exhaustion.

"Hey," Tyler said, cupping her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him. "I'm right here, okay? There's nothing to worry about." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, his lips warm against her skin. "Let's just get back to what we were doing."

Emily forced a small smile and nodded, but even as they resumed their intimate moment, she couldn't help but cast one last glance over his shoulder. The eye was gone, but the unsettling feeling lingered—like a silent warning in the back of her mind that something was very wrong.

As Tyler's kisses trailed down her neck, she closed her eyes and tried to push the image out of her head. But deep down, she couldn't shake the sense that this motel wasn't as harmless as it seemed.