170: The concerns - Part 1

Anabella hurried down the dimly lit street, her eyes darting to every flicker of movement and every shadow that seemed to stretch and twist in her periphery. 

The message she received earlier had plunged her into a state of heightened paranoia, the words "You've made a mistake" replaying in her mind like a sinister mantra. 

The faintest sounds—a rustle of leaves, the distant murmur of voices—felt amplified, each one sending a shiver down her spine.

By the time Anabella reached her apartment, she was drenched in cold sweat, her body trembling. 

She fumbled with her keys, her hands shaking so badly that it took her several tries to unlock the door. 

Once inside, she immediately locked it behind her, sliding the deadbolt into place and pressing her back against the door, as if her weight alone could barricade against the unseen forces that she felt closing in.