Is this the beginning ?...

The sound of the bell ringing signaled the end of an emotional moment for the Reinhardt family. The siblings, though visibly shaken, had been sent back to class after a quiet, reassuring talk with their parents. Leina's eyes were red, but the storm of emotions seemed to have passed, and though she looked small under her school uniform, there was a subtle shift in her demeanor—a quiet resolve that hadn't been there before.

Lester and Levy walked ahead, their usual energy muted, casting furtive glances back at their sister. Liam and Louis followed close behind, their protective instincts never wavering. Leina walked slowly, her gaze fixed ahead, her thoughts clearly miles away. The day was far from normal, and there was a weight that hung over her—one she couldn't shake.

Giselle watched them go, her heart swelling with pride and worry. Her children were strong, but this had shaken them all. She could feel the unspoken tension in the air as she and Logan turned to face the principal, who stood by the door of the counselor's office, a look of deep unease on his face.

"We need to speak to security," Logan said, his voice authoritative yet calm. The principal nodded quickly, clearly on edge, and led them through the hallways to the security office.

The atmosphere inside the security room was tense. The room was dimly lit, the harsh fluorescent lights overhead casting long shadows across the walls. The security guard sat at his desk, typing furiously on his computer, while another officer leaned over the desk, examining something on a monitor. They looked up as Giselle and Logan entered, their faces tightening in response to the urgency in their steps.

"We need to know everything about the man who harassed our daughter," Giselle stated, her voice cool but unwavering. Logan stood beside her, his presence a constant, steady force, his hands folded behind his back in a silent display of control.

The head of security glanced at the officer next to him before turning back to the Reinhardts. "We've reviewed the footage from the security cameras. The man was very insistent about seeing your daughter. We didn't let him get close, but…" He hesitated for a moment, his eyes flicking nervously to the monitor before him.

"Go on," Logan urged, his tone sharp now.

"We've got the footage," the officer said, pulling up a grainy video of the man entering the school building. "But… there's something off about him. His movements, his mannerisms... he knew too much. We couldn't identify him from the school records, and he seemed to avoid the security cameras at certain points. It was almost like he was expecting us to back off."

Logan stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at the screen. "And you're telling me this man wasn't flagged on any prior records?"

The officer nodded. "That's correct. Nothing about him is registered. He doesn't match any of our databases. And... his face is distorted in certain shots. As though he was trying to avoid capture."

Giselle's blood ran cold. Something wasn't right. The fact that this man had come for Leina—so determined, so desperate—and yet had no traceable identity was deeply unsettling.

"We need to know everything. Every detail." Giselle's voice remained steady, but the tension in her jaw was undeniable.

The guard hesitated again before pressing a few keys on his keyboard. A few moments later, another file popped up—a still image of the man, his features partially obscured by the hood of his jacket. The officer zoomed in slightly, showing more of the figure's face, but Giselle's breath caught when she saw it.

There was something familiar about him. The sharpness of his jaw, the curve of his lips. It was all so subtle, but she knew that face.

"Do you have any idea who this is?" Logan asked, his voice low, his gaze never leaving the screen.

Giselle closed her eyes for a moment, her mind racing. The moment she saw that face, her stomach twisted. "I don't know who he is, but this doesn't sit right."

Logan's gaze shifted to her, sensing the change in her. "You've seen him before?"

She shook her head, her thoughts racing. "I'm not sure. But there's something about him. Something familiar."

Logan's jaw tightened. "This isn't just some random guy. Whatever this is, it's not over."

Before they could delve further into the situation, the officer spoke again, his voice even more uncertain now. "There's one more thing, sir and ma'am… we've managed to pull some data from the man's phone. There was a message we found that wasn't addressed to anyone in particular, but it was about a woman..."

The officer hesitated, then played the message aloud. It was a text, from an unknown number:

"The time is near. Watch your back. Don't let your guard down."

The room fell silent as the message echoed in their minds. The words hung in the air, unsettling and cryptic.

"Watch your back... don't let your guard down," Giselle whispered, a cold chill creeping up her spine.

Logan clenched his fists. "This is bigger than we thought."

As the Reinhardts exchanged a glance, both unsettled and determined, they knew this was only the beginning. Something dangerous was afoot, and they couldn't ignore it.

Giselle turned to Logan. "We need to find out who this man really is, and why he was after Leina."

Logan nodded. "And we will. But we'll do it together."

As they made their way out of the security room, the urgency in their steps grew. The pieces were falling into place, but this twisted puzzle had only just begun to show its true nature.