Chapter Seven: The Shadow in the Hallway

Maya's pulse hammered in her ears as she clutched Alex's arm. Her earlier doubts about him were momentarily replaced by the unease of being watched. The hallway, dimly lit and eerily silent, stretched ahead like a scene from a horror movie.

"I swear, someone was there," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Alex's gaze darted between her and the hallway, his jaw tightening. "Stay close to me," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

They moved cautiously, Alex leading the way with one hand at his side, as if ready to strike. Maya's eyes scanned the shadows, her breath hitching at every flicker of movement.

"Maybe it was Kara," she murmured, half to herself.

"She wouldn't sneak around," Alex replied, his voice low. "That's not her style. If she wanted to make trouble, she'd do it in your face."

His words didn't comfort her. They only made the situation feel more sinister.

When they reached the end of the hallway, Alex pushed open the stairwell door, the creak of the hinges echoing through the empty space. The cool air from the stairwell brushed against Maya's skin, raising goosebumps.

"Wait here," Alex said, stepping through the door.

"Are you serious?" she hissed. "I'm not waiting here alone."

He glanced back at her, his expression softening for a moment. "Fine. But stay behind me."

They descended the stairs slowly, the sound of their footsteps bouncing off the concrete walls. The further they went, the darker it became, until the dim glow of the emergency lights barely illuminated their path.

"Why would someone even be down here?" Maya whispered.

"I don't know," Alex replied, his voice tense. "But if they're messing with you, they'll regret it."

Something in his tone sent a shiver down her spine—not fear, but a dangerous edge she hadn't heard before.

They reached the ground floor, where a heavy metal door led to the building's back alley. Alex paused, his hand resting on the door's handle. He turned to Maya, his eyes narrowing.

"If there's someone out here, I want you to run back upstairs. Don't argue, just go. Got it?"

Maya nodded, her heart racing so fast she thought it might explode.

Alex pushed the door open, and the cool night air hit them like a slap. The alley was empty, save for a few trash bins and the faint hum of a distant streetlight.

"Nothing," Maya breathed, relief washing over her.

But Alex didn't relax. He stepped further into the alley, his eyes scanning every shadow, every corner. Maya hesitated at the doorway, her fingers gripping the frame.

And then she saw it.

A figure stepped out from behind one of the trash bins, tall and broad-shouldered, their face obscured by the shadows.

"Alex," Maya said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He turned sharply, his body tensing as he spotted the figure. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded, his voice cold and commanding.

The figure didn't respond. Instead, they took a slow step forward, the light catching the edge of a sharp jawline and piercing eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness.

Maya's stomach dropped. There was something unnerving about the way the stranger moved—calm, deliberate, as if they weren't afraid of Alex's anger.

"I could ask you the same thing," the figure said, their voice deep and smooth, with an accent Maya couldn't place.

"Answer the question," Alex snapped, taking a step toward them.

The figure chuckled, a low, menacing sound that sent chills down Maya's spine. "Relax. I'm just here for a little… chat."

"Who are you?" Maya blurted, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound firm.

The stranger's gaze shifted to her, and for a moment, she felt like she couldn't breathe. His eyes, dark and intense, seemed to see straight through her.

"That's not important right now," he said, his lips curling into a faint smile. "But you should be careful about the company you keep."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Alex growled, stepping closer.

The stranger tilted his head, his gaze flicking between Alex and Maya. "You know exactly what it means."

Before either of them could respond, the stranger took a step back into the shadows, his movements almost unnaturally smooth.

"Hey!" Alex shouted, rushing forward.

But by the time he reached the spot where the man had stood, the alley was empty.

Maya's legs felt weak, and she clutched the doorframe for support. "What… what was that?"

Alex turned back to her, his expression unreadable. "I don't know," he said, though his tone suggested otherwise.

He walked back to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Maya, listen to me. If you see him again, you need to tell me. Don't try to talk to him, don't engage—just find me. Understand?"

She nodded, her mind racing with questions. Who was that man? And what did he mean about Alex?

But the bigger question lingered in the back of her mind, one she didn't dare ask aloud:

What wasn't Alex telling her?