CHAPTER 2

Even though my nerves were frazzled from the events of the night before, exhaustion eventually won, and I managed to get a few hours of sleep. The shrill sound of my alarm jolted me awake, tearing me from a restless dream I couldn’t quite remember. I groaned, slapping the alarm off with more force than necessary. My temples throbbed slightly, a dull ache from too little sleep and too much stress.

Early morning classes. The important ones. The ones I couldn’t afford to miss even if I wanted to crawl back under the covers and pretend the night never happened.

Dragging myself out of bed, I stretched, a long sigh of frustration escaping my lips. The essay I hadn’t finished loomed in my mind like a heavy shadow. I still had three days until the submission deadline, but that wasn’t comforting. My schedule was already packed, and I had planned to get a head start. Now, thanks to last night, my mind was far too scattered to focus on anything productive.

I shuffled to the window, pulling back the curtains to let the faint morning light spill into the room. The golden glow of the early sun filtered through the dusty panes, casting soft streaks across the wooden floor. For a moment, I let myself enjoy the warmth against my skin, stretching my arms above my head to shake off the lingering tension.

Then my gaze drifted—inevitably—to the tree line. The same place I had seen him last night.

A shiver crawled up my spine, unbidden and unwelcome. My fingers tightened on the curtain as I scanned the woods, half-expecting to see the shadowy figure standing there again. But the trees were still now, their bare branches swaying gently in the light breeze.

Would he come back?

The thought lodged itself in my mind like a thorn, sharp and persistent. It seemed likely—too likely. Last night hadn’t felt random. It had felt deliberate, calculated. He wanted me to know he was there. That he could see me.

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry despite the crisp morning air wafting through the open window. The possibility of him returning sent a fresh wave of unease through me. What did he want? Was he just a voyeur? Some twisted stalker playing games with me?

I hoped so. As terrible as it sounded, I prayed he was just a harmless creep looking for attention. Because if he wasn’t, if his intentions were darker, more violent… I was in deep trouble.

Living here alone was supposed to be freeing, a chance to carve out my own space and live life on my terms. But in moments like this, the isolation turned from comforting to suffocating. The house was thirty minutes from the city, tucked away at the end of a long, winding road surrounded by nothing but trees and open fields. If I screamed, no one would hear me.

My mom’s voice echoed in my head, her words a constant refrain every time she visited or called. “You should put that house up for sale, Sophia. It’s not safe out there.”

I hated to admit it, but part of me agreed with her. The house had been in the family for years, left to my dad after my grandmother passed away three years ago. No one had lived here since her death, the walls holding onto a stillness that bordered on eerie.

At first, my parents were adamant about selling it, and I didn’t blame them. The house was old, isolated, and felt like something out of a ghost story. But when I got accepted into college, only thirty minutes away, I begged them to let me stay here instead of living in the crowded dorms. It took a month of relentless pleading before they finally gave in—on one condition.

Every weekend, they would come to visit, and I had to call them every morning and every evening. If I missed even one call, they’d assume something was wrong and come rushing over.

I’d agreed to their terms without hesitation. At the time, it felt like a small price to pay for my independence. Now, though, the idea of my parents barging in with worried expressions didn’t seem so bad.

With a heavy sigh, I turned away from the window, shaking off the unease clinging to me like a second skin. I needed to focus, to pull myself together and push last night from my mind.

I quickly made my bed, smoothing out the creases in the blanket with more care than usual, as if the simple act of tidying could restore some semblance of order to my chaotic thoughts. The room felt warmer, calmer when it was neat, but the knot in my stomach remained.

The shower was calling to me. A hot one. Scalding, if I could manage it. The kind of heat that would chase away the lingering chill in my bones and, maybe, clear my mind enough to let me breathe.

I stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind me. The space was small but cozy, the white tiles gleaming faintly under the soft glow of the overhead light. I turned the water on and watched as steam began to rise, swirling around me in lazy tendrils.

As I stepped under the stream, the heat hit me all at once, stinging my skin but melting away some of the tension in my shoulders. I closed my eyes and let the water cascade over me, my mind wandering despite my best efforts to focus on the moment.

The image of the man from last night crept in, unbidden. His shadowy figure, tall and imposing, burned into my memory. I could still feel the weight of his gaze, as though he were watching me even now.

My breath hitched, and I shook my head, trying to banish the thought. I didn’t want to be afraid. I didn’t want to feel like a prisoner in my own home. But no matter how much I tried to convince myself that it was all in my head, that he wouldn’t come back… I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t over.

That he wasn’t finished with me.

After showering, I got dressed quickly, throwing on a pair of jeans and a hoodie, and grabbed my bag, phone, and car keys. As I locked up the house, I glanced toward the woods one last time. The morning light made the trees seem less menacing, but the unease from last night still lingered. I pushed the thought aside and got into my car, determined to get through the day.

I just hoped today’s classes wouldn’t be draining or overly complicated. That was the last thing I needed right now.

Pulling into the student parking lot, I barely had time to turn off the engine before I heard a familiar voice call out.

“Soph!”

I looked up to see Carol, my best friend, practically skipping over to me. Her bright smile and bubbly energy were like a breath of fresh air, cutting through the weight I’d been carrying since last night.

“Hey, Carol,” I said, stepping out of the car and wrapping her in a tight hug. Just seeing her made me feel a little better, like everything wasn’t as overwhelming as it seemed.

She pulled back, her smile fading slightly as she gave me a once-over. “You look like you didn’t get any sleep last night. Are you okay?”

I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. What was I supposed to tell her? That I’d spent the night paranoid and terrified because a man was standing outside my house, watching me like a predator sizing up its prey? No. That would only make her worry, and I wasn’t ready to talk about it.

“I was dealing with that assignment,” I said instead, forcing a small smile. “Still couldn’t finish it.”

Carol groaned dramatically, rolling her eyes. “Ugh, same. Professor Coles is literally out to ruin us. I swear he takes pleasure in watching us suffer. I couldn’t finish mine either.”

“Yeah, he really knows how to make life miserable,” I said, trying to keep my tone light.

“I can’t wait to be done with this semester,” she said, tossing her hands in the air. “Or better yet, the whole degree. I’m so over this already.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “You’re still in your first year, Carol. You’re starting to complain a little too early, don’t you think?”

“Don’t remind me,” she said with a groan, sticking her tongue out at me playfully.

As we walked toward the main building, she looped her arm through mine. “Anyway, I hope today isn’t too bad. I seriously hate classes sometimes.”

“Same,” I said with a faint smile. “Let’s just hope it ends early.”

Despite the banter, my mind was elsewhere. The bright campus, bustling with students, felt so far removed from the eerie isolation of my house. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about the figure I’d seen in the woods.

Would he come back? Was he watching me even now?

I forced myself to focus on Carol’s chatter as we headed to class, but deep down, I knew the knot in my stomach wouldn’t go away anytime soon.

It was lunchtime, and Carol and I sat in the bustling canteen, picking at our meals. The air smelled of fried food and coffee, a chaotic mix that somehow always reminded me of campus life. Carol, of course, had that mischievous glint in her eye, which usually meant trouble—or a story.

“I almost forgot to tell you,” she said, her tone dripping with pride. “I got myself a one-night stand last night.”

I raised an eyebrow, barely suppressing a laugh. Carol was a walking paradox: she craved excitement but avoided commitment like the plague. One-night stands, hookups, and friends-with-benefits arrangements were her bread and butter. Relationships, though? Too demanding, according to her.

“And who’s the lucky guy this time?” I asked, taking a sip of my drink.

She shrugged nonchalantly, her lips curving into a sly smile. “I don’t know, and I had no intention of finding out. I met him at the bar, and one thing led to another. Next thing I know, I’m all over him, and he’s all over me. Great night, though,” she added with a wink, clearly pleased with herself.

I rolled my eyes, laughing softly. “Wow. Good for you, I guess.”

Carol leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, a devilish grin spreading across her face. “When are you going to let loose and have some fun, huh? You’re way too uptight these days.”

“Me?” I scoffed, shaking my head. “The time will come. Don’t hold your breath, though.”

I didn’t need to look at her to know she was already plotting, probably thinking of ways to drag me out to some bar tonight. It was Carol’s go-to solution for everything—get dressed up, go out, meet a guy, and forget about life for a while. But I wasn’t in the mood. I hadn’t been in the mood for a long time.

To steer the conversation away from her inevitable attempts at persuasion, I quickly asked, “Anyway, how’s Aunt Jasmine? I haven’t seen her in ages.”

Carol sighed dramatically, clearly annoyed by the topic change. “She’s fine. Still fussing over me like I’m a kid, but you know her.”

I nodded, grateful for the shift in focus. Carol might thrive on chaos, but I didn’t. The truth was, my hesitation wasn’t just about last night’s creepy encounter or even my introverted tendencies—it went deeper than that.

The last guy I’d been with had been a disaster. Awkward, selfish, and completely clueless. The experience had been so underwhelming that I swore I’d never settle for another random hookup again. Carol could have her fun, but I wasn’t about to relive that nightmare.

She tilted her head, studying me. “You’re such a grandma sometimes, Soph. You need to get out more.”

“And you need to slow down,” I shot back with a smirk.

She laughed, throwing a fry at me. “Touché.”

As we finished our lunch, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. Not for the one-night stands or the chaos, but for her carefree attitude. Carol had a way of brushing off life’s heavier moments, while I carried mine like weights around my ankles. Maybe she was right—I needed to loosen up. Just… not today.