CHAPTER 14

I looked out the window, watching as we passed the trees, their silhouettes fading into the night. The road stretched endlessly ahead, bathed in the glow of the streetlights, but my mind was far from here. My thoughts were still trapped in that moment, in that place where my heart had pounded so violently against my chest I had feared it might burst. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to suppress the chill that wasn’t from the cool air but from the lingering fear that clung to me like a second skin.

Garry was focused on driving, his hands steady on the wheel, his eyes locked on the road. He didn’t ask me anything. That was why I had called him to come and pick me up. Garry always knew when to push and when to let me be. He never pried, never pressured me to speak, and right now, silence was exactly what I needed. I didn’t have the strength to put what had just happened into words—not yet.

Still, my mind refused to quiet down. It replayed everything like a broken record, every detail etched into my memory as if to torture me. I clenched my hands into fists on my lap, my nails digging into my skin. The questions wouldn’t stop. What if that man wasn’t gone? What if he was following us right now? I glanced at the side mirror, my breath catching in my throat as I scanned the empty road behind us. Nothing. No suspicious cars. No shadowy figure lurking in the darkness.

I shut my eyes, forcing myself to breathe, to dismiss the paranoia. From what I had noticed, he was a careful man. He wouldn’t take that risk. At least, I hoped he wouldn’t. I let out a long sigh, pressing my forehead against the cool window. Deep down, I prayed he would never show up again.

But hope felt fragile, like glass on the verge of shattering.

-----

The car finally rolled to a stop in front of Garry’s house. The familiar place brought me no comfort. Not yet. I was still too shaken, too raw to feel safe anywhere. Garry cut the engine and stepped out. Without a word, he unlocked the door and held it open for me. I followed him inside, the warmth of his home wrapping around me, but it didn’t chase away the coldness buried deep in my bones.

“Would you like something to eat?” he asked, his voice gentle.

I shook my head. Food was the last thing on my mind.

“I just want to sleep,” I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper.

His dark eyes studied me, full of unspoken concern. I could see it—the worry written all over his face. Garry was like a brother to me, and I knew that not knowing what had happened to me was eating him up inside. Maybe he had an idea, maybe he had pieced together enough from my expression, my body language, the way my hands trembled slightly at my sides. But he didn’t push. He never did.

“Okay,” he said, nodding. “Go get some rest. The guest room—second door upstairs on your right.”

I nodded in return and turned to head upstairs. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if an invisible weight was pressing down on me. When I reached the guest room, I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, exhaling a shaky breath.

And then, as if the moment I was alone had unlocked something inside me, the tears came.

I stumbled toward the bed and threw myself onto it, burying my face in the pillow as silent sobs wracked my body. I had been holding it in, trying to be strong, trying to pretend I could keep it together. But now, in the safety of this quiet room, the dam broke.

I wondered what I had done wrong. Why was the universe punishing me like this? What had I done to deserve this?

One day, you will be begging for more.

His words echoed in my mind, sending a violent shudder through me. My nails dug into the sheets as a fresh wave of fear and disgust rolled over me. Why me? Why had he chosen me? I had never met him before. Never seen him before this nightmare began. So why?

Why would he stalk me, break into my house, and—

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the thoughts away before they could suffocate me. I couldn’t think about it right now. Couldn’t relive it.

I sat up, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. Crying wouldn’t change anything. It wouldn’t erase what had happened. It wouldn’t make me forget the way his voice had sent chills down my spine or the way his touch had made my skin crawl.

Crying wouldn’t help. It would only make me feel worse.

I needed to get a grip on myself. I had to try. Even if it felt impossible, even if my body still trembled with the remnants of fear, I had to try.

I pushed myself off the bed and walked into the adjoining bathroom. My reflection in the mirror startled me. My face was pale, my eyes red and puffy from crying. I turned on the tap, splashing cold water onto my face, letting the chill snap me back to reality. I needed to pull myself together.

I gripped the edges of the sink, staring at my reflection.

“I won’t let him break me,” I whispered to myself.

I didn’t recognize my own voice. It sounded weak. Shaky. But I wanted to believe the words. I needed to believe them.

I turned off the water and dried my face. The exhaustion in my body was beginning to win. Maybe if I got some sleep, I would feel a little stronger. Maybe tomorrow, I would tell Garry everything. Maybe I would finally let someone in.

Or maybe I would wake up and still feel just as broken as I did right now.

I climbed back into bed, pulling the blankets around me. The warmth did little to comfort me, but I closed my eyes anyway, forcing myself to breathe deeply. Inhale. Exhale. Try to let go, if only for tonight.

Somewhere outside, the wind howled, rattling the window slightly. I flinched before reminding myself it was just the wind. Just nature. Not him.

Not him.

I repeated the words in my head until, slowly, exhaustion pulled me under.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, I let sleep take me.

-----

I opened my eyes as the warmth of the sun kissed my face. Blinking a few times, I slowly adjusted to the brightness streaming in through the window. For a brief moment, everything felt normal. The weight on my chest wasn’t as heavy, and the lingering fear that had clung to me last night seemed distant. I turned my head toward the nightstand and checked the time—9 a.m.

I had managed to get a few hours of sleep. Not enough, but better than nothing.

Sighing, I pushed the blankets off and got out of bed. My muscles felt sore, my body heavy with exhaustion, but I forced myself to move. The faint aroma of something delicious drifted through the air, pulling me out of my thoughts. The scent of breakfast—warm, inviting—something so simple, yet it reminded me of home, of safety.

For a split second, I had forgotten. Forgotten about my worries. Forgotten about the nightmare I had just lived through.

But reality came crashing back just as quickly.

I shook the thoughts away and made my way downstairs, following the smell into the kitchen.

“Soph, you’re awake,” Garry said as soon as he saw me. He was standing by the stove, flipping what looked like pancakes. A casual sight, but his tone was laced with quiet concern.

“Morning,” I greeted, my voice still hoarse from sleep as I sat down at the kitchen table.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked, eyeing me as he set a plate down in front of me.

I hesitated. “Yeah, I tried.”

He gave me a small nod, accepting my answer even though we both knew it wasn’t entirely true. “Great. I made breakfast.”

“Thanks,” I murmured.

He sat down beside me, and for a few minutes, we ate in silence. The food was good—warm and comforting—but my appetite wasn’t there. My mind was too restless, my thoughts too dark. I knew Garry was waiting for me to speak first. He was giving me space, just like he always did.

But I needed to say it. I needed to tell him.

Clearing my throat, I finally broke the silence. “Garry?”

He looked up immediately. “Yeah?”

I hesitated, gripping the fork in my hand a little tighter. My voice was quieter when I spoke again. “Changing the locks didn’t work.”

His entire body tensed. “What?”

I swallowed hard. “He broke in. While I was sleeping.”

“Jesus Christ.” His expression darkened, his hands clenching into fists on the table. “Soph, are you serious? Did he—”

“I don’t know what else to do,” I cut in before he could finish that question. I didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t want to think about it nor did i want to talk about it or tell him what had trully happened“I don’t know how to keep him away. I don’t know how to stop him.”

Garry exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He was silent for a moment, as if trying to calm himself before he spoke again.

“You can stay here for the time being,” he finally said, his voice firm. “You’re always welcome here.”

I shook my head. “No, Garry. It’s too much trouble.”

“No, it’s not,” he said immediately. “Just stay with me until we figure out how to deal with this weirdo, okay?”

There was no room for argument in his tone. He was serious. Determined.

I hesitated. I didn’t want to burden him. I didn’t want my problems to become his. But deep down, I knew he was right. Staying here was the best option. I wouldn’t be alone. And maybe—just maybe—that would be enough to keep the stalker away.

I let out a slow breath and nodded. “Okay. I’ll go get my stuff later.”

“I’ll go with you,” he said without hesitation.

I met his gaze and, for the first time in a long time, felt a tiny spark of relief.

“Thank you, Garry.”

He gave me a reassuring smile. “Always.”

And for the first time since this nightmare began, I felt like I wasn’t facing it alone.