chapter 4

Ritta’s hands trembled as she washed the dishes that night.

She kept seeing the man in black’s face in her mind—his eyes, his voice, the way he said her name like he had already decided she was his,she hated it.

She hated how much it affected her. She hated how her body reacted, how her heart beat faster, how her thoughts became a tangled web of fear and curiosity.

She didn’t want to be curious.

Curiosity had gotten her into trouble before.

But she couldn’t help it.

She kept thinking about what he said.

“You should be afraid of the people who want you to stay quiet.”

What did that mean?

Who wanted her to stay quiet?

Her aunt?

Someone else?

Someone she didn’t know?

She didn’t know.

And the not knowing was slowly turning her life into a storm.

She finished the dishes and wiped her hands on a towel, her mind still racing. She moved to the table and sat down, her body exhausted from the day but her mind refusing to rest.

She stared at the wall, trying to focus on anything else.

But she couldn’t.

She felt like she was trapped in a story she didn’t want to be part of.

She felt like someone was writing her life without her permission.

She felt like she was no longer in control.

She hated that feeling more than she could express.

.....................

The next day, Lena arrived early at the café. She looked serious, her eyes sharp.

“Have you heard from your aunt?” she asked as soon as Ritta saw her.

Ritta shook her head. “No.”

Lena’s expression tightened. “She should be checking on you.”

Ritta’s heart sank. “She’s been here. She’s been warning me.”

Lena’s eyes narrowed. “Warning you about what?”

Ritta hesitated.

She didn’t want to tell Lena about the man in black. She didn’t want to say his words out loud. She didn’t want to admit that she was afraid.

But she also didn’t want to lie.

She took a deep breath.

“I don’t know,” she said softly. “Something is wrong. Someone is watching me.”

Lena’s expression changed from concern to anger.

“Then why aren’t you doing something about it?” she snapped.

Ritta flinched.

“I don’t know what to do,” she whispered.

Lena’s eyes softened slightly, but her voice remained firm.

“You need to stop pretending you’re safe,” she said. “You need to stop living like nothing matters.”

Ritta looked at her friend, her heart aching.

“I’m scared,” she admitted.

Lena’s expression softened even more.

“I know,” she said. “But you’re not alone.”

Ritta nodded, grateful for Lena’s presence. She didn’t know what she would do without her.

.......................

That afternoon, Ritta returned home and found her aunt waiting for her inside the apartment.

Mireya looked exhausted, her eyes dark with worry. She didn’t say anything at first.

She simply stood there, staring at Ritta with an expression that was both loving and frightening.

Ritta felt a chill run down her spine.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Mireya sighed and moved toward the table. She sat down, her hands clasped together.

“I need you to listen carefully,” she said.

Ritta nodded.

Mireya’s voice was low, almost whispering.

“You need to stop going to the café,” she said. “You need to stay here.”

Ritta’s eyes widened. “Why?”

Mireya’s gaze was sharp. “Because he’s been there.”

Ritta’s throat tightened.

“You mean the man in black?” she asked.

Mireya nodded.

Ritta felt her heart pounding.

“He came again?” she whispered.

Mireya nodded again, her expression hard.

“Yes,” she said. “And he was not alone.”

Ritta’s stomach twisted.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

Mireya looked at her, her eyes filled with a strange mix of fear and anger.

“He was with someone,” she said. “Someone who belongs to that world.”

Ritta’s heart sank.

“What world?” she asked.

Mireya hesitated, then spoke.

“The world you don’t belong to,” she said. “The world that will destroy you.”

Ritta felt a sudden wave of anger.

“I don’t understand,” she said. “Why are you being so secretive? Why won’t you tell me who he is?”

Mireya’s eyes flashed.

“Because you’re not ready,” she said. “Because you’re not safe.”

Ritta stood up, her hands shaking.

“I’m not a child,” she said.

“I’m not going to live my life like I’m afraid.”

Mireya’s expression hardened.

“You don’t get to decide that,” she said. “Not anymore.”

Ritta felt a sudden surge of fear.

She didn’t like the way her aunt was speaking. She didn’t like the way her voice sounded like a command.

She didn’t like the way her aunt looked like she was trying to protect her by controlling her.

She didn’t like the way it felt like her life was being taken away from her.

But she also knew that her aunt was scared.

And she didn’t know what she would do without her.

Ritta sat down slowly, her heart pounding.

“I just want to understand,” she said quietly.

Mireya’s gaze softened slightly.

“I know,” she said. “But you can’t understand yet.”

........................

That night, Ritta lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.

She kept thinking about her aunt’s words.

“You don’t get to decide that.”

It sounded like a threat.

It sounded like a warning.

It sounded like a cage.

She turned her head and looked at the window.

The street outside was quiet.

The city was still.

But she could feel the danger lurking.

She sat up slowly and reached for her phone.

Her hands trembled as she typed a message to Lena.

“He’s back.”

Lena replied almost instantly.

“Where are you?”

Ritta’s fingers hovered over the keyboard.

She didn’t want to tell her friend where she was.

She didn’t want to bring danger into Lena’s life.

But she also didn’t want to be alone.

She typed back:

“At home.”

Lena’s response came quickly.

“I’m coming.”

Ritta stared at the message for a moment, her heart pounding.

She didn’t know what Lena would do.

She didn’t know what Lena would say.

But she knew she was grateful.

She wasn’t alone.

She wasn’t the only one watching.

And that made her feel slightly safer.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***