Chapter 10 up
“I’m just stepping out for a bit.”
Clark picked up his jacket carefully, as if the sound of the zipper might awaken suspicion. He glanced at the clock on the wall—seven in the evening. A safe enough time, he thought. Selena was usually already resting.
But just as he reached for the door—
“Clark…”
The voice sounded weak from the direction of the sofa.
Clark turned quickly. Selena sat curled up, her face pale, one hand pressed to her stomach, her breathing shallow as if she were holding back pain.
“Where are you going?” she asked softly.
Clark hesitated for a fraction of a second. “I… have something from the office.”
Selena offered a faint smile, but her eyes were filled with unease. “This late at night?”
Clark stepped closer. “I won’t be long.”
Selena bit her lip. “My stomach has been hurting for a while. I feel dizzy… maybe I need to go to the hospital.”
The words stopped Clark completely.
“We’re going to the doctor right now,” he said instinctively.
Selena shook her head quickly. “No… I just need you to stay. I’m scared to be alone.”
Clark studied her for a long moment. One part of him felt immediate guilt—another felt trapped.
“Alright,” he said at last. “I’ll stay.”
Selena let out a relieved breath and rested her head against Clark’s shoulder. From the corner of her eye, a faint smile appeared—brief, almost invisible.
But that night, Clark couldn’t find peace.
When Selena finally fell asleep, Clark rose quietly. He took his phone and went into the bathroom, locking the door softly behind him. The glow of the screen reflected off his tense face.
He opened old messages.
Nyla.
There had been no reply since the day she left.
Clark pressed her number, then ended the call before it connected.
“Coward,” he muttered to his own reflection.
He opened another contact—a number he had almost forgotten.
“It’s me,” he said quietly when the call connected. “I just wanted to know… have you seen Nyla recently?”
The next morning, Clark left early, citing an important meeting. But this time, he didn’t go to the office.
He drove without a clear destination, following only vague directions from an old address he’d managed to obtain. Every intersection felt like a step toward a mistake—or toward the truth.
He stopped at a small café on the corner of the city. His heart pounded when he saw a woman’s silhouette through the glass—but when the door opened, it wasn’t Nyla.
Disappointment crushed his chest.
“Why am I hoping so much?” he whispered.
He began asking people who had once known Nyla—carefully, quietly. Every uncertain answer made his search feel more real.
What Clark didn’t know—
was that someone was watching him.
Selena stood in front of the bedroom mirror, her phone vibrating in her hand. A short message appeared from an unknown number.
He’s looking for Nyla.
Selena stiffened. Her pale face hardened instantly. Her fingers tightened around the phone.
“No,” she whispered. “Not yet. Not now.”
When Clark returned that night, Selena was already lying on the sofa, a blanket pulled over her body. She looked paler than usual, her lips trembling.
“Clark…” she called weakly.
Clark rushed over. “What happened?”
“I fainted for a moment,” she said hoarsely. “I was scared…”
Panic surged through Clark. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“I didn’t want to disturb you,” Selena replied, tears streaming down her face. “I know you’re busy… maybe thinking about something else.”
The words were a subtle trap.
Clark lowered his head. “I’m sorry.”
Selena clutched his hand tightly. “Don’t leave me. Please. I can’t do this alone.”
Clark nodded, even as the weight in his chest grew heavier.
That night, Selena groaned in pain. She shivered, complained of dizziness, cried softly. Clark canceled all his plans—including the quiet promise he’d made to himself to keep searching for Nyla.
He sat beside Selena all night, bound by responsibility—and by two clashing forms of guilt.
But when Selena finally slept, Clark stared at her face with exhausted eyes.
Something didn’t add up.
The pain that came every time he tried to leave.
The tears that always arrived on cue.
The fear that surfaced whenever Nyla was mentioned—and vanished when Clark’s attention returned to her.
That morning, Clark received a text message.
She’s staying out of town for now.
Clark stared at the screen for a long time. His chest trembled.
Across the room, Selena opened her eyes and watched him in silence. She saw the change in his expression—the small light she could barely control.
“Where are you going today?” Selena asked gently.
Clark slipped his phone away. “Work.”
Selena smiled. “Don’t be gone too long. I need you.”
Clark nodded—but this time, it was different.
As he stepped out of the house, a decision began to form in his mind—slowly, but unmistakably.
Behind the curtain, Selena watched Clark’s car drive away. The smile on her face faded, replaced by unease.
She touched her stomach and took a deep breath.
“Calm down,” she whispered to herself. “I’m still in control.”