Chapter 37
Ariel’s heart thudded against her ribs as she stared at the screen.
James.
Her thumb hovered over the accept button. Every instinct screamed at her not to pick up, yet curiosity burned hotter. She drew in a shaky breath and swiped to answer.
“James?”
Static filled the line for a second before his voice came through, calm.
“Ariel. You sound surprised.”
Her grip on the phone tightened. “What do you want?”
“You’ve been busy,” he muttered. “Visiting people… asking questions… breaking into houses.”
Ariel froze mid-step. Her eyes darted to the room she just came out from and she quickly walked away from the place.
“How do you know that?” she whispered.
James chuckled. “Let’s just say… I have my ways. You should’ve stayed out of this.”
Her jaw clenched. “Maybe you should’ve stopped killing people.”
There was a brief silence, then a low, dangerous laugh. “You still think I’m the one behind it? You really haven’t learned anything, have you?”
“Then who is, James? Prove to me that I'm wrong.”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” he replied softly. “But you will, soon.”
The line went dead.
Ariel pulled the phone from her ear and stared at it. The call lasted forty-seven seconds. Her hand trembled slightly as she pocketed it.
“That fool.“ she cursed under her breath and sighed out loudly.
She turned around, scanning the empty area.
Her pulse spiked.
Someone was watching her.
She couldn’t see them, but she felt it, that faint prickle under her skin, like unseen eyes tracking her every move.
“Nat?” she called softly, turning toward the room. The door was shut, no movement inside.
Yet, Ariel was certain she never saw Nathaniel step out of the room.
She exhaled, forcing her nerves to steady. She was a detective. She’d handled worse.
But when she stepped into the living room, then looked through the window. She saw a black SUV parked a few houses away, engine running.
Her breath hitched.
The driver’s window rolled down slightly. A gloved hand flicked something out, a small envelope, then the car sped off into the night.
Ariel hesitated before walking out. She wasn't the type to get scared at night, as a detective, she's walked into dangers. She reached were the SUV was and bent down, picked up the envelope, then tore it open.
Inside was a photo.
Her, sitting beside Nathaniel on the couch an hour ago. The angle was perfect. Someone had taken it from inside the house.
Her stomach dropped.
She looked back at Nat’s apartment, suddenly cold. Was Someone in there with them the whole time?
Without thinking, she sprinted back to the door, slamming her fist against it. “Nathaniel! Open up!”
No answer.
She pushed the handle, unlocked.
The living room light flickered as she stepped in. Everything looked the same, except the photo frame on the table had fallen face down, the glass cracked.
“Nathaniel?”
Her voice echoed softly through the space.
Still nothing.
She walked deeper inside, scanning every corner. Then she noticed something on the couch, a piece of paper folded neatly.
Her name was written on it in Nathaniel’s handwriting.
Ariel unfolded it. Her eyes darted over the words, her breath catching at the final line:
> It happens tonight, without fail. She's heard too much. Finish it up Nat.
Ariel's hands trembled as the paper dropped.
Her phone buzzed again. Same number, James.
She answered instantly. “What did you do to him?”
“I didn’t have to do anything,” James said calmly. “Nathaniel was never who you thought he was.”
Her hand trembled. “You’re lying.”
“You saw the picture, didn’t you? You saw the evidence in his house. Deep down, you already know.”
“Stop!” she snapped, tears burning her eyes.
“You’re next, Ariel,” James whispered. “Just like the picture said.”
Then, the line suddenly went dead.
Ariel stood frozen in the middle of the room, her breathing uneven, eyes darting wildly.
She turned toward the window, and froze.
Someone stood outside.
Her phone slipped from her grasp, hitting the floor with a dull thud.
The person didn’t move, just stood there, outlined by the faint light spilling through the curtain.
She slowly backed away, her pulse racing so fast she could hear it in her ears.
Then, a sudden knock on the door.
One. Two. Three.
She swallowed hard, reaching for the knife on the counter. “Who’s there?”
No answer.
A moment passed, and then a voice, deep and familiar.
“Ariel… open the door.”
It was Nathaniel.
Her entire body stiffened.
She stared at the door, unsure if relief or dread should win.
Because something in his voice didn’t sound right.
“Nathaniel?“ She called to be sure.
“Yes it's me Ariel. Open up.“
Ariel swallowed hard, confused on what to do. Was Nathaniel here to kill her? Could James be right?
She was still thinking on what to do, slowly moving closer to the door when she felt a sudden tap on her back behind her.
Ariel turned quickly screaming in fright. She even stumbled backwards harder when she saw it's Nathaniel.
“How did you—
Nathaniel face crawled up into an evil grin. “It's my house remember, of course I have more than one way to enter.“ He smirked.
Ariel looked down at his hands, the sharp metal of the knife in his hands glistened at her face.
Her heart pounded faster, she turned trying to reach the door and she felt Nat behind her the knife held up almost ready to stab her and then —
Ariel jumped up awake, gasping as she breathed hard.
She looked around, touched her body. She was fine.
The door opened, Nathaniel in an apron his face smeared with pudding and a smile on his face.
“You're awake.“ He muttered.
Ariel stared in shock, “it was all a dream.“