The car idled in the middle of the road—hrrrr—engine vibrating beneath us like a warning pulse.
Neither of us moved.
My phone lay face-up in the headlights, screen glowing faintly against the wet asphalt. Rain had started to fall, light at first—tap… tap… tap—tiny drops dotting the glass and blurring the edges of everything.
"That's not possible," I whispered.
Serafin didn't answer right away. His hands were locked around the steering wheel, knuckles pale. "Your phone is in your pocket."
I looked down. My pocket was empty.
My breath hitched. "I had it. I swear to God, I—"
"I know," he said quietly. "Don't spiral. Think."
The phone on the road buzzed—bzzzt—and I flinched so hard my seatbelt cut into my shoulder.
The screen lit up again.
Answer.
Serafin shook his head. "Don't."
"I need to," I said. "They're not going to stop."
He exhaled sharply. "Put it on speaker."
I opened the door—creeeak—cold air and rain rushing in. My boots hit the pavement—splash—as I stepped toward it, every instinct screaming that this was a mistake.
I picked it up. The screen was warm.
That's when I knew.
I hit answer.
"Why are you doing this?" I demanded.
The voice came through calm, almost bored. "Because you're unpredictable."
"I told the truth," I snapped. "That shouldn't scare anyone unless they're guilty."
"You don't know how many lives depend on silence."
"Bullshit," I said. "Silence only protects people like you."
A pause. Then a soft exhale. "You always were stubborn."
My chest tightened. "You know me."
"We've always known you."
Serafin's voice cut in. "Who is this?"
Another pause. Longer this time.
"Someone who tried to keep the town standing."
"You call murder stability now?" I said.
"Murder?" The voice almost laughed. "You still don't understand what started all of this."
Rain picked up—shhhhhh—soaking my hair, my clothes, my skin. "Then explain it."
"You wouldn't survive the truth," the voice replied.
The call dropped—click.
I stared at the screen, heart racing. "They're not threatening me anymore."
Serafin frowned. "What do you mean?"
"They're warning me."
Thunder cracked overhead—BOOM—so loud I gasped.
"We need to move," Serafin said urgently. "Now."
We got back into the car, doors slamming—THUD—as the rain turned heavier. He turned the car around carefully, tires slipping slightly—skrrt—before gripping the road again.
"They're herding us," I said. "That wasn't random."
"No," he agreed. "They wanted you to see it."
"To know they can get close," I added.
The trees closed in tighter as we drove, branches clawing at the sides of the car—scrape… scrape—like the forest itself was listening.
My phone buzzed again—bzzzzt—but this time it was in my hand.
A text.
Turn left at the next break.
Serafin glanced at it. "Absolutely not."
Another text followed immediately.
If you don't, he dies.
My stomach dropped. "They're threatening someone else."
"Who?" Serafin demanded.
"I don't know," I said, voice shaking. "But they know I'll assume it's real."
The road forked ahead, barely visible through the rain. One path narrow and descending. The other wider, leading uphill.
Serafin slowed—hiss—wipers fighting to keep up—whap, whap.
"This could be a trap," he said.
"I know," I whispered. "But what if it's not?"
He looked at me, really looked. "They're using your empathy."
"And it's working," I replied.
Another message appeared.
You don't get to walk away twice.
Serafin swore under his breath. "Fuck."
The rain intensified—ROAR—as if the sky itself was pushing us.
"Left," I said.
He hesitated.
"Please," I added. "If someone's hurt because of me—"
He turned the wheel sharply—SCREEECH—and we took the narrow road.
The path wound downward, darker, steeper. The headlights barely cut through the fog now rolling in—whoooosh—thick and suffocating.
My chest felt tight. "This feels wrong."
"They want you afraid," Serafin said. "Fear clouds judgment."
A structure emerged ahead—faint, looming.
My heart slammed. "Is that—"
An old building. Abandoned. Windows dark, roof sagging.
Serafin slowed to a stop—crunch—gravel crunching beneath the tires.
My phone vibrated violently—BZZZT—a call coming in.
I answered, voice trembling. "What do you want?"
"To see if you're serious," the voice replied. "Get out of the car."
Serafin shook his head fiercely.
"Get out," the voice repeated, firmer now.
"I won't go alone," I said.
"Then he comes too."
Serafin muttered, "Over my dead body."
The voice responded instantly. "That can be arranged."
My blood ran cold.
"Stop," I said sharply. "I'll do it."
Serafin grabbed my wrist. "No."
"I won't let them hurt you," I whispered. "Or anyone else."
He stared at me, anger and fear battling in his eyes. "This is how they win."
"I know," I said. "But it's also how I find out who they are."
The call ended.
Silence followed—heavy, absolute.
Rain drummed against the car—thud thud thud—like a countdown.
I opened the door.
Serafin followed immediately. "I'm not leaving your side."
We stood together in the rain, facing the building as a light flickered on inside—click—just once.
A door creaked open—creeaaaak—slow, deliberate.
My phone buzzed one final time.
Now you listen.
I tightened my grip on Serafin's hand as we stepped forward, knowing whatever waited inside had been waiting for me a long time.