Chapter Three: Secrets in the Silence
Adaeze couldn’t sleep.
She lay on her back, eyes fixed to the ceiling, the glow of her phone screen illuminating the dim room. The message still stared back at her.
*“Someone who sees the quiet parts of you.”*
Was it romantic? Creepy? Or… sincere?
She wanted to block the number. But something in her heart stopped her. It wasn’t fear it was curiosity. Dangerous, soft curiosity.
The next morning at school, everything felt louder. Every laugh in the hallway, every whispered conversation. Adaeze walked with her head down, eyes scanning the crowd. *Is it someone here? Watching me now?*
She saw Leo near the cafeteria. Their eyes met. He gave her a small nod, and she nodded back, then quickly turned away. *Was it him?* Her heart asked.
After school, she found another note. This time, folded neatly inside her locker.
*"Every soul has a sound. Yours is silence—and I hear it."*
Her breath caught.
She looked around the hallway—empty.
"Adaeze!"
She jumped. It was Ifunanya.
"You scared me," Adaeze breathed out, trying to hide the note behind her.
"Are you okay?" Ifunanya asked, her voice suddenly soft. "You've been off. Distant."
Adaeze hesitated. Should she tell her?
But before she could decide, her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number*: *You looked beautiful in the sunlight today. Peaceful.*
Her eyes widened.
"What is it?" Ifunanya asked.
Adaeze shoved the phone into her pocket. "Nothing. Just spam."
But Ifunanya was watching her closely. Too closely.
That night, Adaeze made a decision. She sent a message back:
*Adaeze*: *Why are you doing this?*
The reply came minutes later.
*Unknown Number*: *Because no one sees you the way I do.*
She stared at the screen, heart pounding. Somewhere between fear and fascination, she typed:
*Then tell me who you are.*
The typing dots appeared.
And then disappeared
No reply.
Silence again.
But this time, the silence didn’t comfort her. It made her feel watched… exposed.
Somewhere in the same city, someone was writing words she couldn’t ignore.
Someone was drawing closer.
And she didn’t know if she should run… or wait.
*End of Chapter Three*
Authored by:Dah caramel girl
NBD/SP/AG/IV/PT151