Chapter 6 6.

Laura's POV

"Ash, you have to believe me," I begged, clutching my best friend's hands so tightly my knuckles turned white. "I know what I saw. He wasn't human...he was something else."

Ashley's eyes softened. She had come over first thing that morning. It was Sunday, and thank God for that, because I was in no condition to even pretend to face the world.

"Of course I believe you," she said firmly, her voice steady in the way mine could never be again. "You're not crazy, Laura. Tell me again,how did he look?"

I shuddered. "His eyes... they were red. Not just red, but glowing. And his teeth-fangs. His hands-claws. He just...he just slashed James's throat like it was nothing. It happened so fast, Ash, I couldn't..."

The words crumbled, and so did I. The sobs tore out of me like broken glass, raw and violent.

"Hey, don't cry, baby," Ashley whispered, pulling me into her arms. "I can't even imagine how terrifying that must've been. But you're safe now. You're safe with me."

Her arms were warm. Steady. Human. For a fleeting moment, I clung to her as if I could squeeze the memory out of existence.

When my breathing finally calmed, I pulled back, my eyes red and swollen. "What should I do, Ash? He...he told me I belonged to him. His exact words. I'm so scared. I shouldn't have gone to the club that night. I shouldn't have slept with him. God, I'm so stupid!"

"Stop." Ashley's tone cut sharp, protective. "Don't do that to yourself. Don't blame yourself for his obsession. You didn't know what he was." She gripped my chin, forcing me to look at her. "Listen to me. The best thing you can do is move in with me. Right now. You're not staying here another night. He knows where you live. And until we figure out what this thing want,no more going anywhere alone. Understand?"

I nodded, the lump in my throat choking me. She was right. She was always right. I couldn't stay here. Every shadow looked like it was about to grow eyes.

"Thank you, Ash," I whispered. "Thank you for believing me. For not treating me like the cops did."

"You don't need to thank me, love. I'll always be here." She brushed a strand of hair from my face, smiling softly. "Now go freshen up, eat something before you collapse. You look like a ghost."

My lips quivered into the tiniest smile. "I love you so much, Ash."

"And I love you too." She kissed my forehead before hugging me again, tight and certain.

I peeled myself away, dragging my trembling legs to the bathroom.

The mirror didn't recognize me.

Dark circles bruised the skin beneath my eyes. My cheeks were hollow, pale. My hair clung to my temples like I'd been drowning. I gripped the sink until my knuckles ached.

"I look like I've aged ten years overnight," I whispered to my reflection.

Tears blurred my vision, and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to shut out the replay of James's body, the crimson pool spreading across the concrete, the way those monstrous eyes burned through me as though branding me.

"This has to be a nightmare," I whispered, my voice shaking. "Please, God, let me wake up. Please let me wake up."

The mirror gave no mercy.

Only a pale, haunted girl stared back at me.

And in the silence, beneath the sound of Ashley moving in the kitchen, I thought-just for a heartbeat-that I heard it.

A low, dark chuckle. The sound of someone breathing just behind me.

I spun around, my chest heaving.

The bathroom was empty.

By nightfall, I felt almost human again. Ashley had done everything to pull me out of the darkness - ordering my favorite pizza, queuing up a mindless romantic comedy, even forcing me to laugh at the cheesiest parts. For the first time since last night, I thought maybe, just maybe, I could breathe.

I'd packed a small bag and moved into her apartment, leaving mine behind . Here, wrapped in a blanket on Ashley's couch, I could almost forget the monster with blood-red eyes and claws sharp enough to tear a man apart.

Almost.

The shrill sound of the doorbell shattered that fragile peace.

I froze, a slice of pizza halfway to my mouth. "Ash... are you expecting anyone?"

Ashley frowned, shaking her head. "No. Not at all. But maybe it's one of the neighbors or..."

The bell rang again, sharp and insistent.She stood up to check it out.

"No!" I blurted, my heart hammering. Fear surged back like a flood, cold and suffocating. "Don't...don't open it. Whoever it is will get tired and go away. Please, Ash, don't."

She crouched in front of me, her hand warm on my knee. "Hey, it's okay. There's no reason to be scared. I promise I'll be fine."

The bell rang a third time, longer this time.

Ashley sighed and stood. "Stay here. I'll check. Don't worry."

"Ash..." My voice cracked, useless against the sound of her footsteps fading toward the door. My nails dug into the couch cushions as if I could anchor her there.

Every second stretched like glass ready to break.

Finally, she returned, holding a large bundle of lilies tied with a black satin ribbon.

"A delivery guy," she said, her tone forced casual, but I saw the tension in her jaw. "He said these were for you."

"For... for me?" My stomach turned to stone. "Who are they from?"

Ashley set the flowers on the coffee table, rifling through them until she found a small cream-colored card tucked between the stems. "Let's find out." She handed it to me.

My hands shook as I opened it.

The words were written in bold, deliberate strokes, each letter heavy with ownership.

"I'm sorry I frightened you yesterday. I will never hurt you. The bastard needed to die for touching what's mine."

All the blood drained from my face. My fingers went limp, the card slipping from my hand onto the table.

Ashley caught my expression and snatched the card, scanning it quickly. Her eyes widened, and the flowers tumbled from her grip, scattering across the carpet.

"Oh God," she whispered, horrified. "He's insane. He's completely insane." She turned to me, voice rising. "Laura, he knows where you are. He knew you were here. How does he even know that?"

I couldn't answer. My throat closed, the tears spilling silently down my cheeks as I stared at the lilies scattered on the floor. Lilies. My favorite flowers. Flowers I'd never told him about.

"How?" I whispered, my voice breaking. "How does he know? How does he always know?"

Ashley grabbed my hands, squeezing them tight. "Don't cry, sweetheart. Please. You've cried enough." Her eyes blazed with something fierce. "I don't care what he is-human, monster, demon-I won't let that bastard get to you. He'll have to go through me first. I'll fight him with my last drop of blood if I have to."

"Why me?" The question burst out of me, raw and desperate. "Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this?"

Ashley pulled me into her arms, holding me so tightly it almost hurt. "You did nothing wrong," she said firmly. "Nothing. He's obsessed, that's all. Sick and obsessed. But listen to me,it says here he won't hurt you, right? That's something. That means you're safe... for now. We'll figure this out. Together. I promise you, we'll find a way."

Her words should have comforted me. But they didn't.

Because the note didn't make me feel safe.

It felt like a warning.

Like he wasn't just watching me. He was claiming me.