Chapter 5 The warning

Naomi barely slept that night.

The image on her phone kept replaying in her mind.

Her locker.

The red writing.

Stay Away From Ethan.

She had checked the message several times, but the number remained unknown. Whoever sent it clearly didn't want to be traced.

And that made everything worse.

When morning arrived, Naomi stood in front of the mirror brushing her hair, her thoughts running in circles.

Was it Victoria?

Or someone else?

And more importantly... why Ethan?

Brookshire High felt different that morning.

The usual chatter of students filled the hallways, but Naomi couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted.

She walked toward her locker slowly.

Her heart beat faster with every step.

What if the message had been real?

What if someone had actually-

She stopped.

Her locker door was slightly open.

Naomi's stomach dropped.

"I knew it..."

She stepped closer and pulled the locker door open completely.

Inside, everything looked normal.

Her books.

Her notebooks.

Her bag.

But something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Someone had moved things.

Her folders were rearranged.

Her math book was placed where her English binder usually sat.

And taped to the inside of the locker door...

Was a small piece of paper.

Naomi carefully peeled it off.

Two words were written in black ink.

Last warning.

Her chest tightened.

"Okay, this is not funny anymore."

"Talking to yourself?"

Naomi nearly jumped.

She turned around quickly.

Ethan stood behind her again.

For a moment Naomi wondered if he had some kind of supernatural ability to appear out of nowhere.

Then she remembered something.

"Did you do this?"

Ethan frowned.

"Do what?"

Naomi handed him the note.

His expression changed immediately.

"Where did you find this?"

"My locker."

Ethan looked inside the locker carefully.

His jaw tightened slightly.

"Someone broke in."

Naomi crossed her arms.

"I figured that part out."

Ethan lowered his voice.

"Did anyone see you this morning before you got here?"

Naomi blinked.

"What kind of question is that?"

"A serious one."

Naomi thought for a moment.

"No. I came straight from the gate."

Ethan leaned against the lockers, thinking.

Naomi studied him.

"You're acting like this isn't surprising."

"I didn't say that."

"But you don't seem shocked."

Ethan looked at the note again.

"I was hoping it wouldn't happen this soon."

Naomi froze.

"This soon?"

Ethan realized what he had said and sighed.

"Forget it."

"Oh no," Naomi said firmly. "You're not doing that mysterious quiet thing again."

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck.

"It's complicated."

"Try me."

Before he could answer, loud laughter echoed from down the hallway.

Victoria Hale appeared with her usual group of friends.

Her eyes immediately landed on Naomi.

Then on Ethan.

Victoria's smile was sharp.

"Well, look at that," she said loudly. "The new girl already needs protection."

Naomi felt irritation rise instantly.

"We were having a conversation."

Victoria shrugged.

"Sure."

Her gaze shifted to Ethan.

"You know she's going to make your life harder, right?"

Ethan's voice remained calm.

"That's not your concern."

Victoria's expression hardened slightly.

"You always say that."

Naomi noticed something strange.

Victoria wasn't just angry.

She sounded... hurt.

"Maybe you should listen to the warnings," Victoria continued.

Naomi narrowed her eyes.

"What warnings?"

Victoria smiled slightly.

"The ones people are giving you."

Naomi held up the note.

"You mean this?"

For a split second, Victoria looked genuinely surprised.

But the reaction vanished quickly.

"Looks like someone doesn't like you."

"Do you?"

Victoria tilted her head.

"I don't waste time hating people who won't last."

Naomi stepped closer.

"You seem pretty invested for someone who doesn't care."

Victoria's smile faded.

Then she looked at Ethan.

"You're going to regret this."

Without another word, she turned and walked away.

Her friends quickly followed.

The hallway slowly returned to normal.

Naomi exhaled.

"That girl has serious problems."

Ethan didn't respond.

He was staring at the note again.

"What?" Naomi asked.

Ethan looked at her.

"You shouldn't ignore this."

"I'm not."

"You are if you stay close to me."

Naomi blinked.

"What does that mean?"

Ethan hesitated.

Then he said something that made Naomi's stomach drop.

"Some people think you're connected to me now."

"And?"

"And they don't like it."

Naomi laughed slightly.

"This is high school, not a crime drama."

Ethan didn't laugh.

"That's where you're wrong."

Naomi studied him carefully.

"You're hiding something."

Ethan stayed silent.

"That car last night," Naomi continued. "The message. This note. Victoria's weird obsession with you."

She crossed her arms.

"What aren't you telling me?"

Ethan looked like he was deciding whether to speak.

Finally he said quietly,

"Do you remember what I told you yesterday?"

"About the bookstore?"

"Yes."

"You said I helped you."

Ethan nodded.

"But that wasn't the only reason I was looking for you."

Naomi waited.

Ethan took a breath.

"Three years ago... something happened after we met."

Naomi's curiosity grew instantly.

"What happened?"

Ethan looked directly at her.

"Someone started watching you."

Naomi's heart skipped.

"Watching me?"

"I noticed it first."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't know how."

Naomi stared at him in disbelief.

"You're telling me someone has been stalking me for three years?"

"I don't know if it's the same person."

Naomi shook her head slowly.

"This is insane."

Ethan looked serious.

"But the messages... the locker... the threats..."

His voice lowered.

"It means whoever it is might be back."

Naomi felt a chill run down her spine.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then suddenly-

A loud voice echoed through the hallway.

"Everyone move aside!"

Students rushed toward the classroom doors.

Two security officers walked down the hall with the principal.

They stopped directly in front of Naomi and Ethan.

The principal's face looked tense.

"Naomi Nelson," he said.

Naomi's stomach dropped again.

"Yes...?"

"There's been another incident."

Her heart pounded.

"What kind of incident?"

The principal hesitated.

Then he said something that made the hallway go completely silent.

"Someone broke into the school records room this morning."

Naomi frowned.

"Okay...?"

The principal's voice hardened.

"And they left something behind."

Naomi felt a knot form in her chest.

"What?"

The principal looked directly at her.

"A photograph."

Naomi swallowed.

"A photograph of...?"

The principal slowly held up a clear evidence bag.

Inside was a printed photo.

A picture taken from across the hallway earlier that morning.

Of Naomi standing at her locker.

And written across the bottom in black marker were the words:

"She's next."