Chapter 3 Lila's POV

I run. My brain doesn't join. Legs just go, forcing through folks. I must flee from that dude, evade his strange grin, ditch that note. My poor heart drums like mad; feels ready to jump ship.

Mia grabs me by the lift. "Lila, you okay? Where now?"

"Sick vibes," I breathe out. Half true, maybe. My guts twist in knots, like I might puke. "Home now."

"Hold on, I'm coming," Mia shouts, grabbing her bag.

"Nah," blurts out fast. "Have fun, yeah? Sleep calls. TTYL."

I dive in the lift before chatting. Doors close, Ethan fights the mass, hunting hard. He seems mad and scared all in one go. Our eyes lock for a beat before the doors shut. Something in his stare makes me just want to fly.

The lift dives down fast, I hit the wall. My legs feel soft. That weird line replays: "Quit the act. He knows you now." What does it even mean? Who am I then? Just a plain designer. Just a girl knocked up who hid it all. Just someone trying to breathe.

I hit the lobby, making for the door fast. Cold night slaps my face as I get outside. The street buzzes with cars and lots of feet, but I feel all alone. Like eyes on me, like they know stuff that I don't.

I wave for a cab and hop inside. "East Eighty-Fourth Street," is what I tell him. My place is close, but seems so far, you know? I stare out the rear glass to check if folks trail us. The cab drifts through gloomy roads, and my head hits the chilly window.

My device beeps again. Another note from some weird digits: "Ethan can't keep you safe. Only us can."

"Only us can," I mutter to myself. What's that imply? Who might "us" be?

I reach my building and give the driver money with shaky palms. I dash up the steps to level four 'cause I fear to wait for the lift. My legs ache, and I feel faint, yet I don't pause. I reach my door and fumble with the keys. It needs some goes to unlock it 'cause my palms shake a lot.

Inside, I bolt the door and chain it up. I rest by it and drop to rest on the ground. I'm panting so fast. I'm spooked. More spooked than ever in all my days.

I sit on the kitchen tiles for ages, just aiming to get calm. The place is still. It's small, just one room, a lounge, and a tiny stove. There are baby items hidden in my closet, clothes and a bed I got online. I've been set for this babe for some time, but I felt I had more time. I felt I could work stuff out before bad stuff went down.

I was dumb for sure.

My phone buzzes loud. It's Ethan. I just watch the light, seeing it buzz more and more. Should I pick up? Does he know 'bout the kid? Is he gonna be mad? I let it go right to talk-mail. Soon after, a text shows up. He says nothing on it, just sends the spot and "Come quick. Bad vibes here."

How's he know bad vibes? How's he know the dude was on my back?

Before thinking more, someone knocks at my place. It's hushed, but I still jump back. "Who's there?" I shout, even though I know to stay still.

"It's Caleb," says a voice from outside. "Ethan sent me here. Gotta talk quick."

"Leave now," I say back. My voice was weak and shook, like a small kid's whisper.

"Can't do that now," Caleb says back. "You need to hear this thing. A thing to flip all you know."

"I don't need news," I say back. But in my head, that's all fake. I need all the news now. I want to get what's up with me, why I feel so new, why smells hit so hard now, why my feelings feel big and wild.

"Please let me in," Caleb says back. He sounds nice, but is for real too. "Marcus won't stop now. He knows 'bout the kid. He knows 'bout you and Ethan. And he'll use you both to get his wants."

The kid. He said that it's painful. Like my kid is a thing that's worth to strange folks.

"How's you know 'bout the kid?" I ask right through the wood.

"I get the whiff," Caleb tells. "We get it. The puzzle."

The door stays shut. I flop back down, words all jumbled. We get it? What's his point? What does it mean to smell?

My phone vibrates twice. A picture this time. It shows my place from the street view. A scary scarred dude lurks, staring at my windows. Message: "We wait. Flee all you want, truth stays."

I bolt up fast and dart to my window now. I yank the drape to see outside, and it's him. He's so real, dark form watching my place. Still as stone. Not gone. Just wait.

Another loud bang hits my door, even louder. "Lila, so sad," Caleb speaks. "I won't let you go. Ethan wants you. Truth must come out."

My hand rests soft on my round belly, feeling tiny kicks inside of me. This kid smells. This kid drags danger to my doorstep. This kid matters to a dude named Ethan Hart, who acts like I'm no one.

My buzzing phone goes wild one more time. Ethan speaks once more. "Caleb is bad. Nobody's safe. I will come see you. Bolt the door, only trust my face."

But can I trust him? Who do I trust now? What am I truly now?

Behind my door, locked and chained tight, hall steps echo. A crowd, not one soul. They stalk my flat, near and nearer. Caleb still waits in the open air. That spooky dude still waits for me. And Ethan comes, on his looming way.

A bad chill creeps in, I can't flee.

Then, my hands catch fire inside out. A sting, sharp and hot, zaps my skin, as nails stretch longer, blacker too. They shift to forms unknown to man.

Not like us, but strange and far off.

I try to shout, but my throat stays hushed. The burn bites deep, digs in its claws. My form all warps, head to my feet, and how to stop it, I don't quite know.