The night wrapped itself around the hostel like a suffocating blanket.
Rayyan lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to force his racing mind to slow down. The messages from the unknown number kept replaying in his head like a broken tape.
"Let's see if your friends can protect you.""Don't trust anyone.""Especially her."
He tossed from side to side, pulling the blanket up, then kicking it away again. His room felt too small, too quiet, too dark.
Finally, exhaustion dragged him under.
But peace didn't follow.
In his dream, he was running through the campus. The night was colder, darker than usual. Behind him, footsteps pounded the pavement—heavy, angry, relentless. He tried to scream for help, but no sound came out.
A shadow leapt forward, grabbed him by the collar, whispered something he couldn't understand—
—and a sharp pain stabbed through his chest.
He jerked awake with a gasp, drenched in sweat.
His hands were trembling.
For a moment, he didn't even know where he was.
The small hostel room slowly came back into focus. Amir was snoring softly from the top bunk. Naveen lay facedown on his bed, hugging his pillow.
It was just a nightmare.
But it felt real. Too real.
Rayyan wiped his face and sat up, breathing hard.
Is this how fear feels?To be hunted even in sleep?
He closed his eyes, pressed his palms together, and whispered a quiet prayer—asking God for strength, for protection, for clarity.
Eventually, the trembling calmed.
Morning
Rayyan got up earlier than usual. He took a long shower, trying to wash away the lingering fear, then got dressed and headed out.
The sky was still pale, the sun barely rising. He walked toward the bus stop with his head high, refusing to let fear make him hide.
Whatever it was, he wouldn't run.
He reached college just before 7:45 a.m.
And to his surprise—Monica was already there.
She was sitting outside the lecture hall, her book open, a pen in her hand. Her hair was tied loosely, and her eyes looked tired, as if she hadn't slept much.
Rayyan approached her quietly.
"How come you're here so early?" he asked.
She looked up—and the relief in her eyes was immediate.
"I thought you'd come early to revise," she said softly. "And… I couldn't really sleep last night."
Rayyan frowned. "What's wrong?"
Monica closed her book. "I had a bad dream. It felt like something bad was happening to you. I don't know why… but I just felt worried the whole night."
Rayyan felt something warm bloom quietly in his chest.
"Monica…" He struggled for words. "Thank you. Really."
She shook her head lightly. "Don't thank me. I just… wanted to make sure you're okay."
He didn't trust his voice, so he nodded instead.
Together, they walked to the classroom.
A Busy Day
Classes, quizzes, assignments—everything came rushing in a single day, as if the lecturers had secretly planned to torture the entire faculty.
But for Rayyan, it was a good distraction. He focused hard, taking notes, answering questions, pushing the fear to the back of his mind.
Monica sat beside him the whole time, occasionally nudging him when he zoned out.
"You okay?" she whispered during a short break.
"Yeah," he whispered back. "Just tired."
She gave him a small smile. "We'll get through today."
They did.
Evening Dinner
By evening, both of them were drained. Monica suggested going somewhere outside to eat, but Rayyan hesitated.
"Let's just eat inside campus," he said. "I don't… want to go out tonight."
Monica studied him for a moment.
"Are you worried someone might harm you?"
He admitted quietly, "Yes, Monica. I just don't want any trouble."
She nodded. "Okay. We'll stay here."
They sat in a small campus café, the kind nobody paid attention to. The fluorescent lights buzzed softly, and the smell of fried noodles filled the air.
Rayyan had taken only two bites when his phone vibrated.
He felt a jolt in his chest.
Monica leaned slightly closer. "Who is it?"
Rayyan looked at the screen.
Sergeant Zack calling.
He exhaled and picked up.
"Yes, sir? Anything?"
The sergeant's voice was firm, but urgent.
"Rayyan, where are you right now? Are you in college? Or outside?"
"I'm inside the campus café, sir."
"Good. Stay there. Stay inside campus for now."A short pause."Did you receive any more messages or calls since yesterday?"
Rayyan swallowed. "Yes, sir. Last night. Three messages."
"What did they say?"
Rayyan repeated the messages.
The sergeant took a slow breath. "Alright. Rayyan, listen carefully. We are speeding up the investigation. We're very close to identifying the culprit."
Rayyan felt a wave of relief.
"And one more thing," the sergeant continued. "We've recorded Lisa's statement. She finally admitted she lied about you. And she also confirmed that Ayden is not the father."
Monica's eyes widened.
The sergeant continued, "Lisa admitted she is pregnant—but the father is someone else. Someone she's hiding. Trust me, Rayyan—we'll catch him soon. You just stay safe."
"Yes sir… thank you."
The call ended.
Rayyan put the phone down slowly.
Monica leaned forward. "What did he say?"
Rayyan told her everything.
Monica exhaled in relief. "See? I told you—making the report was the right thing. And I always knew you and Ayden didn't do anything wrong."
Rayyan nodded, feeling lighter than he had in days.
"Call your dad," Monica suggested. "Tell him. He'll be relieved."
Rayyan agreed. He called his father and explained everything.
His dad's voice softened. "Son… I'm proud of you. You handled this the right way. Don't be afraid anymore. Focus on your studies. I trust you fully."
Rayyan's throat tightened. "Thank you, Dad."
"Take care, son."
He hung up, and for the first time in days—he genuinely felt like he could breathe again.
Monica smiled at him. "Feel better?"
He nodded. "Much better."
"You'll do well in finals," she said with confidence. "I know you will."
Lisa Calls
They continued eating when Rayyan's phone rang again.
He froze.
The name on the screen made his stomach twist.
Lisa.
Monica raised an eyebrow. "Pick it up. Let's hear what she wants now."
Rayyan answered reluctantly. "Hello?"
Lisa's voice was frantic. Angry. On the verge of panic.
"Rayyan, what have you done?! Why did you make a police report?! The police called me! They questioned me for five hours because of you!"
Rayyan clenched his jaw. "Lisa, I needed to protect myself. You accused me of something I didn't do. You put my name as the father. You're not telling the truth even until now."
"You don't understand!" Lisa cried. "You made a big mistake! They're going to kill me for this! HE is going to kill me!"
Rayyan froze. "Who? Who's going to kill you?"
Lisa's voice turned sharp with hatred."I know Monica told you to do this! She's ruining everything! You both want me dead!"
Then—she hung up.
Rayyan stared at his phone, shocked.
Monica leaned in. "What did she say?"
He repeated the entire conversation.
Monica shook her head. "Let her talk. She wants to drag you down with her. Let the police handle the rest."
Rayyan nodded. "Yeah… let's go back."
Monica dropped him at the hostel.
The sky was dark, but peaceful.
Rayyan thanked her, waved goodbye, and walked to the entrance
He climbed the stairs to his room slowly, as though the weight of the entire day sat on his shoulders .By the time he reached his door, exhaustion was already pulling at him.
He showered, changed into fresh clothes, and sat at his desk. He tried to revise. Tried to focus.
For a few hours, the silence helped… until it didn't.
Buzz.
Rayyan glanced at his phone lazily at first.
Then the words hit him like ice.
Unknown Number:"You brought her into this mess.""Now I'm going to kill her.""You think she's protecting you by helping you make that report?""I'm going to end her life."
Rayyan's blood ran cold.
He shot up from his chair, heart slamming against his ribs.
"No… no, no…"
His eyes darted to the clock.
11:50 p.m. Almost midnight.
Fear wrapped around him like a fist.
He immediately dialed Monica's number.
It rang once.
Then—Call Failed. Number unreachable.
His stomach twisted.
"Please pick up… please…"He tried again.
Same result.
His hand shook uncontrollably.
Another buzz.
A new message.
Unknown Number:"Come to your college café. The one near the bus stop.""Come alone.""If not, I will kill her.""Don't act smart."
Rayyan felt the world tilt under him.
He didn't know who this person was.He didn't know how they got Monica's number.He didn't know if she was really taken… or threatened… or hurt.
But one thing he did know—
Monica's life mattered more than anything.
He grabbed his wallet.His keys.His phone.And ran out of the room.
His legs trembled with every step.
The campus was quiet.Too quiet.Streetlights flickered like weak candles. The shadows seemed darker than usual.
He walked fast, then faster—almost sprinting down the pathway toward the café.
He turned on his phone flashlight, sweeping it across the dark walkway.
Trees swayed lightly.Leaves rustled.No students.No guards.Nothing but emptiness.
Rayyan swallowed hard.
As he stepped closer to the café area—to the table where he usually sat—the air felt colder.
His heart pounded so loudly he could hear it.
"Monica… please be safe," he whispered.
And then—
BOOM.
A loud, sharp bang exploded from behind the café building.
Rayyan froze.
The flashlight shook in his hand.
His throat tightened.
Was it a door? A gunshot? Something being thrown?Someone falling?
He didn't know.
He didn't breathe.
He just stood there—
caught between terror and the desperate need to find Monica.