Ritta woke the next morning with the taste of fear still in her mouth.
She tried to tell herself it was just her imagination. That the man in black was simply a stranger who had stumbled into her life for reasons she didn't need to understand.
That her aunt's warnings were only the result of an overprotective heart.
But her body refused to believe her.
Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for her phone. She checked the time.
The screen glowed softly in the dim room.
It was early.
Too early.
Her heart beat hard against her ribs, and she realized, with a sudden and shocking clarity, that she had been waiting for the knock.
For the sound of his voice.
For the return of the darkness.
She sat up slowly and ran her fingers through her hair, trying to calm herself.
The apartment was quiet.
The city outside was still asleep.
Everything seemed normal.
But she knew it wasn't.
She could feel it in her bones.
She dressed quickly in the same muted colors she always wore, the same soft fabrics that didn't draw attention.
She wanted to disappear. She wanted to be invisible.
She wanted to be safe.
She left the apartment and walked toward the café, her steps quick and tense.
She kept her head down, her eyes on the ground, trying to avoid any unnecessary attention.
She felt like she was being watched.
She felt like someone was waiting for her.
And she hated it.
When she reached the café, she took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The morning rush was beginning. The air was filled with the smell of coffee and sugar, the sound of laughter, the clatter of cups.
She smiled at the manager, who greeted her with a tired nod.
"Morning, Ritta," he said.
"You look like you didn't sleep."
Ritta forced a smile.
"Just a long night," she replied.
The manager's eyes softened. "If you need time off, just say so."
Ritta shook her head. "I'm fine."
She moved behind the counter and began her work. She poured coffee, wiped down tables, and tried to focus on the routine.
But her mind kept drifting back to the man in black.
She kept picturing his face.
His eyes.
His smile.
She kept imagining him standing at the door, waiting for her.
She tried to push the thoughts away, but they kept coming.
She felt like her life was slipping through her fingers.
She felt like she was losing control.
And she hated that feeling more than anything.
.......
Around midday, the café door opened again.
Ritta glanced up automatically, and her heart stuttered.
The man in black stood in the doorway, as if he had never left.
His presence filled the room, and for a moment, everything else faded away.
The chatter stopped.
The music seemed to fade.
Only he remained.
He walked toward the counter with slow, deliberate steps, as if he was taking his time, as if he was savoring the moment.
Ritta felt her stomach twist.
She wanted to run.
She wanted to hide.
But she didn't move.
She couldn't move.
He stopped in front of her, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his body.
He didn't look at anyone else. He didn't speak to anyone else.
He only looked at her.
"Do you remember me?" he asked quietly.
Ritta swallowed hard.
"No," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
He smiled again.
"That's okay," he said. "You don't need to."
Ritta's breath hitched.
His gaze was intense, almost painful.
It felt like he was searching for something inside her.
He leaned closer, just enough that his voice brushed her ear.
"Just know that I'm here," he whispered.
Ritta's skin went cold.
She stepped back instinctively.
The man's eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, his expression shifted, the smile vanished.
He looked almost… irritated.
As if she had disappointed him.
Ritta felt a sudden surge of fear.
She realized that this wasn't just a man. This wasn't just a stranger.
This was someone who knew her.
And he wasn't afraid to show it.
........
That afternoon, Ritta's best friend Lena arrived at the café. Lena was loud, bold, and fiercely protective.
She was the kind of person who refused to be quiet when something felt wrong.
She saw the man in black immediately, and her eyes narrowed.
She approached Ritta quickly, pulling her aside.
"What is he doing here?" Lena asked, her voice low but sharp.
Ritta shook her head, her face pale.
"I don't know," she whispered.
Lena's jaw tightened. "He's dangerous. I can feel it."
Ritta's heart pounded.
"I don't know what to do," she admitted.
Lena's expression hardened. "You're not going to be alone with him again. Not if I can help it."
Ritta looked at her friend, grateful for the protection, but also embarrassed by it.
"I'm fine," she said softly. "I can handle it."
Lena scoffed. "No, you can't. Not by yourself."
Ritta's eyes flicked toward the man in black. He was still standing there, watching them.
His gaze moved between them, and Ritta felt a strange sensation of being measured.
As if he was deciding what to do next, Lena leaned closer to Ritta, her voice quiet.
"Who is he?" she asked.
Ritta hesitated.
She didn't want to say his name.
She didn't want to say anything that might draw attention.
She didn't want to admit that she didn't know who he was.
"I don't know," she said finally.
Lena's eyes widened.
"You don't know?" she repeated.
Ritta shook her head.
Lena's expression softened slightly, but her eyes remained fierce.
"Then we're going to find out," she said.
........
After work, Lena walked Ritta home. The streets were darker now, the city quieting down.
Ritta kept glancing over her shoulder, expecting to see the man in black following them. She didn't want to admit it, but she was scared.
Lena noticed her fear.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Ritta shook her head.
"I just… I feel like someone is watching me," she said.
Lena's eyes hardened. "He is."
Ritta stopped walking and turned to face her friend.
"How do you know?" she asked.
Lena's expression grew serious.
"I don't know how," she said.
"But I can feel it. I can feel the danger." Ritta's stomach tightened.
Lena reached into her bag and pulled out a small envelope.
"What's this?" Ritta asked, confused.
Lena handed it to her.
Ritta opened it and pulled out a piece of paper.
It was a note.
Simple. Clean. No handwriting.
Just printed text.
"STOP LOOKING."
Ritta stared at the note, her heart racing.
She looked up at Lena, her eyes wide.
"What does it mean?" she asked.
Lena's face turned pale.
"It means someone is warning you," she said.
Ritta's throat tightened.
"Who would warn me?" she asked.
Lena's eyes narrowed. "Maybe someone who cares."
Ritta's heart pounded.
She looked down at the note again.
She realized, with a sinking feeling, that she had never been alone.
Not really.
Not since the man in black appeared.
And she didn't know if she was being protected…or hunted.