The calls didn't stop.
They didn't come constantly.
That would have been easier to handle.
Instead—
they came just enough.
One in the morning.
One in the afternoon.
Sometimes nothing for hours—
and then suddenly—
a vibration.
Always the same.
Unknown Caller.
Liora had stopped answering every time.
Not out of fear—
but control.
If she answered every call, it felt like she was playing into it.
Giving him what he wanted.
But even when she didn't answer—
the presence remained.
Like something unfinished.
"You're ignoring it again."
Adrian's voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge beneath it now.
Liora didn't look up from her phone.
"It's better this way."
"It rang three times today."
"I know."
That made him pause.
"You're counting?"
She hesitated—
just slightly.
"…Yes."
That wasn't reassuring.
Not to him.
Adrian walked closer, stopping in front of her.
"Liora."
She finally looked up.
His expression wasn't angry.
It was focused.
"This isn't normal."
"I know."
"Then why are you acting like it is?"
The question hung in the air.
Liora looked down at her phone again.
"…Because if I don't," she said quietly, "it becomes something bigger."
Adrian frowned slightly.
"It already is something bigger."
That—
she couldn't deny.
Later that evening, the tension eased slightly.
Not gone.
Just… quieter.
Adrian had ordered food instead of cooking this time.
A rare decision.
"You're giving up already?" Liora asked, leaning back against the couch.
"I'm choosing survival," he replied. "You're very critical of my cooking."
"I never said that."
"You didn't have to."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Your pasta was fine."
"'Fine' is not a compliment."
"It wasn't meant to be."
He gave her a look.
"That's cold."
She shrugged lightly. "You'll recover."
"I'm not sure I will."
For a moment—
it felt normal again.
The kind of normal that didn't feel forced.
Just easy.
Adrian sat down beside her, a little closer than usual this time.
Not intentional.
Just natural.
"You're doing that thing again," he said.
"What thing?"
"Trying to act like everything's okay."
She glanced at him.
"And you're doing that thing where you worry too much."
"I'm not wrong."
"No," she admitted softly. "You're not."
A quiet pause followed.
Then—
without thinking too much—
Liora leaned slightly into him.
Not dramatic.
Not obvious.
Just enough.
Adrian noticed.
He didn't say anything about it.
But his hand shifted slightly, resting near hers.
Close enough to touch.
Comfort.
That's what it was.
"By the way," Adrian said after a moment.
Liora hummed lightly in response.
"My parents land tomorrow."
She straightened slightly. "Tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
"That's… soon."
"They were supposed to come back later, but they changed their plans."
"Because of this?" she asked quietly.
He didn't answer immediately.
"…Partly," he admitted.
Liora processed that.
"They know?"
"Not everything."
"But enough."
Adrian nodded.
A small silence followed.
"They want us to move," he added.
That caught her attention.
"Move?"
"To the main house."
The words settled slowly.
"The mansion?" she asked.
"Yeah."
Liora let out a soft breath.
"That's… a big step."
"It's safer," Adrian said. "More space. Security."
Security.
The word lingered.
"You think that'll stop him?" she asked.
Adrian's expression hardened slightly.
"I think it'll make it harder for him."
Not impossible.
Just harder.
That night felt longer than usual.
Liora lay in bed, staring at the ceiling again.
Her phone rested beside her.
Silent.
Too silent.
She turned her head slightly, glancing at it.
Nothing.
"…Maybe it's over," she whispered.
The words felt empty.
Like she didn't believe them.
Across the room, Adrian was still awake.
He sat by the window, his phone in his hand.
Not calling.
Not texting.
Thinking.
He had already started looking into the number.
Tracing it.
Checking what he could.
Nothing solid yet.
But something about it didn't feel random.
It felt deliberate.
Personal.
"Adrian," Liora said softly.
He looked over immediately.
"You're still awake."
"So are you."
She shifted slightly, sitting up.
"…Do you think I know him?"
The question hung in the air.
Adrian didn't answer right away.
He chose his words carefully.
"If he knows your name," he said slowly, "then there's a chance."
Liora looked down at her hands.
"…I can't think of anyone."
"Try."
She closed her eyes briefly.
Faces.
Memories.
Conversations.
Nothing stood out.
"No," she said quietly. "No one like this."
Adrian studied her expression.
"Then we'll find him," he said.
There was certainty in his voice now.
Not just reassurance.
A decision.
The silence returned.
Heavy.
Unfinished.
And just as Liora lay back down—
Her phone vibrated.
Both of them froze.
Slowly—
she picked it up.
Incoming call.
Unknown Caller.
Her heart started beating faster.
But this time—
she didn't hesitate.
She answered.
"…What do you want?" she asked.
Silence.
Then—
a quiet breath.
"You sound tired."
Her grip tightened.
"Stop calling me."
A pause.
"I don't like when you ignore me," the voice said softly.
Something in his tone had changed.
Less distant.
More… familiar.
Liora felt a chill run through her.
"You don't get to like or dislike anything about me," she said, her voice sharper now.
Another pause.
Then—
almost gently—
"I do."
The call ended.
Liora stared at the screen.
Her expression had changed.
Not just uneasy anymore.
Something deeper.
Adrian stood up immediately.
"That's it," he said.
His voice was no longer calm.
"This ends now."
Liora looked up at him.
And for the first time—
she felt it clearly.
This wasn't just someone calling anymore.
This was someone watching.
Waiting.
Getting closer.
And whatever was coming next—
it wasn't going to stay outside for long.
End of Chapter 5