Linda's breath caught.
For a second, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.
She blinked once. Twice.
But the message was still there, glowing softly on Zara's phone screen like it didn't belong in the warm, messy reality of the room.
"She's finally alone now."
The words sat heavy in her chest.
Linda slowly looked toward the bathroom door.
Water was running. Zara was inside humming faintly, completely unaware.
Linda's fingers hovered over the phone.
She shouldn't touch it.
She knew that immediately.
But her body moved before her thoughts could catch up.
She picked it up carefully, as if it might explode in her hand.
The screen stayed unlocked for a few seconds — long enough for her to see the chat.
Unknown number.
No name.
Just that one message.
And below it… another one appeared.
Unknown:
Don't get too comfortable in her space.
Linda's stomach tightened.
Her grip on the phone shifted slightly.
This wasn't a joke.
It didn't feel like one.
A third message came in immediately, as if whoever was on the other end was watching in real time.
Unknown:
You don't know her like you think you do.
Linda's pulse spiked.
The bathroom water was still running.
Zara was still inside.
Linda quickly locked the phone and placed it exactly where she found it, forcing her breathing to stay even.
"Relax," she whispered to herself. "It's nothing."
But her eyes kept drifting back to the phone.
Something about it felt wrong.
Not dramatic.
Not loud.
Just… off.
The bathroom door clicked open.
Zara stepped out with damp hands, towel around her shoulders, hair slightly wet and curling at the ends. She looked softer like this. Less teasing. More real.
"What are you doing?" Zara asked casually, noticing Linda's stiff posture.
Linda forced a small smile. "Nothing."
Zara narrowed her eyes slightly. "That sounded suspicious."
"I said nothing."
Zara walked closer, wiping her hands. "You look tense."
Linda shrugged quickly. "I'm just tired."
Zara studied her for a second longer than necessary, then shrugged it off.
"Okay, boss," she said lightly. "Bathroom is free."
Linda nodded and stood up too fast, almost bumping into her.
Zara laughed softly. "Careful."
But Linda wasn't listening properly anymore.
Her mind was still stuck on the message.
She's finally alone now.
Who even talks like that?
When Linda came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, Zara was already on the bed, scrolling through her phone like nothing had happened in the world.
"Come," Zara patted the space beside her. "You'll sleep here."
Linda paused. "Both of us?"
Zara frowned. "It's a big bed, Linda."
Linda hesitated again.
Every instinct she had was already overwhelmed by the earlier message, but Zara's calm presence was grounding in a way she didn't want to question too deeply.
Eventually, she nodded.
"Fine."
They settled in slowly.
Zara turned off the lights, leaving only the soft glow from outside spilling through the curtains. Lagos night noises hummed faintly in the background.
At first, there was distance between them — polite, careful.
Zara on one side of the bed.
Linda on the other.
But sleep didn't come easily.
Not for Linda.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the message again.
And the longer she stayed awake, the more aware she became of Zara's presence beside her — the rise and fall of her breathing, the small movements as she shifted in bed.
At some point, Zara turned slightly.
"You're still awake," she said softly.
Linda opened her eyes. "So are you."
Zara hummed. "Couldn't sleep."
Silence.
Then Zara added, even softer—
"Is something wrong?"
Linda hesitated.
Her mind flashed briefly to the phone.
To the unknown number.
To the feeling she couldn't explain.
But she shook her head.
"No."
Zara studied her in the dim light. "You're lying."
Linda sighed. "I'm not."
Zara moved a little closer now, just enough that the space between them wasn't empty anymore.
"Talk to me," Zara said gently.
That voice again.
The one that made Linda forget how to think clearly.
Linda turned her head slightly. "It's nothing serious. I just… got in my head."
Zara didn't respond immediately.
Instead, she just watched her.
Then, quietly—
"You overthink too much."
Linda gave a small laugh. "You don't even know me well enough to say that."
Zara smiled faintly. "I know enough."
That made Linda go quiet.
A beat passed.
Then Zara reached out slowly — not touching her, just close enough that her fingers hovered near Linda's hand.
"You're safe here," Zara said softly. "Okay?"
Linda swallowed.
She nodded once.
"…Okay."
For a moment, everything felt still again.
Too still.
Then—
Zara's phone, still on the bedside table, vibrated.
Once.
Twice.
Linda's eyes snapped toward it instantly.
Zara reached for it lazily.
But before she could unlock it, another message preview popped up on the screen.
Linda saw it clearly this time.
And her blood ran cold.
Unknown:
Don't trust her tonight.