Sophia tried to shake off the feeling of being watched, telling herself she was just being paranoid. But the sensation lingered, making her skin crawl. She quickened her pace, her eyes scanning the crowded streets.
As she turned the corner onto her street, Sophia noticed a familiar figure standing outside her apartment building. Her heart sank. It was Emma, her best friend, but Emma's expression was tense, her eyes clouded with worry.
"Sophia, thank God I found you," Emma said, rushing towards her. "I've been trying to reach you all day."
Sophia's instincts went on high alert. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice low.
Emma hesitated, glancing around nervously. "It's Ethan. He's been calling me nonstop, demanding to know where you are. He's getting desperate, Sophia."
Sophia's stomach twisted into knots. She'd known Ethan wouldn't give up easily, but she'd hoped to have more time before he tracked her down.
"What did you tell him?" Sophia asked, her eyes locked on Emma's.
Emma shook her head. "Nothing, Sophia. I swear. But he's not going to give up. You need to be careful."
Sophia nodded, feeling a chill run down her spine. She knew Ethan's tactics, knew he'd stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
As they stepped into the apartment building, Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that she was being pulled back into the darkness, back into the toxic world she'd fought so hard to escape.
"I'll be fine, Emma," Sophia said, trying to sound braver than she felt. "I just need to lay low for a while, until Ethan loses interest."
Emma's expression was skeptical. "You know Ethan, Sophia. He's not going to lose interest. He's going to keep pushing, keep manipulating, until he gets what he wants."
Sophia's heart sank. Emma was right. Ethan wouldn't give up easily. She needed a plan, a way to protect herself from his wrath.
As they stepped into Sophia's apartment, Sophia's eyes scanned the room, her mind racing with possibilities. She knew she couldn't stay hidden forever. Eventually, she'd need to face Ethan, to confront the demons of her past.
But for now, Sophia just wanted to feel safe, to feel like she could breathe without Ethan's suffocating grip around her throat.