Chapter 3: Disturbing Messages and Jealous Hearts
Emily sat in her darkened bedroom, her laptop glowing with an eerie light. She scrolled through her emails, deleting spam messages and responding to a few from friends. But one email caught her attention.
The subject line read: "I know your secrets."
Emily's heart skipped a beat as she hesitated, wondering if she should open it. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she clicked on the email.
The message was brief and chilling:
"You think you're safe, but you're not. I'm watching you."
Emily felt a shiver run down her spine. Who could be sending her these creepy messages?
Despite the eerie email, Emily found solace in her favorite spot – an ancient oak tree on the outskirts of the forest. The tree, with its gnarled branches and twisted trunk, seemed to listen to her troubles.
Emily sat at the base of the tree, her diary open as she poured out her thoughts and feelings. She talked to the tree as if it were a trusted friend, sharing her fears and worries.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the forest floor, Emily felt a sense of peace wash over her. She closed her diary, hugged the tree, and headed back home.
The next day, Henry approached Emily in the school hallway, his eyes narrowed with concern.
"Hey, Em, can we talk?" he asked, his voice low.
Emily nodded, sensing something was off.
"What's up?" she asked.
Henry hesitated before speaking. "I've noticed you've been spending a lot of time with Alex lately. What's going on between you two?"
Emily's eyes widened in surprise. "Henry, Alex is just a friend. We bond over music and art. That's all."
Henry's expression remained skeptical. "I don't know, Em. I've seen the way he looks at you. He's got feelings for you."
Emily sighed, trying to reassure Henry. "Even if Alex did have feelings for me, which I'm not saying he does, I only see him as a friend. You're my boyfriend, Henry. I love you."
Henry's expression softened, but Emily could tell he was still uneasy.