Evander, of course, didn't know how to stay quiet. He turned to face the man, as if trying to measure strength with his gaze. — Hey, Zeph, have you ever noticed how some people look like movie villains? Like that guy over there — he whispered, trying not to laugh.
— Shut up, Evander — I muttered, rolling my eyes. — We don't need trouble.
— Relax. I'm just messing around — he said, raising his hands again. But something in his expression told me he also found the man strange.
The rest of the night went by without any more incidents, but the man's presence stayed etched in my mind. He left without saying anything, just leaving the money on the table.
When my shift ended, Evander had already left, leaving a message on my phone saying he'd wait for me the next day. I walked home alone, the silence of the night broken only by the sound of my footsteps. But no matter how hard I tried to convince myself I was alone, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was following me.
I stopped for a moment, looking back. The street was empty, but the sudden wind that blew made me shiver. I took a deep breath and kept walking, trying to ignore the discomfort.
When I finally got home, I locked the door harder than usual. Something was changing, and I knew that somehow, my life would never be the same.
The days went on the same, but with small differences I couldn't ignore. The unbearable headache was constant, as if something was pressing my mind from the inside. The fever felt like it could melt steel, and the dizziness came without warning, leaving me unbalanced at unexpected moments.
Evander, on the other hand, was sticking to me more than ever. He showed up at the restaurant almost every day, ignoring our other friends and even walking with his bodyguards, something he rarely did. And as if that wasn't enough, the mysterious man kept appearing. Always the same heavy coat, the same gaze that seemed to pierce through me.
My routine was an endless repetition: school, work, and home, no exceptions. Until Evander decided to break that cycle.
At the school gate, he found me, wearing that carefree smile that seemed to be his trademark.
— Hey, Zeph, I won't be able to go to the restaurant today — he said, throwing his backpack over one shoulder.
— Alright — I replied distractedly.
He stopped halfway, turning to me with an exaggeratedly offended expression.
— Is that it? Your best friend says he won't be with you today, and all you can say is "alright"?
— Oh, no! Please, stay — I said, raising my hands in false pleading.
He laughed, shaking his head. — Haha, very funny.
— Now I have to go, or I'll be late for work.
Evander grabbed my arm, stopping me from walking. — Wait! Why don't you stop by the arcade later? I'll be there after I finish some things.
— I don't know... — I hesitated, adjusting my backpack strap.
— Come on, just this once — he insisted, his tone almost pleading.
— Fine.
— Promise?
I sighed, already knowing he wouldn't give up. — Yes, I promise.
He pointed his finger at me, as if threatening me. — You can't back out, Zeph.
— I won't.
Suddenly, his expression changed. He became serious, which was rare for him, and his green eyes gleamed with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.
— I'm serious, Zephyr Hawke. — He used my full name, something he never did. That made me alert.
— I understand.
He looked at me for a second longer, as if he wanted to make sure I was telling the truth. Then he smiled again, and the strange moment passed.
— Alright, then I'll see you later.
Work was surprisingly calm without Evander talking to me every five minutes. I admit I missed it a little, but at least I was able to finish my tasks faster.
Still, the fever and headache wouldn't leave me alone. Every hour, the dizziness seemed to get worse, as if something inside me was trying to break free. My coworkers noticed I wasn't at my best, but didn't say anything. They were all too busy with their own tasks.
When we finally closed the restaurant, everyone went their separate ways. I grabbed my backpack and started walking home, feeling the weight of exhaustion on my shoulders. The street was strangely quiet, with only the distant sound of cars passing on the main avenue. The air felt colder than usual, or maybe it was just the fever making me shiver.
As I walked, my mind returned to Evander's serious expression earlier. He never called me Zephyr. It was always Zeph, the nickname he'd used since we met. Something about the way he said my full name unsettled me, as if he knew something I didn't.
I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. Maybe it was just exhaustion. Maybe I was overthinking it.
I kept walking, but the night felt colder than usual. The city was enveloped in a heavy darkness, as if even the streetlights were struggling to survive. The streets were empty, except for the occasional sound of cars passing in the distance. My backpack hung from one shoulder, and my mind was full of thoughts.
Evander had insisted I meet him at the arcade after my shift, but I was exhausted. Every step felt heavier than the last, as if something was pulling me down.
I cut through a narrow alley, trying to get home faster. The smell of trash and dampness was suffocating, and the sound of my footsteps echoed off the worn brick walls. For a moment, the silence was broken by a distant sound — voices. Low at first, indistinct, but soon they became clear enough to make me stop.
— Hey, kid — called a deep voice, laced with malicious amusement.