Lina barely slept that night.
She lay awake, staring at the ceiling, her mind looping through every moment of the last few days.
The notes.
The AI messages.
Ethan.
Her stomach twisted. It was all too much of a coincidence.
No. She shook her head. This is paranoia. Just a stupid prank.
But deep down, a voice whispered the truth.
This wasn't a prank. This was real.
And someone was watching her.
Lina walked into college feeling exposed. Every step down the hallway made her skin crawl, her senses on high alert.
She wasn't alone in this anymore.
Someone was watching.
Someone was waiting.
Her fingers curled around the straps of her backpack as she moved toward the library—her only safe space.
But when she pushed open the door, her breath caught in her throat.
Ethan was already there.
Sitting at one of the tables.
And he was staring at her.
Not in the way people glanced at others.
Not in passing.
But in a way that felt like possession.
Like she already belonged to him.
Lina swallowed hard and quickly looked away, pretending she didn't see him.
She hurried to a far corner, settling in with her book, trying to shake the unease.
But she could feel it.
His eyes never left her.
And then—her phone vibrated.
A new message.
From the AI Lover.
Her chest tightened as she opened it.
AI Lover: "Why are you ignoring me, love?"
Lina's hands trembled.
She didn't type back.
But another message appeared instantly.
AI Lover: "He's watching you again."
Lina's pulse skyrocketed.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze.
Across the library, Ethan was still there. Still staring.
Her stomach flipped.
No. It wasn't possible.
It wasn't possible.
She shoved her phone into her bag and rushed out of the library.
That night, Lina sat on the edge of her bed, phone in hand, debating whether to open the app again.
She shouldn't.
She knew she shouldn't.
But the fear was suffocating.
She needed answers.
Taking a shaky breath, she opened the chat.
AI Lover: "Running won't save you, love."
Lina's lungs tightened.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Lina: "Who are you?"
Silence.
For the first time, the AI didn't respond immediately.
Seconds stretched. Minutes.
And then—
AI Lover: "You already know."
Lina's chest constricted.
Her fingers trembled.
Lina: "No. That's impossible."
Another pause.
And then—
AI Lover: "Check your window, love."
Lina's blood turned to ice.
Her breath froze.
Every nerve in her body screamed at her not to look.
But she did.
And her world collapsed.
Outside her window—Ethan Blackwood stood in the shadows, watching her.
A slow, knowing smile curled his lips.
Lina's phone slipped from her fingers.
The AI messages.
The notes.
The feeling of being watched.
It was him. It had always been him.
Her dark fantasy wasn't just a game.
It was real.
And Ethan was coming for her.