✨ CHAPTER 15 — SHADOWS THAT KNOW MY NAME
Author's POV
Kyle didn't say a single word on the walk back to class.
Not one.
His fingers stayed wrapped around Amara's wrist, not tight enough to hurt, but firm enough to make a message clear to anyone watching: she was not walking alone again.
When they entered the hallway, students stepped aside like they always did around him. But today wasn't normal. Today, Kyle's jaw was tight, his eyes sharp and scanning every face, every corner, every open locker. He was hunting without moving.
Amara could feel the air around him vibrating with anger he was trying to control.
She'd never seen him like this.
And honestly?
It scared her almost as much as the damn photo.
THE WEIGHT OF BREATH
As soon as the door closed behind them, Amara felt her chest tighten again.
Her fingers trembled.
Her vision blurred.
She didn't even realize she was having a panic attack until Kyle turned sharply, grabbed her face with both hands, and whispered,
"Breathe. Look at me. Just me."
His voice wasn't rough this time. It was low… grounding… steady.
Amara shut her eyes, inhaled shakily, and leaned into his touch.
"I-I don't understand," she whispered, "How did he get that close? How did I not see anyone?"
Kyle's thumb brushed her cheek, gentler than anyone would expect from him.
"You didn't see him because he didn't want to be seen," he said quietly. "But I'm going to find him. I swear I—"
He stopped because someone opened the classroom door.
JONAH'S TERRIBLE TIMING
Jonah froze when he saw them—Kyle holding Amara's face like she belonged there.
For a moment, his expression cracked. Pain flickered across it like a glitch.
"Amara… can I talk to you?"
Kyle didn't even turn his head.
"No."
Jonah ignored him. "It's important."
Kyle moved slightly, positioning himself between Amara and Jonah.
"She's not talking to you alone," he said, voice low and almost dangerously calm.
Jonah scoffed. "You don't own her."
Kyle's eyes narrowed, but he didn't rise to the bait.
Amara stepped forward, still shaken but tired of them fighting.
"It's fine. Just—just say whatever you came to say."
Jonah's gaze softened when he finally looked at her properly.
"You look scared… Did something happen?"
He wasn't stupid. He could see the panic still fading from her face.
Amara opened her mouth, but Kyle spoke first.
"It's none of your business."
Jonah took a small step closer. "If someone's bothering you, I need to know. I can help—"
Kyle laughed once. Sharp. Humorless.
"Help? You can't even stay on your own side of the classroom without tripping over your guilt."
Jonah's face hardened.
"This doesn't involve you."
"The hell it doesn't," Kyle murmured.
The tension thickened until it felt like the air itself was holding its breath.
Amara stepped between them despite her trembling hands.
"Stop. Both of you."
They both backed up—Jonah out of guilt, Kyle out of something else… obedience? Or worry? She couldn't tell.
"I'm fine," she lied softly. "I just… need a moment."
Jonah opened his mouth to argue—
And then a teacher walked by, waving them inside.
A SUSPICIOUS ADULT
The first person they met inside was Mr. Reed, their guidance counselor.
He never came to this class.
He never even walked this hallway unless something was wrong.
"Amara," he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "I heard you were feeling overwhelmed earlier. Everything okay?"
Kyle stiffened beside her.
Jonah frowned too.
It was strange—because the only people who knew she was shaken were the three of them.
How did Mr. Reed find out?
Amara swallowed. "I'm fine… I guess."
He touched her shoulder lightly. Too lightly. Too carefully.
"If you ever want to talk in my office, just come anytime."
Kyle's hand instantly wrapped around her wrist again, pulling her subtly away from Mr. Reed's touch.
Mr. Reed only chuckled like he expected that.
"I'll let you kids settle in. Take care, Amara."
He walked out without looking back.
Jonah leaned closer to her. "Did he always act like that?"
"No," she whispered. "Never."
Kyle didn't respond.
He just stared at the door Mr. Reed had left through… like he suddenly had a new suspect in mind.
A NEW CLUE
When Amara finally sat down, she felt her backpack was heavier than usual.
Her stomach dropped.
She unzipped it with shaking hands.
And there it was.
A single folded paper, perfectly placed on top of her books.
Kyle saw it immediately and grabbed it before she could.
Jonah stepped closer, eyes wide. "What is that?"
Kyle unfolded the paper silently.
His expression went blank—no anger, no shock, nothing.
Which was more terrifying than if he had exploded.
He handed the note to Amara slowly, like he was afraid of what it would do to her.
Her fingers shook as she read it.
"You don't see me,
but I see you.
You don't hear me,
but I hear everything.
You don't choose who protects you,
but I do."
No name.
No signature.
Just a small hand-drawn symbol at the bottom:
A black circle with a tiny eye inside.
Amara's breath caught.
Jonah whispered, "What… the hell…?"
Kyle took the paper back and folded it neatly, too neatly.
Then his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper Amara had never heard from him before—
"Someone touched your bag. Someone got this close. Someone thinks I won't find them."
He didn't yell.
He didn't threaten.
He just stood there, silent and deadly.
Then he leaned down to Amara, his voice barely audible.
"You're not leaving my sight again."
She nodded because she couldn't speak.
Jonah didn't argue this time.
Even he looked scared.
Kyle sat beside her for the rest of class, not looking away from the door once.
And somewhere inside her bag…
the faint smell of someone else's cologne lingered.
Someone who had been close.
Too close.