~~Elena~~
The rain begins before I even leave the street outside the police station.
At first it is only a few drops hitting the windshield, but within seconds it grows heavier, the sky darkening as thick clouds swallow what little light the afternoon had left. I start the engine and pull away slowly, my hands still not entirely steady on the steering wheel.
Everything that just happened feels unreal.
Just a few minutes ago I was standing outside the station speaking with Austin, thinking I was finally doing the right thing by asking for help. Now he is inside with a bullet wound in his leg while officers scramble around trying to figure out where the shot came from.
And I know exactly who is behind it but I can't say a word.
The thought sits heavily in my chest as I drive through the wet streets, the windshield wipers moving back and forth in a steady rhythm while the rain grows stronger. It feels like the storm arrived much earlier than it did yesterday, as if the weather itself decided to follow the same dark pattern that my life has taken since meeting Luca.
My mind keeps replaying the moment the bullet grazed Austin's foot.
The blood soaking through the torn fabric of his pants.
I grip the steering wheel tighter.
I had never witnessed anything like that before. Violence was something I had only heard about on the news or read about in case studies during my psychology classes. Seeing it happen right in front of me is a completely different experience.
And the worst part is knowing that the man responsible is somewhere close by.
I swallow hard as the rain begins pouring harder, the sound of it hitting the roof of the car filling the quiet space around me. My thoughts are tangled and restless, jumping from one possibility to another, each one worse than the last.
How long has he been watching me?
I drive for several minutes before something begins to bother me.
At first it is only a small feeling in the back of my mind, the kind of instinct you try to ignore because you hope you are imagining things. My eyes move to the rearview mirror where there's a black car behind me.
That alone would not be strange, except for one detail.
It is too close.
The vehicle stays right behind me even as I change lanes at the next intersection. I wait a moment, hoping it will continue straight while I turn, but when I make the turn the car follows again without hesitation.
A cold wave of panic spreads through my chest.
I press slightly harder on the gas, my eyes flicking between the road ahead and the mirror. The car remains there, its headlights cutting through the rain while the distance between us stays almost exactly the same.
"What the hell did I get myself into," I mutter under my breath as I tighten my grip on the wheel.
If my instincts are not wrong, then that car can only belong to one person.
Luca.
I keep driving, trying not to look too obviously nervous even though my heart is pounding against my ribs. Part of me wants to speed up and lose him, but another part knows that it won't work if it's him.
The rain continues pouring heavily, turning the streets glossy and reflective while the sound of the storm surrounds the car.
Behind me, the black vehicle does not fall back.
If he doesn't end up in a psychiatric hospital, then I'll be the one ending up there.
Because dealing with someone like him is slowly starting to feel like losing my mind.
Either way, I take the turn that leads toward my apartment complex, hoping that once I am inside the gates the car behind me will finally disappear. The rain continues pouring heavily, blurring the lights along the street while my windshield wipers struggle to keep the glass clear.
But the black car remains right behind me.
My stomach tightens as the familiar entrance to my building appears ahead. The security gate slowly opens after recognizing my vehicle, and I drive through without slowing down too much.
For a brief second I allow myself to hope that maybe the driver will stop.
The hope dies instantly when I glance at the rearview mirror and see the same car following me straight through the gate.
The security guards do not stop him.
They simply allow the car to pass as if it belongs here.
I do not know whether Luca paid them, threatened them, or simply has a way of making people look the other way, but the realization that he can enter the building this easily makes my chest feel tight.
I quickly steer into the parking area and pull into the first available spot close to the entrance. The moment the car stops, I grab my bag and push the door open, stepping out into the rain.
Cold water immediately soaks into my clothes as I hurry across the pavement. I do not bother looking back because I already know he is there somewhere behind me.
My footsteps echo slightly as I rush into the lobby and press the elevator button repeatedly, my heart beating fast enough that I can hear it in my ears.
The elevator doors finally slide open.
I step inside quickly and press the button for my floor, watching the numbers climb while my reflection stares back at me from the metal walls. My face looks pale, my hair slightly damp from the rain, and my expression far more frightened than I would like to admit.
The ride feels much longer than usual.
When the doors finally open again, I step out immediately and walk quickly down the hallway toward my apartment. My keys are already in my hand by the time I reach the door.
I unlock it with slightly trembling fingers and step inside before quickly locking it again.
The sound of the lock clicking into place brings a small wave of relief.
I check it once.
Then twice.
Just to be sure.
Only after confirming that the door is secure do I lean back against it for a moment, closing my eyes while trying to steady my breathing.
The quiet inside the apartment feels strange after everything that happened today.
Slowly, I push myself away from the door and walk toward the living room, the soft light from the window reflecting against the rain that continues falling outside.