Chapter V
***In the depths of memory's vault,
Lies fragments of a troubled thought,
A jigsaw puzzle incomplete,
Lost pieces of a childhood sweet.
Once whole and innocent, now torn,
Scattered memories, forlorn,
Like shattered glass, they pierce the mind,
The missing pieces hard to find.
Cautionary whispers in the wind,
Remind us of the pain within,
Each broken piece a lesson learned,
A cautionary tale, duly earned.
Yet through the darkness, rays of light,
Guiding us towards healing's sight,
With patience and resolve, we mend,
The broken pieces that time did rend.
So take heed and tread with care,
For childhood's treasures are rare,
Guard each moment, hold them tight,*
Preserve the innocence, day and night.
Lily's heart sank as the phone rang again. She knew it was Knox, her overbearing boyfriend who always seemed to be checking up on her. She hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Hey, Knox," she said, trying to keep her voice light.
"I've been trying to get a hold of you all day," Knox said, his voice tense. "Where have you been?"
"I was at the library, working on a project with Alexander," Lily said, glancing over at the man sitting across from her.
Knox's tone softened slightly. "I'm sorry for being so pushy, babe. I just worry about you."
Lily forced a smile. "I know you do. Hey, listen, can I call you back in a bit? I'm kind of in the middle of something."
"Sure, no problem," Knox said. "Just be careful, okay?"
"I will," Lily promised before hanging up.
She turned back to the man across from her, feeling a mix of disappointment and relief. "Sorry about that," she said, trying to regain her composure. "I'm afraid I can't go on a date with you."
The man didn't seem fazed. "No worries. Maybe another time." He flashed her a smile and stood up, walking away with an air of confidence.
Lily watched him go, feeling a strange mixture of attraction and unease. She couldn't deny that he was handsome and charming, but there was something about him that made her wary.
As she gathered her things and headed out of the library, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
And when she got home and checked her messages, she found a text from an unknown number.
Upon checking her messages, she discovered an unnerving text from an unknown number that simply read: "I'll be seeing you soon."
The text sent chills down Lily's spine. She didn't recognize the number, but the message was ominous, making her feel uneasy. She tried to shake it off and focus on her upcoming project meeting with Alexander.
But when they met up the next day, Alexander seemed different. He was distant and distracted, barely paying attention to what they were supposed to be working on. Lily couldn't help but feel like something was bothering him.
"Is everything okay?" she finally asked, unable to take the tension anymore.
Alexander sighed, running a hand through his hair. "No, not really."
Lily waited, giving him a chance to explain but he quickly change the subject.
"I just heard about this new cafe that opened up down the street. Have you been there yet?"
Lily frowned, sensing that Alexander was avoiding the topic. "No, I haven't. What does that have to do with anything?"
Alexander shrugged, picking absently at a thread on his shirt.
"Nothing, I guess. I just thought it might be a good place to go and get some work done."
Lily didn't believe him for a second. She knew something was up, but she didn't want to push him too hard.
Instead, she tried to focus on the project and get as much work done as possible.
But as they worked, Lily couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She felt on edge, like someone was lurking in the shadows, watching their every move.
"Are you okay?" Alexander asked, noticing her unease.
"No, not really," Lily admitted. "I feel like someone's watching us."
Alexander looked around nervously, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. "Maybe it's just your imagination," he said, trying to put her at ease.
But Lily couldn't shake the feeling. She felt like they were being followed, like someone was always lurking just out of sight. It made her paranoid and jumpy, and she couldn't focus on anything else.
Finally, they decided to call it a day and head home. As they walked out of the cafe, Lily couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed. She kept looking over her shoulder, but she couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.
They walked in silence for a while, both lost in their own thoughts. But then, out of nowhere, a hand reached out and grabbed Lily's arm.
She screamed, trying to pull away, but the hand was too strong. She turned to face her attacker, but she couldn't see anything in the darkness.
"Let go of me!" she screamed, struggling to break free.
But the person didn't let go. Instead, they pulled her close, their hot breath tickling her neck. Lily could smell the stench of alcohol and cigarettes on them.
"Shh, calm down," the person whispered. "I won't hurt you."
Lily tried to push the person away, but they were too strong. She felt a hand slip over her mouth, muffling her screams.
Alexander turned at the sound of Lily's struggle, his eyes widening as he saw her being held against her will. Without thinking, he lunged forward, tackling the attacker to the ground.
The person struggled against Alexander, but he held them down, yelling for Lily to run. She stumbled back, still in shock from the attack.
Eventually, the attacker managed to break free, darting off into the darkness. Alexander helped Lily up, his heart racing.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his hands shaking.
Lily's heart beat rapidly in her chest.
Her hands shook and her body felt like it was going to collapse under the weight of shock and terror. Her eyes went wide with fear and confusion, now seemingly too big for her face, and she stared at Alexander like he was a monster before her.
He still held his hand out, but his head twitched once violently to the side.
Lily could see that his eyes were no longer moss green but a silver color instead, reflecting the sun above them.
They were steady, emotionless.
The chill that ran down Lily's spine was one of primal fear, of instinct where there should be logic.. She had seen this look before - it was one from the past, when she was still little.