"Shadows"
Back home, I sit on the edge of the bed and undo my hair, taking in the silence. Mum's gone back to Texas, but she said she would be dropping in once in a while. She has a coffee shop to tend to, and I am also here.
My phone is face down on the nightstand, for once I don't want to look at it. I want to be disconnected from the outside world. This lunch with Mrs Montclair was just to remind me that I have a job to do.
But then my phone buzzes once. Then another buzz.
I sigh, annoyed, already anticipating a work email or some text I don't have the energy for.
I reach for it reluctantly.
There is an unknown number,
Does he know why you are really here?
For a second I think I have read it wrong. But then when I look at it again, the words are still the same.
I turn it upside down. My pulse is quickening, my heart is racing and my mind is running.
I look around the room just to make sure I am the only one sitting there.
I haven't told anyone about the deal. Not like, not Rose, not even mum.
The only person who knows is Mrs Montclair.
No… no. She wouldn't do this?
Unless, unless someone else knows.
Someone has been watching me.
I type a reply… who is this?…and delete it before I hit send.
I don't want them to know I am scared. Or I have even seen it. I just sit there, my phone in hand still in my lunch outfit.
My phone buzzes again. I am scared to look at it, but I do.
Is the money that important to you? You are so cheap.
I turn off the screen. I am shaking now. Trembling. I throw my phone across the bed.
I stand up. Walk downstairs and shut all the doors. And draw the curtains as well.
I am tense. I go into my room and lock it pacing back and forth.
Expecting to hear another buzz. I don't.
I need to call someone.
But who?
I grab my phone from the bed, trying to ignore the messages.
I scroll through my contacts. I can't call Sinclair, I can't call Rose and I can't call mum. That would only make her paranoid. I decide to call Mike.
But my fingers hover over his name.
He picks up on the first ring. Like he has been waiting for my call.
"Camila?" He's voice is low, like he has been sleeping. We haven't spoken since the last time he came to my house uninvited.
I don't know why I called him. I shouldn't have.
But now his on the other end of the line.
"Hey… are you busy?" I say trying to steady my voice.
"No. What's going on? You okay?"
"I just…" I sit back. Still glance around my room. My other ear is open to any noise down below. "I got some weird texts"
He sounds alert now "What kind of texts?"
"Just strange ones…" I say "from an unknown number"
"What did they say??"
I don't answer immediately, there is a slight pause. Neither of us is talking.
"Camila?"
"I don't know" I lie. "I deleted them already. Probably nothing"
"Are you sure you are okay? You sound off"
"I am fine, I shouldn't have called," I say
"No you are not. Is this about your new job?"
"No," I say faster than I intended to. "Not that"
The other end how quiet for a while. "You sure you don't want to tell me what the messages said?"
My fingers tighten around the phone.
Mike is the last person I would ever tell about something like this.
"No. I say softly, Just let it go"
Silence again. "I don't like this. You are doing this again, shutting me out, you are scared and pretending not to be"
I can sense something in his voice. Is it anger?
"Mike?" I ask.
Then there is silence for a second. He speaks again.
"It's fine, you are not alone Camile, even if you think you are."
We don't cut the call immediately, he stays on the line for a few more minutes trying to make light talk. Until I finally whisper. "I will talk to you later" and hang up.
And I am alone again. With my thoughts.
I delete the messages and block the number. I am still looking for signs, anything that would say my room has been tampered with, but everything is placed the way I had left it.
There is an unease in my chest.
I try to steady my breathing. It's nothing I think. Just someone trying to play Jokes. I try to convince myself of that.