Ethan's POV
The door handle stopped rattling.
We stood frozen, barely breathing, staring at Emma's apartment door.
"Maybe he left?" Maya whispered hopefully.
Then a voice came from the other side. "Emma? It's me. Open up."
Not Vincent's voice.
A girl's voice.
Emma rushed to the door and looked through the peephole. Her shoulders sagged with relief. "It's my roommate, Sarah."
She unlocked the door. A blonde girl stood there holding grocery bags, looking confused. "Why are all the locks on? And why are you—" She noticed the rest of us. "Oh. Company. Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt."
"You're not interrupting," Emma said quickly. "Come in. Lock the door behind you."
Sarah entered, eyeing us curiously as she locked all three locks. "Okay, what's going on? You look terrified."
"Long story," Emma said. "The short version is—we're hiding from a stalker."
"A stalker?" Sarah's eyes went wide. "Should we call the police?"
"It's complicated," Adrian said. "The stalker filed a complaint against me first, so the police think I'm the bad guy."
"That's messed up." Sarah set down her groceries. "Well, you guys can stay here as long as you need. I've got a baseball bat under my bed if things get crazy."
"Thanks," I said, managing a weak smile.
"But wait," Sarah pulled out her phone. "If you're hiding from someone, you should know—there's a guy loitering in the parking lot. I saw him on my way in. Tall, dark hair, just standing there staring up at the building."
My blood went cold. "Which parking spot?"
"Right below this window." Sarah pointed.
We rushed to the window. Four floors down, a figure stood in the shadows between streetlights. Watching our building.
"Is that Vincent?" Maya squinted.
"I can't tell from this angle," Adrian said.
The figure looked up. Even from four floors away, I felt his eyes lock onto mine.
My phone—still turned off in my pocket—suddenly buzzed.
"How—" I pulled it out. The screen was black, powered down, but it was definitely vibrating.
"That's impossible," Emma breathed. "If your phone's off, it can't—"
The screen flickered to life on its own. One message displayed:
"Found you. Again. You're not very good at hiding, Ethan. -V"
"He hacked my phone," I whispered. "Even when it's off, he can control it."
"That's not possible unless—" Emma grabbed my phone and popped the case off. Behind the battery was a tiny device, no bigger than a quarter. "He planted a tracker. This isn't your battery—it's a fake battery with GPS and remote access built in."
She threw it across the room like it was a spider.
"Check everyone's phones," Adrian said urgently. "Now."
We all opened our phone cases. Emma found another tracker in hers. Maya's was clean, but she hadn't been in our room where Vincent could've swapped them.
Adrian opened his phone and went pale. "There's something else in mine."
He pulled out a tiny camera. So small you'd never notice it. With a microphone attached.
"He's been listening to everything we said," Adrian whispered. "Watching everything. He knew about our plan to use Ethan as bait. He knew we were coming here. He's been three steps ahead because he could literally hear our plans in real-time."
The figure in the parking lot waved.
"Creepy," Sarah muttered. "Okay, new plan. We call the actual police. Like, right now."
"With what evidence?" I asked desperately. "The trackers prove he's tracking us, but not that he's done anything illegal. He could say he put them there because he was worried about us. That he's trying to protect me from Adrian."
"Then we get him to confess," Maya said. "Emma, can you record from here?"
"Yeah, I've got a camera with a zoom lens." Emma was already pulling equipment from her closet. "But how do we get Vincent to confess when he knows we know he's listening?"
"We don't," Adrian said slowly. "We get someone else to do it."
Everyone looked at him.
"Lucas," Adrian continued. "Vincent's younger brother. He filed the stalking complaint on Vincent's orders, but I don't think Lucas knows the full story. What if we tell him the truth?"
"You think he'd believe us over his own brother?" I asked.
"Maybe. Lucas seemed genuinely concerned when he filed the complaint. Like he thought he was protecting people." Adrian pulled out his laptop. "Vincent's good at manipulating people. Lucas might be another victim."
"How do we contact Lucas without Vincent knowing?" Emma asked.
"The campus portal. I can message him through the student directory. Vincent can't hack that without raising red flags." Adrian started typing. "I'll keep it vague. Just ask to meet."
Five minutes later, Lucas responded: "Adrian? After everything? Why would I meet you?"
Adrian typed back: "Because your brother isn't who you think he is. And people are in danger. Including you."
A long pause. Then: "Where?"
"The coffee shop on Main Street. One hour. Come alone."
"Fine. But if this is a trick, I'm calling the police."
Adrian closed his laptop. "Okay. Now we need someone to meet him. Someone Vincent won't expect."
"I'll go," Emma said immediately.
"What? No." Adrian shook his head. "Vincent knows you're helping us. He'll be watching you."
"Then I'll go," Sarah volunteered. "I'm not involved in any of this. Vincent doesn't even know I exist."
"That's perfect," Maya said. "Sarah goes to the meeting with a hidden camera. Lucas doesn't know her, so he might open up. And Vincent won't suspect anything because he doesn't know about Sarah."
"Wait," I said. "If Vincent's been listening to everything, he just heard this whole plan."
We all stared at the destroyed trackers on the floor.
"Unless," Emma said slowly, "those aren't the only bugs."
We tore the apartment apart. Found two more cameras—one in the smoke detector, one in a picture frame.
"He's been watching this whole time," Sarah said, her face pale. "That means—"
"He knows Sarah exists now," Adrian finished grimly. "He knows our new plan."
"So we're back to square one," Maya groaned.
"No," I said, an idea forming. "We use it. We let Vincent think he knows our plan. Sarah goes to meet Lucas like we discussed. But that's not the real plan."
"Then what is?" Adrian asked.
"The real plan is—" I hesitated, knowing they'd hate this. "—I go to Vincent. Alone. While he's distracted watching Sarah's meeting with Lucas, I confront him. Get him to confess. Record everything."
"Absolutely not!" Adrian's voice was sharp. "That's exactly what he wants!"
"Which is why it'll work. He'll be so excited I'm coming to him that he'll let his guard down." I looked at Emma. "Can you give me a camera? Something small that Vincent won't notice?"
"Ethan, this is insane," Maya said. "He could hurt you. He could—"
"He won't," I interrupted. "Vincent's obsessed with me. He wants me alive and with him. He's not going to hurt me—at least not right away. That gives us time to get proof."
"And then what?" Adrian demanded. "Even with proof, you're still alone with him!"
"Then you come get me," I said simply. "I'll share my location with all of you. The second you have the confession recorded, you call the police and come find me."
Adrian stared at me like I'd lost my mind. "This is the stupidest plan I've ever heard."
"It's the only plan we have."
Silence filled the apartment.
Finally, Emma spoke. "I can give you a camera that looks like a button. Pin it to your shirt. And a backup audio recorder in your shoe. If Vincent finds one, you'll still have the other."
"Don't do this," Adrian said quietly. His eyes were pleading. "Please, Ethan. There has to be another way."
I thought about eight-year-old me, leaving school to get away from Vincent's obsessive attention. Thought about how Vincent had spent years tracking me down, planning this, hurting people I cared about.
This ended tonight. One way or another.
"I have to," I said. "He won't stop until someone stops him. And if that someone has to be me, then—"
My phone—the new one Sarah had lent me—buzzed.
A message from unknown number:
"I'm impressed, Ethan. You're braver than I thought. I accept your offer. Come to the old chemistry building. Third floor. Room 304—just like your dorm room. Poetic, right? Come alone. Come unarmed. Come within the next 20 minutes, or I start hurting people you care about. Starting with your little friend Maya's family. I have their address. Would be a shame if something happened to them. -V"
Maya's face drained of color. "My family. He's threatening my family."
"How does he even know where they live?" Sarah asked.
"He knows everything," Adrian said bitterly. "He's probably been researching all of us for months."
Another message appeared, this time with a photo attached.
It was Maya's house. Recent. Taken today based on the timestamp.
And standing in the yard, visible through the window: Maya's mom.
"Twenty minutes, Ethan. I'm timing you. And if you bring anyone with you, I'll know. I'm always watching. Always. -V"
"I have to go," I said, already moving toward the door.
Adrian grabbed my arm. "Wait. At least let me—"
"No. He said alone." I pulled away gently. "Emma, give me the camera equipment. Quick."
Emma rushed to set me up with the hidden camera and audio recorder. Her hands shook as she worked.
"Eighteen minutes left," Maya whispered, watching the clock.
"Ethan," Adrian's voice was desperate. "What if this is a trap? What if he doesn't just want to talk?"
I looked at him—really looked at him. At his gray eyes full of fear. At the way his hands clenched like he wanted to hold on to me and never let go.
When did Adrian start meaning this much to me?
"Then I guess we'll find out what Vincent really wants," I said quietly.
I headed for the door.
"ETHAN!" Adrian shouted.
I stopped but didn't turn around.
"If something happens to you—" His voice broke. "If Vincent hurts you because of me, because I brought you into this by making you my roommate—"
"This isn't your fault," I said firmly. "Vincent's obsession isn't your fault. None of this is your fault."
"Promise me you'll be careful."
"I promise."
I left before I could change my mind.
The chemistry building was dark. Abandoned. Scheduled for demolition next month.
Perfect place for a psychopath to hide.
I climbed the stairs slowly, my heart pounding. The hidden camera was recording. The audio device in my shoe was on.
Room 304. Just like our dorm room.
The door was open.
I stepped inside.
The room was lit by candles. Dozens of them. And on the walls—photos. Hundreds of photos.
All of me.
Me at eight years old on the playground. Me at ten getting ice cream. Me at fifteen playing basketball. Recent photos of me at Crestwood—walking to class, eating lunch, sleeping.
Sleeping.
"You came," Vincent's voice came from the shadows. "I knew you would. You always do the right thing, Ethan. It's one of the things I love about you."
He stepped into the candlelight.
Vincent Park looked different than the boy I remembered. Older, taller, but with the same dark eyes. The same cold smile.
"Hello, Ethan," he said softly. "Welcome home."
"This isn't my home," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Not yet. But it will be." Vincent moved closer. "I've been so patient. Eight years, Ethan. Eight years of watching you from afar. Following your life through social media. Befriending your classmates to learn about you. Planning for the day we'd be together again."
"You're sick," I said. "This isn't love. It's obsession."
"Call it what you want." Vincent's smile widened. "But you're here now. That's all that matters. You came to me. Finally. After all these years of running, you came to me."
"I came because you threatened my friend's family."
"Oh, that." Vincent waved it off. "I wasn't really going to hurt them. I just needed you to come quickly before Adrian convinced you not to. Adrian's always in the way. Always protecting you. Always standing between us."
"Because you're dangerous."
"I'm determined," Vincent corrected. "There's a difference. I'm determined to have what's mine. And you, Ethan Cross, have been mine since we were eight years old. You just don't remember."
"I remember," I said coldly. "I remember you following me everywhere. Getting angry when I played with other kids. Throwing that rock at Tommy Chen just because he offered to share his lunch with me."
"He was trying to take you from me," Vincent said like it was obvious.
"Nobody can take me from you because I was never yours!"
Vincent's smile disappeared. "Yes, you are. You've always been mine. And anyone who says differently is wrong."
He pulled something from his pocket.
A syringe.
"What is that?" My voice cracked.
"Just something to help you relax. To help you forget about Adrian and everyone else. When you wake up, we'll be far away from here. Starting our life together. Like it always should have been."
He moved toward me.
I backed up, but my back hit the wall.
"Vincent, don't—"
The door burst open.
But it wasn't Adrian.
It wasn't the police.
It was Lucas Park.
Vincent's younger brother.
And he was holding a gun.
Pointed at Vincent.
"Step away from him," Lucas said, his voice shaking. "Now, Vincent. I mean it."
Vincent froze. "Lucas? What are you doing here?"
"What I should have done years ago." Lucas's eyes were red like he'd been crying. "I found your journals, Vincent. All of them. I know what you did to Mom. I know why she really left."
"Mom left because she was weak—"
"She left because you scared her!" Lucas's voice cracked. "Because you became obsessed with her the same way you're obsessed with Ethan! Following her everywhere! Monitoring her phone! She left to get away from you!"
Vincent's face twisted with rage. "She abandoned us! She deserved—"
"She deserved to be safe!" Lucas shouted. "And so does Ethan! So does everyone you've hurt!"
"You don't understand—"
"I understand that you're sick and you need help!" Lucas kept the gun steady. "Ethan, get out of here. Now."
I moved toward the door, but Vincent lunged.
Not at me.
At Lucas.
"NO!" Vincent screamed, grabbing for the gun. "You're not taking him from me! NOT YOU TOO!"
They struggled.
The gun went off.
The sound was deafening.
Someone screamed.
I couldn't tell who.
Then Lucas fell.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Vincent stood over him, holding the gun now, his face blank with shock.
"Lucas?" Vincent's voice was small. Childlike. "Lucas, get up. I didn't mean—"
But Lucas wasn't moving.
And Vincent's eyes slowly turned to me.
"This is your fault," he whispered. "If you'd just come with me quietly, Lucas wouldn't have—"
The door exploded inward.
Adrian, campus security, real police—everyone flooded into the room.
"DROP THE WEAPON!" An officer shouted.
Vincent looked at the gun in his hand like he'd forgotten it was there.
Then he smiled at me. That same cold smile from when we were kids.
"If I can't have you," he said softly, "no one can."
He raised the gun.
Not at the police.
At me.
Adrian moved without thinking.
He threw himself in front of me just as Vincent pulled the trigger.
The gunshot echoed.
Adrian collapsed in my arms.
And everything went black.