Page 31 of Griffin

The cool night air bit at my skin as I pressed the phone to my ear, trying to steady my voice. “Hey, Todd.”

“Why haven’t you been answering my calls?” Todd’s voice cut through the quiet alley, sharp and direct.

I winced, scrambling for a reply. How could I explain without letting everything spill or breaking the promise I made to Casey?

“You said you'd only be gone a couple of days, Michael. It’s been almost a week.” His frustration was plain, his voice catching on a sigh, teetering between anger and something almost desperate. “Look, I don’t know what’s wrong but I can’t help if I don’t know what’s going on.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, that familiar mix of guilt and dread bubbling up. “I’m sorry, Todd, but I… I need just a bit more time.”

“Michael, this isn’t a game.” His tone softened, edging toward pleading. “The people atShadowfall: Requiemhave been calling, asking where your gameplay reviews are. They expect a live streamtonight, and I can’t keep stalling for you. We can’t lose this contract. Besides, what about your fans?”

I closed my eyes, fighting back the familiar knot of dread that twisted tighter with each word.

The thought of streaming withmforever018lurking somewhere out there made my stomach churn.

His messages flashed in my mind, every line digging a little deeper, fueling a fear that was hard to shake.

Streaming felt like leaving the door wide open, practically inviting him in.

“I-I know, Todd,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady.

Todd went silent for a second. When he spoke again, his voice was softer. “I’m your manager, but I’m also your friend. We’ve worked too hard to let this fall apart. I’m here for you, okay? Just… let me in on what’s going on with you.”

The guilt hit hard. Todd was one of the few people I truly trusted—a constant through all the ups and downs of my career, someone who’d stuck by me from day one.

Keeping this from him, this whole mess, felt like betraying that trust.

I’d come to Pecan Pines without telling him why, without letting him in on just how much the stalker was getting to me.

And now, if I didn’t stream, I’d be letting him down in a different way. He didn’t deserve this.

“Thanks, Todd,” I murmured, hanging up, my chest tight. It wouldn’t take much for him to hear the worry in my voice again.

When I walked back into the bar, I couldn’t shake the image of Griffin’s concerned expression.

I’d barely managed a hurried excuse before slipping out, and the thought of explaining myself… I couldn’t do it.

The idea of him seeing me rattled like this was too much. I shook it off, pushing the unease aside, and headed back to Casey’s apartment.

The walk felt longer than usual, each step a steady, uneasy beat in my chest. By the time I got inside, my nerves were buzzing.

I set up my laptop, my fingers jittering as I adjusted the streaming setup.

Normally, this routine grounded me, but tonight, it felt like I was setting up a stage for disaster.

I double-checked my VPN settings, making sure my location was hidden. “Just another stream,” I muttered, even though every instinct told me it wasn’t.

Todd’s words echoed in my mind:We’ve worked too hard to let this fall apart. I owed it to him—and to the fans who’d been with me from the start.

But no matter how hard I tried to hold onto those reasons, the dread sank deeper, whispering that this stream could be the one that brought the stalker even closer.

With each camera adjustment, every tweak to the lighting, my anxiety sharpened, reminding me of every reason I’d wanted to avoid this.

I’d promised Casey I’d only stream if I absolutely had to. And now, I didn’t have a choice.

My contract withShadowfall: Requiemdemanded it, and backing out would mean breaking that commitment—and dragging Todd down with me.

I gripped the setup tightly, forcing myself to stay focused.You can do this, I told myself, swallowing the doubt clawing at my chest.

---