Page 36 of The Immortal's One

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He sighs. “Yeah, my sister’s not known for her patience. I blame our parents. They baby her.”

“Well, she is the baby,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.

Kevin’s mouth twitches, but then he glances at the door with a slight frown. “Well… I guess we should go inside?”

Does he wish we had more time alone?

“Yeah… we should.” I loosen my fingers to release his hand and step toward the door.

But Kevin tugs on my hand, drawing me back. Renewed awareness buzzes through my body. My heart beats faster at our proximity.

Sincerity shines from his rich brown eyes. “Whatever’s going on with your dad, I hope it works out.”

I swallow the knot in my throat, formed by emotion that has nothing to do with my dad’s condition. “Thanks.”

His smile is soft, and I find myself smiling back.

Then, a sharp, almost suffocating pain pierces my chest, and my skin tingles with the sense of being watched.

I scan the street. Nothing looks out of place. Tourists linger nearby, a couple sips hot drinks on a bench, and the world continues at its usual pace. But my unease refuses to fade.

I look across the street where the snow-covered mall stretches out, its white expanse appearing tranquil in the winter light. But when my gaze lands on the gazebo at the far end of the block, my heart leaps into my throat.

A figure stands near the steps, his dark coat and black pants blending with the shadows. The low beanie pulled over his head obscures most of his face, but his eyes are locked on me. I stiffen, my pulse roaring in my ears.

Kayla taps the window again, yanking me out of my trance.

I whip my head around.

What are you doing?she mouths, her gaze flicking between me and Kevin, then dropping to our joined hands again.

I raise a finger, motioning for her to wait, and turn back to look at the stranger.

He’s gone.

I swallow hard, confusion swirling in my mind.

“Darcie?” Kevin speaks slowly. “You coming?”

“Yeah,” I choke out with a nod, my thoughts racing, trying to shake the strange unease that clings to me. “Let’s go.”

He leads me to the door, still holding my hand. But before I step inside, I look back at where the mysterious figure stood.

Who was he?

And just like with Lome… why do I feel I’ve met him before?

11

Even as Istare blankly at the bag of salt and vinegar chips, trying to remember if we already have some at home, the image of the man in the dark coat won’t get out of my head.

I can’t think straight. Every time I blink, he’s there—his eyes fixed on me from across the snow-covered street.

How can I concentrate on things like groceries when my mind insists on replaying the image of him lurking in the gazebo’s shadows whenever I close my eyes?

The eerie memory wouldn’t be so bad if my traitorous imagination didn’t superimpose the haunting green eyes from my nightmares onto the mysterious man’s face, stealing any hope I had of shaking off the unsettling encounter.

I don’t have to guess what tonight’s nightmare is going to be about.