Final Warning
Thea’s POV
I kept reading the note, staring at it so intently I could have burned a hole right through it. Fear crept through every inch of my body like an icy current. This was the third time, and I had no fucking clue what to do about it.
After dropping Leo at school, I’d returned to find an elegantly wrapped box with a pink ribbon sitting on my porch. At first, I thought it might be a gift until I lifted the lid and saw a grayish–brown dead rat lying inside with a neatly folded note beside it.
“FINAL WARNING, THEA.”
My stomach instantly dropped to my feet. The threats were clearly escalating.
With shaking hands, I tossed both the note and box into the trash, immediately grabbing my phone to contact Graves. I was praying for a miracle, hoping he’d figured out who was
behind all this shit.
He answered after the second ring, his voice rough like he’d just finished smoking. Hearing him brought instant relief.
“Please tell me you’ve found something,” I begged, desperation filling my voice.
I knew it was rude to skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point, but I was scared out of my fucking mind. For days I’d been living in constant fear, anxiously scanning my surroundings, becoming so paranoid that anyone I accidentally bumped into on the street
or in stores instantly became a suspect.
I hadn’t told my family or friends because I didn’t want them to worry. But if things continued to get worse, I might not have a choice. The more people investigating this, the
better chance of finding this bastard.
“I’m sorry, Thea, but all the leads have gone cold,” he said regretfully. “I’ve got my people out there, but whoever this is, they’re being extremely careful not to leave any traceable
evidence.”
A surge of anger flared inside me. I wanted to smash something, to scream until my throat was raw. But I knew it wouldn’t help. I needed to find out who was threatening me
1/4
Final Warning
because my gut was screaming that something terrible was coming.
“How is it possible there are no leads at all?” My voice rose slightly. “I just received a third note next to a dead rat. I’m scared, Graves. I’m fucking terrified.”
I tried to hold back tears, but they spilled down my cheeks anyway, soaking into my collar. “I know you’re anxious, but I promise I’m doing everything I can,” his voice grew
firmer.
His response was like a match to a fuse, igniting all the fear and frustration that had been building inside me.
“Well your ‘everything‘ clearly isn’t enough!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the empty house.
“Thea,” he almost growled my name, his voice hard as steel.
Realizing how rude and childish I sounded, I immediately deflated. “I’m sorry… I’m just…
so scared. Please forgive me for lashing out at you.”
A deep sigh came from the other end. “I understand, I get it, but you don’t need to worry.
I won’t let anything happen to you, okay?”
I didn’t answer, because how could I when everything inside me was telling me things
weren’t going to be okay? And worse, a terrible realization had taken root in my mind: this time, maybe even Graves couldn’t protect me.
“I’ll check with a few more special contacts and let you know the minute I hear anything,”
he added.
horrifying “gift.” Thoughts invaded my mind one after another. I couldn’t find peace, couldn’t find a moment to breathe. I was fucking exhausted. For weeks, I’d barely slept, too afraid to close my eyes and see horrible images. Even when I did sleep, my dreams were filled with nightmares. Every nightmare showed me and my unborn baby dying.
After thinking for a moment, I picked up my phone and called Iris, but after several rings, there was no answer. She was probably busy.
“Hey, honey,” she greeted cheerfully. “Everything okay?”
space.
“That’s fine, I completely understand.”
“Thanks. See you Friday, okay?”
“Sure.” I put down the phone and looked around the empty house, knowing I couldn’t just sit here waiting for Leo to get out of school. If I stayed trapped in my own thoughts much longer, I’d break down.
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