Chapter 4

My eyes widened, and the plate slipped from my hand and shattered on the floor.

Hearing the crash, Gabriel called from the bathroom, "What happened? What did she say that made you break one of my plates?"

I forced down my fear and tried to sound casual. "Nothing. Whatever's going on between you two is your problem. I'm not reading your messages."

"Fine. Don't help me, then!"

Pretending everything was normal, I quickly untied my apron and slipped out of the apartment while he was still in the shower.

Before I left, I took a picture of the unknown number.

The streets were deserted. It was already late.

I had no idea what was happening to me, or why the strange events kept piling up.

I couldn't go home, and I definitely couldn't go back to Gabriel's place.

As I stood there, trying to decide what to do, my phone suddenly rang. I pulled it out and saw the same unknown number that had texted Gabriel.

My hand began to shake. I hesitated for a long moment before finally gathering the courage to answer.

I stayed silent, waiting for the caller to speak first.

But it was as though they knew exactly what I was thinking, because they didn't say a word either.

After a long while, all I could hear was steady breathing and a strange tapping sound.

Some taps came in quick bursts, while others were spaced farther apart, forming an odd rhythm as though the caller were trying to send me a message.

Then, the call ended.

I looked around and finally decided to go to the police station.

Not to file a report. No one would believe a story this insane. They would assume I was having some kind of breakdown.

I just figured no one would try anything while I was inside a police station.

I spent the night stretched out on a bench in the hallway and woke up with my back and hips aching.

I left early the next morning. When I passed a convenience store, I bought a baseball cap and a face mask.

I was in danger, and I didn't want anyone watching me to get a clear look at my face.

After that, I headed straight to a wireless carrier store.

I needed to find out who the unknown number belonged to. I needed to know who had gone to so much trouble to torment me.

Of course, there was no way an employee would simply hand over that information.

I pulled off my mask and approached the woman behind the counter.

"Hi. My mom passed away recently, and I'm trying to close a prepaid line she was using. I think it may have been set up under my name. Could you check whether there's any credit left on the account?"

I handed her my ID and did my best to look heartbroken.

The employee's expression softened. After verifying my information, she agreed to look into it.

She entered the phone number and typed for a moment before glancing up at me. "This line isn't under your mother's name. You're listed as the account owner."

My brows pulled together.

"What do you mean?"

Noticing my confusion, she angled the monitor slightly so I could see the account information.

The unknown number was registered in my name.

But I had never opened that account.

Someone would have needed enough of my personal information to pass the carrier's identity checks, which meant...

I couldn't let myself finish the thought. I was afraid I would completely lose it.

As I frantically tried to make sense of it all, a text from the unknown number appeared on my phone.

[I know what you're thinking. You went to the carrier store, didn't you?]