My hands were shaking so hard I could barely fit it into the lock.

The lock turned with a heavy click.

I pushed the door open, revealing the dark, cold interior.

It smelled of pine and old paper.

I led Alexander inside, guiding him toward the small sofa in the corner.

He collapsed onto it, his head falling back against the cushions.

I closed the door behind us and slid the deadbolt into place.

I stood there in the dark, my back against the wood.

We were safe, for now.

But as I looked at the man on the couch, the man I had spent months mourning, I felt a chill that had nothing to do with the weather.

The phone in my pocket suddenly vibrated.

I pulled it out.

Despite the lack of signal, a single text message popped up on the screen from an unknown number.

The screen lit up the dark room with a bright, blue glow.

I looked down at the glowing screen.

The message was short.

*I see you,* it read.

I turned the phone off immediately and shoved it into my coat pocket.