The door slammed shut behind Alina with a resounding thud, the echo of it reverberating through the stairwell as she pressed her back against the cold, concrete wall. Her heart raced in her chest, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. She could still see Leon standing outside, soaked by the rain, his desperate eyes burning into her even through the distance.
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to steady herself. But her body was trembling uncontrollably, a mix of fear and adrenaline coursing through her veins. She hadn't expected to see him—not like that, not so suddenly. For days, she had managed to convince herself that she was safe here, hidden away at Sarah's apartment. She had thought the distance would give her clarity, a moment to breathe, to figure out what she needed to do.
But now, he had found her.
How long had he been out there? The question gnawed at her as she fought to catch her breath. Leon had looked like a ghost—hollowed out, pale, and broken. A part of her felt pity for him, a small flicker of the love she once had for him, but that feeling was quickly drowned out by the overwhelming fear that had gripped her since that night.
The night when everything had shattered.
Alina opened her eyes, staring down the narrow hallway of the apartment building's entrance. She couldn't go outside. She couldn't risk running into him again. Her legs felt weak, her knees threatening to give out beneath her as she tried to calm herself. She needed to think. She needed to figure out what to do.
The dull hum of the city seeped through the windows, but inside the building, it was eerily quiet. The walls felt close, oppressive, as if they were closing in on her, just like Leon's presence had always felt. No matter where she went, no matter how far she ran, it was like he was always there—waiting, watching.
Alina wiped her damp palms on the sides of her jeans, forcing herself to move. She stumbled toward the stairs, her mind racing, her thoughts a jumbled mess of panic and doubt. She couldn't stay here. Not anymore. Not with Leon knowing where she was. But where could she go? What could she do?
The thought of leaving the city altogether flashed through her mind, a fleeting escape plan. But it felt so far-fetched, so impossible. She had no family left to turn to, no other friends besides Sarah. And even if she could leave, even if she somehow managed to disappear, how long would it take before Leon found her again? He always found her.
Her feet moved quickly up the stairs, each step heavy and clumsy as she climbed. She had to get back to Sarah's apartment. Maybe Sarah would know what to do. Maybe she could help.
When Alina finally reached the door to Sarah's apartment, she paused, her hand hovering over the doorknob. She felt drained, completely spent, as though every last ounce of energy had been sapped from her body. Her fingers trembled as they curled around the handle, and with a deep breath, she pushed it open.
The warmth of the apartment hit her immediately, a sharp contrast to the cool, damp air outside. The smell of something cooking on the stove wafted through the air, a comforting scent that grounded her for just a moment. Sarah's voice drifted from the kitchen, humming softly along with the clatter of dishes.
But as soon as the door clicked shut behind her, the anxiety that had been building inside her crashed back down like a tidal wave. She didn't know how to tell Sarah. She didn't know how to explain the fear, the panic, the utter terror that seeing Leon again had triggered.
"Hey," Sarah's voice pulled her from her spiraling thoughts. She appeared in the kitchen doorway, a warm smile on her face. "I didn't know you went out. Dinner's almost ready."
Alina nodded weakly, her throat too tight to respond. She dropped her bag onto the floor by the door, moving toward the couch like she was sleepwalking. Her mind felt disconnected, like she was floating just above her body, watching everything unfold from a distance.
Sarah's smile faltered as she caught sight of Alina's face. "Are you okay? You look... pale."
Alina collapsed onto the couch, her body sinking into the cushions as if they could somehow absorb her, hide her away from everything that was happening. Her hands twisted in her lap, her fingers gripping each other tightly as she tried to steady her breath.
"He was outside," Alina whispered, her voice barely audible. "Leon was outside. He found me."
Sarah froze. The warmth in her expression vanished, replaced by a deep, simmering concern. She stepped closer, sitting down beside Alina. "He what?"
Alina's heart pounded in her chest, her words spilling out in a rush. "He was standing across the street. I went outside for some air, and when I came back, he was just... there. Waiting."
Sarah's eyes widened, her face paling. "Did he try to talk to you? Did he follow you inside?"
"No," Alina said, shaking her head, though her body still trembled with the memory of seeing him again. "He called out to me. He asked me to talk to him, but I didn't—I couldn't. I just ran back inside."
Sarah let out a breath she had been holding, her hand reaching out to grip Alina's tightly. "Thank God you didn't go to him. You know how dangerous he is."
Alina swallowed hard, the guilt rising in her throat like bile. "He didn't look dangerous, Sarah. He looked... broken." She closed her eyes, trying to rid herself of the image of Leon standing in the rain, his face etched with pain. "What if he really is sorry? What if he's trying to change?"
"Alina." Sarah's voice was firm, pulling her back to reality. "You don't owe him anything. He hurt you. You can't fix that, no matter how sorry he might be. You can't trust him anymore."
Alina bit her lip, her heart aching with the weight of Sarah's words. She knew her friend was right. She knew Leon had crossed a line that night—a line he could never come back from. But it didn't stop the memories from surfacing, memories of who he used to be, of the love they once shared before everything fell apart.
Before her betrayal. Before his fists.
"I know," Alina whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I know I can't go back to him. But it's so hard, Sarah. It's like... it's like I'm tied to him. No matter how much I want to leave, I can't shake him."
Sarah's expression softened, and she squeezed Alina's hand gently. "You're not tied to him. You're stronger than that. It's going to take time, but you can break free from him. You just have to keep moving forward. Don't look back."
Alina nodded, though the knot in her chest didn't loosen. She wished it were that simple. She wished she could just walk away and leave all of the pain and fear behind. But Leon was like a shadow, always lurking at the edges of her life, waiting for the moment when she would falter.
"Let's get out of here," Sarah said suddenly, standing up and pulling Alina with her. "I'll finish dinner later. You need to get out of this apartment for a bit, clear your head."
Alina blinked in surprise, her body still sluggish from the anxiety that had gripped her. "Where are we going?"
"Anywhere but here," Sarah replied with a small smile. "There's a little bookstore down the street. It's quiet, cozy, and more importantly, Leon won't be there. Let's go. It'll help, I promise."
Alina hesitated for a moment, her mind still caught in the web of fear and uncertainty. But the thought of staying in the apartment, of waiting for the next shoe to drop, was unbearable. She nodded slowly, letting Sarah guide her toward the door.
The rain had slowed to a light drizzle by the time they stepped outside. The cool air felt refreshing on Alina's skin, and for the first time in hours, she took a deep breath, letting the tension in her body ease just slightly. The streets were quieter now, the gray sky casting a muted glow over the city as they walked.
Sarah kept the conversation light, talking about books, movies—anything that didn't involve Leon or the nightmare that had taken over Alina's life. And for a while, it worked. Alina could almost pretend that things were normal, that she wasn't haunted by the man who had once been everything to her.
When they reached the bookstore, the warm glow of the lights inside welcomed them, a sanctuary from the storm brewing both outside and within Alina's mind. The soft murmur of conversations, the rustling of pages, the faint smell of coffee—it all felt so peaceful, so far removed from the chaos of her life.
Alina wandered through the shelves, her fingers brushing over the spines of books without really focusing on any of them. Her mind was still a mess, but at least here, in this quiet corner of the world, she could breathe.
Sarah had disappeared into the café at the back of the store, giving Alina a moment to herself. She found a small alcove near the windows and sank into one of the plush chairs, watching the raindrops slide down the glass. The world outside looked so distant, so calm, compared to the storm raging inside her.
But even as she sat there, trying to lose herself in the quiet, Leon's voice echoed in her mind.
"Please. Just talk to me."
Alina's heart clenched, her hands gripping the arms of the chair tightly. She had run from him, but how long could she keep running? How long before he found her again, before he pulled her back into the darkness she was so desperate to escape?
The bookstore was warm and welcoming, but for Alina, the world outside—gray, cold, and filled with tension—still loomed large. Her heart raced as she stared out the window, watching as the streets emptied. She knew Leon was still out there somewhere, waiting, watching. And despite everything Sarah had said, despite the strength Alina knew she had inside her, the pull toward him was still there.
She didn't know if she could resist it forever.