Page 125 of My Ruthless Neighbor

I feel for my phone in my pocket. I breathe out when I find it.

Taking it out, I turn the flashlight on.

I reach it in big strides and open the door.

The electricity is out. My prediction was accurate. Because the entire apartment is dark.

My skin pricks with awareness. The feeling of being watched makes me alert.

Then I hear the footsteps again. I hold my breath, trying to figure out my next course of action.

I raise my phone in that direction where I heard the sound of footsteps. It barely illuminates the few feet of the path.

I wave it around in an arc, shining it across the hallway.

I am about to check in the opposite direction when I catch sight of something.

It catches me off guard. I fumble with my phone, nearly dropping it.

When I lift the phone to the spot again, I find nothing.

A surge of adrenaline propels me to stalk forward.

“Archer,” A soft feminine voice stops me in my track.

“Hello?” I call out.

“Archer….” That same gentle voice echoes around the living room.

I turn a full circle with my phone, trying to catch a glimpse of the woman who’s uttering my name.

On the third time, I begin to follow the voice. Passing the corridor, I trail the voice until I am standing in front of the balcony.

I don’t use the balcony much as I barely get time to hang out here. That’s why I often keep its glass doors closed. But right now, they are wide open.

As I step closer, a figure comes into view. A woman.

I enter the balcony and notice that the woman is dressed in a white dress, her shoulder-length hair is loose.

When I am a few feet away from her, I stop.

“Who are you? And how did you get inside my apartment?”

“I was waiting for you…” She says, her voice sounding so sad. Something about her voice makes my stomach sink.

“Who are you?”

She moves then. Slowly, she turns to face me, stealing the breath out of my lungs. I stagger back.

Ice spreads in my chest, a familiar ache grows at my core.

“Amy?” I whisper.

She smiles a small smile. Her pale skin still the same, radiant, flawless.

I erase the distance between us. Cupping her jaw, I stare into her eyes. “Amy, is this really you?”

She reaches up and covers my hand, her touch feels ice cold. “Why didn’t you come?”

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