The Notebook

The alley stank of urine and wet concrete. Sable pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle a gag, her fingers still trembling where they’d gripped Renata’s wrist. The other woman’s pulse was faint, erratic—a dying thing. Davan loomed over her, his body still, his face a mask of perfect stillness. But his eyes—his eyes were *wrong*. Too bright. Too *empty*. *"You’re looking at me,"* he murmured, his voice a whisper that slithered into her bones. Renata’s fingers twitched against the pavement. *"Sable—"* *"The notebook,"* Sable breathed. She fumbled in her bag, her hands shaking so hard she nearly dropped it. The leather-bound journal was there, its cover scarred from years of use. She flipped it open, her thumb tracing the faded ink of Renata’s frantic scrawls. *"They feed on the gaze,"* the words read. *"The more you look, the more they take. The more you worship, the more they grow."* Davan’s smile widened, slow and deliberate. *"You’re very good at looking, Ms. Voss."* Sable’s breath hitched. She had to get Renata to safety. Had to find a way out of this. But the alley was full of them now—figures in the shadows, their faces blurred by the dim streetlights. They moved like smoke, their smiles too wide, their eyes too dark. And they were *watching*. Renata’s voice was a rasp. *"The safe house. You have to go to the safe house."* Sable nodded, her gaze darting between Renata and the figures in the shadows. *"Where?"* *"Marinus’s place,"* Renata whispered. *"He’ll help you."* Sable’s stomach twisted. Marinus. Her old friend. The one who’d always been too busy to answer her calls. The one who’d disappeared when she’d needed him most. But if anyone could help her now, it was him. Davan’s voice dropped to a growl. *"You’re not going anywhere."* Sable didn’t wait to see what he’d do. She grabbed Renata’s arm and hauled her to her feet, herding her toward the mouth of the alley. The figures in the shadows followed, their movements too fluid, too *wrong*. Renata’s breath came in ragged gasps. *"They’re everywhere."* Sable didn’t answer. She didn’t have time to explain. She just ran. --- The streets of the city were alive with noise—the hum of traffic, the chatter of crowds, the distant wail of sirens. But none of it felt real. The world was a blur, a dream she couldn’t quite wake from. Renata’s grip on her arm tightened. *"We have to lose them."* Sable nodded, her pulse hammering in her throat. She turned down a side street, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The figures in the shadows followed, their movements too smooth, too *wrong*. Renata’s voice was a whisper. *"They’re not just celebrities. They’re everywhere. In the ads. On the billboards. In the voices of the people you love."* Sable’s stomach twisted. *"What?"* Renata’s eyes were wild. *"They’re in the people who look at you. Who worship you. Who *need* you."* Sable’s breath hitched. She had to get Renata to safety. Had to find a way to stop this. But the figures in the shadows were getting closer. --- Marinus’s apartment was a mess—clothes strewn across the floor, empty bottles scattered across the counter. But it was safe. For now. Renata collapsed onto the couch, her breath coming in ragged gasps. *"You have to burn it all."* Sable looked around the room, her gaze landing on the notebook. *"What?"* Renata’s voice was a rasp. *"The letters. The words. The *gaze*. You have to burn it all."* Sable’s stomach twisted. She had to find a way to stop this. Had to find a way to save Renata. But Renata’s eyes were glazed, her body twitching. *"They’re coming,"* she whispered. *"They’re always coming."* Sable’s breath hitched. She had to get her out of here. Had to find a way to stop this. But the door creaked open. Sable’s blood turned to ice. Aurelio Vance stood in the doorway, his face a mask of perfect stillness. His smile was too wide, his eyes too dark. *"Ms. Voss,"* he said, his voice smooth and warm. *"I’ve been waiting for you."* Sable’s breath came in ragged gasps. She had to run. Had to get Renata to safety. But Aurelio’s voice was a whisper. *"You’re very close."* And then he was moving, his body a blur, his smile too wide, his eyes too dark. Renata’s voice was a whisper. *"Run."* Sable didn’t wait. She grabbed Renata’s arm and hauled her toward the door. But Aurelio was faster. His hand closed around her wrist, his grip like iron. *"You’re not going anywhere,"* he murmured, his voice a whisper that slithered into her bones. Sable’s breath hitched. She had to get Renata to safety. Had to find a way to stop this. But Aurelio’s smile widened, slow and deliberate. *"You’re very good at looking, Ms. Voss."* And then the world went dark.