The moment Dominic stopped the car, I knew something was wrong.
He didn't park directly in front of the warehouse.
Instead, he stopped several meters away, switched off the headlights and stared through the windshield.
The warehouse stood in the distance like an abandoned monster.
Its windows were broken.
The walls were covered with faded paint.
There was no light anywhere.
No movement.
Nothing.
Yet Dominic looked as though he expected someone to appear at any moment.
"Stay here," he said.
I immediately shook my head.
"No."
He turned toward me.
"Lina."
"Don't Lina me."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
He sighed.
"You're impossible."
"That's what your sister says."
Despite the situation, the corner of his mouth lifted.
"She's right."
He opened the car door.
I grabbed his sleeve.
"Dominic."
He looked at my hand.
"What?"
"Are you sure Malik is here?"
His expression changed.
"I don't know."
My heart sank.
"Then why did we come?"
"Because the person who called me said he was."
"And you believed them?"
"No."
"Then why?"
He stared at the warehouse.
"Because sometimes the best way to find a liar is to show up where they don't expect you."
I didn't understand.
Before I could ask, he got out.
I followed.
He immediately turned around.
"I said stay in the car."
"And I said I'm coming."
"Lina."
"I'm not staying there alone."
He stared at me.
Finally, he shook his head.
"Fine. Stay behind me."
We walked toward the warehouse.
Every step made my heart beat harder.
The wind moved through the broken windows, producing a strange whistling sound.
I hugged my arms around myself.
"Dominic?"
"Yes?"
"Do you come to places like this often?"
"No."
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because I'd be worried about you."
He glanced at me.
"You worry too much."
"You don't worry enough."
He almost smiled.
Then he stopped.
I nearly walked into him.
"What?"
He raised one finger.
Silence.
I listened.
Nothing.
Then—
A metallic sound came from inside the warehouse.
Dominic immediately moved in front of me.
"Stay behind me."
This time, I obeyed.
We entered.
The darkness swallowed us.
Dominic turned on the flashlight on his phone.
Dust floated through the beam.
Empty crates were scattered across the floor.
A broken chair lay against the wall.
There was nobody there.
"Malik?" I called.
Dominic quickly covered my mouth.
"Don't."
I pulled his hand away.
"What?"
"If someone is here, don't announce where we are."
I glared at him.
"You could have told me."
"I just did."
I rolled my eyes.
He shook his head.
"You're going to give me a heart attack."
"You don't even know me."
"I know enough."
Before I could respond, we heard footsteps.
Dominic grabbed my hand and pulled me behind a stack of crates.
I held my breath.
Someone walked into the warehouse.
A man.
I couldn't see his face.
He stopped in the middle of the room.
Then he spoke.
"Where is the girl?"
Dominic's grip tightened around my hand.
The man continued.
"She was supposed to come."
I felt my stomach drop.
The girl.
He was talking about me.
Dominic leaned toward my ear.
"Don't move."
The man took a few steps forward.
"Come out."
Silence.
He laughed.
"You think you can hide?"
I felt Dominic's body tense beside me.
Suddenly, another voice came from the opposite side.
"Looking for someone?"
The first man turned.
A figure stepped into the dim light.
My heart stopped.
"Malik!"
Dominic immediately covered my mouth again.
But it was too late.
Malik looked directly toward us.
His eyes widened.
Then his expression became furious.
"What are you doing here?"
I stepped out.
"You!"
Dominic cursed under his breath.
Malik rushed toward us.
"Are you crazy?"
I stared at him.
"You disappeared."
"I told you to stay away."
"You told me nothing!"
He looked at Dominic.
"Why did you bring her?"
Dominic's voice was cold.
"I didn't."
Malik looked at me.
"Then why did you come?"
"Because I love you."
He went silent.
The words seemed to affect him.
His expression softened.
But only for a second.
Then the sound of a door slamming echoed through the warehouse.
Dominic immediately turned.
"Run."
"What?"
"RUN!"
Everything happened at once.
The lights came on.
Men appeared from behind the crates.
My heart nearly stopped.
Dominic grabbed my hand.
Malik grabbed my other arm.
We ran.
Someone shouted behind us.
"Don't let them escape!"
I stumbled.
Malik caught me.
"Keep moving!"
We rushed toward the exit.
Dominic kicked open a side door.
Cold air hit my face.
We ran outside.
Only when we reached the car did Dominic stop.
He looked behind us.
Nobody followed.
I leaned against the car, breathing heavily.
Malik stood in front of me.
His face was pale.
"Are you okay?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
He touched my face.
I closed my eyes.
For one second, I felt safe.
Then Dominic's voice interrupted us.
"We need to leave."
Malik looked at him.
"You're coming?"
Dominic frowned.
"Obviously."
Malik stepped closer.
"You shouldn't have brought her."
"I didn't."
"You should have stopped her."
Dominic's eyes hardened.
"Don't tell me what I should have done."
The tension between them was immediate.
I looked from one to the other.
"What is going on between you two?"
Neither answered.
I sighed.
"Of course."
I walked toward the car.
The drive back was silent.
I sat in the back seat.
Malik sat beside me.
Dominic drove.
I stared out the window.
My mind was racing.
Who were those men?
Why had they expected me?
Why was Malik at the warehouse?
And why did Dominic and Malik clearly know much more than they were telling me?
Finally, I turned to Malik.
"Talk to me."
He looked at me.
"I will."
"Now."
He sighed.
"Lina…"
"Now."
He glanced at Dominic.
"Not here."
Dominic's eyes met his through the rearview mirror.
Malik looked away.
I became frustrated.
"Both of you are driving me crazy."
Nobody laughed.
I looked at Malik.
"Did you know those men?"
He hesitated.
"Some of them."
My heart sank.
"Who are they?"
"I don't know."
"That's a lie."
He looked at me.
"Why do you keep saying that?"
"Because you're lying."
His expression changed.
"I never wanted you involved."
"But I'm involved!"
My voice cracked.
"Whether you like it or not."
He reached for my hand.
I pulled away.
"No."
"Lina."
"No."
Tears burned my eyes.
"You keep saying you love me, but you don't trust me enough to tell me the truth."
He looked down.
"I was trying to protect you."
"Everyone keeps using that excuse."
I turned toward the window.
No one spoke again.
When we arrived at my house, I got out immediately.
Malik followed.
"Lina."
I didn't turn around.
"Lina, wait."
I stopped.
He stood several feet behind me.
"I'm sorry."
I turned.
"I need space."
He nodded.
"I understand."
"Do you?"
"Yes."
I looked into his eyes.
"Then don't follow me."
He stopped.
I walked toward the house.
Before I reached the door, my phone vibrated.
I pulled it out.
Unknown number.
Another message.
YOU WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO SURVIVE TONIGHT.
My entire body froze.
I looked back.
Malik was still standing near his car.
Dominic was behind him.
Neither had seen the message.
I quickly locked my phone.
I didn't tell them.
For the first time, I realized something terrifying.
Someone didn't just want me frightened.
They wanted me dead.
The following morning, school felt strangely normal.
Students laughed.
Teachers walked through the corridors.
Someone was arguing about an assignment.
Everything looked ordinary.
But I didn't feel ordinary.
I felt like someone was watching me.
I walked toward my classroom.
Then I heard a voice behind me.
"You're early."
I turned.
Mr. Adrian.
He stood there holding several books.
I forced a smile.
"Good morning, sir."
His eyes studied my face.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"You don't look okay."
"I'm fine."
He didn't believe me.
"Did something happen last night?"
My heart skipped.
I stared at him.
"How do you know something happened?"
He remained silent.
That silence told me everything.
"You knew."
"I suspected."
"About what?"
He looked around before speaking.
"About you being followed."
My heart pounded.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"I tried."
"When?"
"Yesterday."
I remembered.
Be careful who you trust.
I swallowed.
"Why do you care?"
His eyes remained on mine.
"Because I've seen what happens when people ignore warnings."
There was something in his voice.
Something painful.
Something personal.
Before I could ask another question, the bell rang.
He stepped aside.
"Go to class."
I walked away.
But I couldn't stop thinking about him.
Malik had secrets.
Dominic had secrets.
And now Mr. Adrian seemed to have secrets too.
Three men.
Three mysteries.
And somehow, all three were slowly becoming part of my life.
I had no idea that one day I would look back at that classroom and realize something else.
My first impression of Mr. Adrian had been completely wrong.
He wasn't simply the annoying teacher who enjoyed challenging me.
He was hiding something.
Something that would eventually change my entire life.
And perhaps…
change my heart too.