Kana quickened her steps, now trying her best to lose the person following after her.
The quiet of the evening was supposed to be calming. But right now, every sound—the wind rustling through the trees, the tap of her shoes on the cobblestone—made her skin crawl.
The narrow streets were nearly empty, bathed in the warm orange light of the setting sun. Long shadows spilled across the pavement like spilled ink.
She didn't see anyone behind her.
But she knew.
Someone was following her.
It wasn't just paranoia. It was too steady. Too deliberate. Every time she rounded a corner or changed her pace, she could still feel it. That presence.
That weight.
They didn't approach. They didn't speak. They just watched.
Not like a predator stalking prey. But like someone watching a precious object they didn't want anyone else to touch.
It made her stomach twist.
