Chapter 3:
Kiara didn't go to the office for three days. She told Mahati she needed rest, and her colleague fussed over her like an overprotective mother-checking if she was eating, sleeping, and keeping warm. Kiara barely answered, too distracted to even be annoyed.
The first day,
she slept almost the entire time, letting the world pass by. But even in rest, her mind didn't stop turning. Thoughts of Vishwa, the mysterious hacker, refused to leave her. Whoever he was, his skills were beyond anything she had ever seen. A hacker capable of penetrating even the most sophisticated systems. The idea that someone could be so close without her noticing filled her with an uneasy mix of awe and terror.
On the second day,
Kiara tried to distract herself with small things-reading a book, scrolling through harmless social media, making a cup of coffee. But every notification, every sound, every shadow seemed amplified. She couldn't shake the feeling that eyes were always on her, watching, waiting.
Then her phone buzzed. An unknown number.
"I'm watching you."
Kiara's stomach sank. She opened the message-and froze. Attached was a photo of her... sleeping on her own bed.
Her mind went blank for a moment, then raced. How? When? Who could possibly...? Every nerve in her body screamed to move, to check every corner of her apartment, every lock, every window. Her sanctuary had been violated.
Her pulse thundered in her ears as she sank onto the edge of the bed. She wanted to scream. She wanted to delete everything, to run, to hide-but she couldn't. Every instinct told her that this was only the beginning.
She remembered her training, the countless hours studying cybersecurity. No one is invincible, Kiara. You can track, trace, and fight back. But this wasn't just about systems or codes anymore-it was personal. Vishwa wasn't just clever-he was bold, deliberate, and watching her in ways she couldn't even imagine.
By evening, Kiara found herself sitting by the window, staring out at the city lights. The hum of life outside felt distant, irrelevant. Every car, every passerby, every flicker of movement made her heart jump. She had never felt this small, this exposed. Yet a strange thrill stirred inside her, too-a mix of fear and curiosity she couldn't ignore.
As she turned off the lights and lay in bed, the photo from Vishwa replayed in her mind. Someone had crossed into her private world, and she couldn't do a thing about it. She didn't know what he wanted-or why he had chosen her.
Her eyes closed, but sleep didn't come. Somewhere in the darkness, she knew one thing for certain: tonight, and every night after, she wouldn't be alone.
And that thought made her shiver.
Kiara didn't know who Vishwa was, or why he was watching her, but one thing was certain: tonight, she couldn't ignore him any longer. Something was coming, and she had to be ready.
......................................
Q) Who do you think Vishwa really is, and why is he watching Kiara?
Options:
A. A mysterious hacker with a secret agenda 😱
B. Someone from her forgotten past 🔍
C. A dangerous stranger trying to scare her 🤔
D. I'm not sure, but I'm hooked! 😍