Forever Watching

May didn't stop running. She didn't know where she was going, or even how far she had traveled. The rain lashed against her skin, soaking through her clothes, blurring her vision. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she turned a corner, feeling the cold sting of the night air on her skin. The world around her seemed a blur of wet streets and indistinct shapes. She didn't care. She just had to get away.

But no matter how far she ran, no matter how fast her legs carried her, she couldn't escape the feeling that Will was right behind her. It wasn't just the sound of his footsteps that haunted her—it was the certainty that he could always find her, always track her down. She had no place left to hide.

She finally slowed, her legs trembling from exhaustion. The night was silent now, except for the pounding of her heart in her ears. She pressed her back against a building, gasping for air, trying to steady herself. She needed to think. She couldn't keep running forever.

But where could she go?

She thought about calling the police. Maybe they could help. But no matter how many times she imagined it, she couldn't bring herself to pick up the phone. She had tried to explain to people before, tried to make them understand, but they hadn't taken her seriously. They'd always told her she was overreacting, that she was imagining things. How could she tell them again? How could she make them see the danger she was in when it seemed so unbelievable?

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, a jolt of fear shooting through her. She hesitated for a moment, then pulled it out, almost afraid to look. It was a text message from an unknown number. Her fingers shook as she opened it.

"I told you, May. I'll always be here. Don't try to run. I know where you are."

Her heart skipped a beat. She looked around wildly, but there was no sign of him. He couldn't be here, could he?

Her mind raced, thoughts colliding in a chaotic storm. She had to get to safety, but where? There was nowhere she could go that would keep him out, no place where he couldn't find her. She was trapped, suffocating under the weight of it all.

And then, she saw something. A shadow, moving just at the edge of her vision. Her stomach dropped, and her body went cold. It was him.

Will.

He stepped out of the alley, walking slowly, casually, as though there was no urgency in his movements at all. His eyes found hers immediately, and that damn smile crept across his face.

"May," he said softly, his voice carrying through the rain. "I told you, you can't outrun me."

Her throat tightened, panic setting in. She took a step back, but he was already too close.

"Please," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Please, just leave me alone. I can't take this anymore. I'm begging you."

But Will didn't flinch. He didn't hesitate. He took another step forward, closing the distance between them, his gaze never leaving hers. "You don't understand yet, but you will. I'm not going anywhere. You belong with me."

"No!" May cried, her voice hoarse and desperate. She wanted to push him away, to scream at him, but the fear, the hopelessness, weighed her down. It was like being trapped in a nightmare with no way out.

Will reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek, the touch cold and firm. "You don't have to be afraid, May. I'll protect you. I always will."

Tears welled up in her eyes, and her legs wobbled, as if they might give out from under her. This couldn't be happening. Not again. She had to do something—anything to stop him, to make him leave.

The rain poured down harder, turning the streets into rivers. The sound of it filled her ears, drowning out everything else. She could barely think over the pounding of her heart.

"I don't want your protection!" she shouted, finally summoning the strength to push him away, shoving him with everything she had. But Will didn't budge. He just looked at her, his expression unchanged, as if her resistance didn't matter.

"Don't you see, May?" he said, his voice soft, almost coaxing. "You're never going to be alone again. You don't need to fight me. You can't escape me. You're mine."

A surge of adrenaline hit May in that moment, the fear giving way to something else—something fierce. She couldn't just let him take control of her life like this. She couldn't give in. Not again.

With a gasp, she shoved him again, harder this time. She turned to run, her legs moving before she could think, but Will grabbed her wrist, yanking her back toward him with surprising strength.

"You don't get to run, May," he said, his grip tightening, his voice cold and low. "You're mine now."

She struggled, pulling and twisting, trying to break free, but his grip was ironclad. Her vision blurred with panic, her mind racing for a way out.

In a wild, desperate motion, she brought her knee up hard, slamming it into his stomach. Will's breath whooshed out of him, and for a brief second, he loosened his hold on her. That was all the opening she needed. May wrenched her arm free and stumbled backward, her heart hammering in her chest.

She didn't hesitate. She turned and ran as fast as she could, her legs screaming in protest, but she didn't stop. She didn't dare look back. All she could do was push herself harder, faster, through the rain, through the darkness.

She ran until she could barely breathe, until her body threatened to collapse from exhaustion. But she couldn't stop. Not now. Not ever.

She had no idea where she was going, but she knew one thing—she had to keep moving.

The moment she stopped, the moment she let her guard down, Will would be there. Waiting.

And if she couldn't outrun him, she would have to find a way to fight back.

But for now, the only thing she could do was run.