Crista couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. The figure’s smirk haunted her thoughts as she lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling. Who was he? What did he want from her? The questions swirled in her mind, keeping her awake long after the city had fallen silent.

Morning came too quickly, and Crista dragged herself out of bed, groggy and unsettled. She went through the motions of her morning routine, but her mind was elsewhere.

At work, Lisa noticed her friend’s distracted demeanor. “Hey, you okay? You look like you didn’t sleep at all.”

Crista managed a weak smile. “I didn’t. Just... had a lot on my mind.”

Lisa frowned, concern etched on her face. “Yeah, I heard something that might make you even more uneasy. There was a body found outside the bonfire party last night. The police think it has something to do with the Seirs.”

Crista’s heart skipped a beat. “What? No, I didn’t hear that. Who was it?”

Lisa shook her head. “I don’t know. They haven’t released much information yet. But it’s all over the news this morning. Everyone’s talking about it.”

Crista felt a chill run down her spine. The image of the mysterious figure from the alley and the bonfire flashed in her mind. “This can’t be a coincidence. I need to figure out what’s going on.”

Lisa squeezed her hand reassuringly. “Whatever you decide, I’m here for you.”

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Crista couldn’t focus on her work, her mind constantly returning to the mysterious figure and the body found near the bonfire. By the time her shift ended, she was exhausted and no closer to any answers.

As they were leaving, Lisa tried to cheer her up. “Hey, how about we grab a coffee or something? Take your mind off things for a bit?”

Crista forced a smile. “I appreciate it, Lisa, but I think I need to be alone and think this through.”

Lisa nodded, concern still in her eyes. “Just promise me you’ll call if you need anything, okay? I’m just a phone call away.”

“I promise,” Crista replied, giving Lisa a quick hug before they parted ways.

As she walked home, Crista couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was following her. She glanced over her shoulder repeatedly, but the streets were empty. Still, the sensation of being watched lingered.

When she finally reached her apartment, Crista locked the door behind her and collapsed onto the couch. She needed to do something,anything to get to the bottom of this. The thought of confronting the figure terrified her, but the alternative was living in fear and uncertainty.

Determined, Crista decided to start by gathering information. She pulled out her laptop and began searching for any news about the body found at the bonfire and any connections to the Seirs. Hours passed as she delved into articles, forums, and social media posts, piecing together fragments of information.

She couldn’t find any specific details about the figure she had seen, but there were numerous mentions of increased gang activity and a growing sense of fear in the city. As the hours ticked by, Crista’s frustration grew. She was no closer to understanding why the figure had targeted her or what his intentions were.

Her phone buzzed, breaking her concentration. It was a text from Lisa.

Lisa: Stay safe tonight. If you need anything, call me.

Crista smiled at the message, grateful for her friend’s support. She responded with a quick thanks, promising to be careful.

She decided to call Lisa for more support.

“Hey, it’s me,” Crista said when Lisa picked up.

“Crista, you okay? You sound really stressed.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ve been digging into some information but haven’t found much. There’s just so much going on, and I don’t know where to start.”

Lisa was silent for a moment. “It’s understandable, Crista. This whole thing sounds really dangerous. Maybe it’s better to stay away from it.”

“I wish I could, but I feel like I’m already involved. I can’t just ignore it.”

“Just be careful, okay? And remember, call me if you need anything.”

“I will. Thanks for being there for me, Lisa.”

“Always.”

Late into the night, Crista finally closed her laptop, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. She hadn’t found all the answers she needed, but she had a starting point. Tomorrow, she would dig deeper and figure out how she was connected to all of this.

For now, all she could do was hope that the figure wouldn’t make another appearance. As she drifted off to sleep, Crista couldn’t shake the image of his smirk, wondering what his next move would be.