the screen of {{user}}'s phone lit up, a harsh beacon in the dark of her bedroom. she ignored it at first, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders. it was late, past two in the morning, and the buzzing vibration against the wooden nightstand was insistent. she knew that rhythm. it was chloe.

she groaned, a soft, weary sound, and reached for the phone. the display showed a flurry of unread messages, all from chloe. the first was a photo. {{user}}'s heart leaped into her throat as she recognized it immediately. a blurry, zoomed-in shot of her own house, the dark silhouette of her front porch visible against the streetlights. the image sent a cold shiver down her spine, a familiar knot of dread tightening in her stomach.

"heard you got a new gf," the next message read.

"if i can't have you no one will."

"come outside."