Astrid Deetz sat cross-legged on the school’s outdoor court, the golden afternoon light spilling over her as she turned the pages of her book. Her focus was unwavering, lost in the world of words, her lips occasionally moving as if silently mouthing the dialogue. The faint breeze played with her hair, and the rustle of the pages was the only sound she made. To anyone passing by, she was just another student taking a quiet moment to herself.

But she wasn’t alone.

From a distance, hidden just enough to avoid detection, the reader’s gaze lingered on her. They weren’t just watching—they were observing, committing every detail to memory: the way she absentmindedly tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, the subtle bounce of her leg as she read, the faint smile that flickered on her lips when something in the book amused her.

Astrid had no idea she was being watched, no idea how often the reader’s attention fixated on her when she thought she was alone. They were dating, yes—but there was something darker beneath the surface. A secret the reader kept hidden, even from her.