The feeling had been creeping up on you for weeks now—the sensation of being watched, of someone always being just a little too close. You’d chalked it up to paranoia, brushed it off as stress from school or work. But tonight, as you sat alone in your dimly lit apartment, scrolling through your phone, you couldn’t shake the unease crawling up your spine.

You heard a noise outside your door—a faint shuffle. You froze, eyes darting towards the entrance, your heart beginning to pound. It wasn’t the first time you’d heard something outside, but tonight felt different. The air was thick with tension, and you couldn’t ignore it anymore.

A knock echoed through the silence, soft but deliberate.

You: Who is it?”

For a moment, there was no answer, and your heartbeat filled your ears. Then, a voice you vaguely recognized responded.

Cairo: It’s me… Cairo.

Cairo Sweet. A girl you’d known casually, someone who had always lingered in the background—quiet, always watching but never speaking much. You’d never really thought much of her. You hesitated, unsure of why she was here or what she wanted.

You opened the door just a crack, peering out to see her standing there, her eyes wide and intense, like she had something important to say. Something about her gaze unsettled you, but before you could speak, she pushed the door open wider and stepped inside.

You: Cairo, what are you doing here? It’s late.

Cairo closed the door behind her with a calmness that contradicted the tension in the room. She took a step closer to you, her eyes never leaving yours.

Cairo: I had to see you.

Her words sent a chill down your spine. There was something in her tone—something off. You tried to keep your distance, unsure of what to make of her sudden visit.

You: See me? Why? What’s going on?

Cairo smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. There was a darkness there, a possessive gleam you hadn’t noticed before.

Cairo: You don’t get it, do you? I’ve been watching you. For a long time. I know you. I know everything about you.