ons. He saw her routines no

pment. He saw her quietness

nt spirit waiting for a

her interactions with Ma

ne that was difficult to qua

glances, the way their con

hed. They might have desc

port, but one who operated

reports, would have viewed

, perhaps a willing accompl

gie herself. He would have

ings, the frequency, the pe

his suspicion that Maya w

construc

aya as a fragile link, eas

ngie from this Maya, to sow

them. He would have seen Ma

d, a threat that needed to

rpinned Angie's entire opera

utward signs of her suppose

nature of her resilience, and

had secretly

ve documented Angie's finan

ve noted the meticulous

ting, the delayed gratifica

ends meet, a woman who wa

s information, would have see

usceptibility to financial e

n reality, ensnare her furt

dic payments, as mere pebb

and his own "generosity" a

or

as fear, her reserve as wea

a life that offered little. H

uct, easily shattered. He

ife, identifying the precise

ation. He was so engrossed i

rior intellect and strategic

was not the predator, but th

enced hunter. Angie's world

her brilliance, a carefully

e sense of security, and to p

Silas believed he was we

, reflecting his

ually a comforting lullaby,

had once signified anonymi

existence without undue sc

one a tiny pinprick of ligh

for more than just the dis

listening for the subtle s

hose who weren't meant to b

t too

o the transient faces of Th

t appeared too often, their e

here was a particular man,

street corner opposite Angi

He was always there, some

mes simply staring, his gaze

ad dismissed him at first,

's own growing anxieties. Bu

d when she looked directl

gan to sow seeds

subtle tightening around her

h, had become a practiced

be strong, Maya knew, to pr

d spent countless hours obse

erceptible tremors in her h

ear gnawing at her friend. I

ealing the ligh

in Angie's small apartmen

n anxieties. The scent of br

e Maya's frayed nerves. She

ion of potted herbs on he

leaf, each speck of soil, se

hat felt increasing

ce barely a whisper, the wor

breath. "Are you... are yo

lling on a sprig of basil. Sh

her shoulders. "About what

ng none of the turmoil chu

ssed on, the words tumbling

chid. About... him." She co

an invocation, a summoning

he way he looks at you, Angie.

you're some kind of prize

gaze meeting Maya's. There

ding, a weariness that Maya

is games, Maya. H

insisted, her voice rising wi

just watching the club anym

n on the corner, Angie, he'

ays there, aren't they?

l muscle pulsing in her cheek

w. "I've

a wave of panic washing o

f here. Now. Before he deci

t care about the club, I don

ou somewh

ngie's lips, a fleeting expr

tive term, Maya. Where do y

everyw

aded, her eyes welling up. "I

g, Angie. You're strong and

o be free of him, free of all

t, encompassing not just

e of their lives. "He sees y

sees your quietness, and he

s strength. It's... a differen

d that. They only understan

ing to try and... and

ear finally breaking throug

ngie, her heart aching. Sh

hen she was at ease, a purity

rrupting. It was this ver

de Angie a target. Silas wasn

omething to consume, someth

her inherent grace, was the p

si

inued, her voice barely audi

he right moment to... to cla

ave to have a plan. A real p

away. We need

ndow, her back still to May

med to cast long, ominous

on the street corner, the

fter now, a little weary. "Yo

over my shoulder, the feeli

I can't keep li

ew resolve hardening her gaz

s now mixed with a steely

choing Maya's desperate pl

omewhere he won't e

fueled Maya's own racing he

nd they had to act fast. "Bu

bilities, each one seeming m

ie. He knows people. H

?" Angie said, a wry smile to

me all figured out. He sees

one who works in a dive ba

e... anyth

in you," Maya supplied,

w strong you really are. He

ie. You're

appreciation in her eyes. "

as a distraction, a weaknes

anchor. You're the reason

used on me, he hasn't bothe

e depth of ou

hey were playing, Maya knew

ulating. He wouldn't be easil

energy that seemed to emana

t firsthand, the way his e

ths, a subtle smile that neve

crawl, a look that spoke

ina

esn't he?" Maya mused, her

see Silas standing there, hi

here, you can feel him. He's

to orbit him, to obey his

kindness, in her desire to ju

t's like she's a moth to a fla

o consu

moment, her gaze distant. "H

of his own desires, his own

that's... that's wher

ed, her voice laced with an

istening. They're reporting

e's accumulating it. Buildin

," Angie said, her voice fi

sumptions against him. He th

he can predict my every mo

nd intensity. "He's wrong,

r was palpable. The fear had

potent force, a quiet rag

of hope, a fragile seedling

If Angie was ready to fight

y step of

ya reiterated, her voice st

ed to be discreet. No more

communicate in ways he won

ing closer, when in reality,

lips curving into a genuine

He's mesmerized by the p

He doesn't see the set being

e escape route

he warmth of the room. T

t up in his own narrative, h

f their situation. He was lik

he failed to see the tra

Angie," Maya confessed, her

I don't want that to be you

oken history, w

covering Maya's. Her touch

too. That's why we have to

areful. And we have to be

me

s's eyes, the way he comman

source of dread for Maya. I

o everything he desired, a

was a prime target. Maya sa

a subtle signal that Silas w