The weight of the folded paper in Lucy's hand felt heavier than its size suggested, each crease a sharp reminder that her quiet life had taken a dramatic, unsettling turn. The messy scrawl of "Leave it alone" echoed the robotic menace of the phone call, solidifying the feeling of being watched, targeted. The friendly chirp of the bird against the window now seemed like a sinister prelude to this chilling message.
"Cole!" Lucy's voice cracked as she spoke his name into the phone, the tremor in her hand making it difficult to hold steady. "You need to come to the office. Now!" The urgency in her tone brooked no argument, and she could hear the immediate shift in Cole's response, the playful banter they often shared replaced by a note of deep concern.
